International Law Experts Encourage Independent Policy Against Tobacco Products Industry In Indonesia

The photo archive - Workers carry tobacco leaves harvested in Ngale, Pilangkenceng, Madiun Regency, East Java, Tuesday (19/9/2023). (DOC. BETWEEN PHOTOS)

JAKARTA - International Law expert Hikmahanto Juwana hopes that the Indonesian government will not be influenced by the global agenda when formulating regulations related to the tobacco products industry (IHT), given the significant contribution of this sector to economic growth. Although the commemoration of World No Tobacco Day (HTTS) on May 31 is important for health, it is also necessary to consider the economic aspect if this step will stop tobacco production.

"Policy makers must understand the nominal goals behind HTTS, rather than only leading to the closure of the tobacco industry in Indonesia. Policies that have resulted in a decline in the domestic tobacco industry while domestic cigarette consumption remains high," he said in a statement in Jakarta, as reported by ANTARA, Saturday, June 1.

He explained that the tobacco products industry in Indonesia will not only have an impact on the health aspect, but also have social, economic and cultural implications. Therefore, if tobacco production is stopped, Indonesia can depend on tobacco imports from abroad, even though Indonesia has abundant tobacco resources and a large number of smokers.

Furthermore, he emphasized that the tobacco products industry in Indonesia is part of a hereditary legacy, so it cannot be separated from the community. He also reminded that the Indonesian government has full sovereignty to regulate the IHT. "If cigarette consumption in Indonesia is still high and the tobacco industry is turned off, you can imagine how many Indonesian workers will lose their jobs and how many countries will lose their income. It could be that this will be infiltrated by the tobacco industry abroad, both legal and illegal," he said.

Previously, the Association of Indonesian Cigarette Manufacturers (GAPPRI) said there were at least 446 regulations governing the IHT with details of 400 regulations in the form of control or control with a percentage of 89.68 percent, 41 regulations governing CHT or 9.19 percent, and only five regulations governing economic and welfare issues or 1.12 percent. It also hopes that the segmentation of conventional cigarette and e-cigarette sales regulations can be further detailed. This is because both types of cigarettes have different ecosystems, as well as the majority of conventional cigarettes use domestic raw materials with a reference Domestic Component Level (TKDN). GAPPRI said Tobacco Product Excise (CHT) in 2023 did not meet the target, which only reached Rp. 213.48 trillion or 91.78 percent of the APBN target.