Jokowi Signs PP On Health Prohibited From Selling Retail Cigarettes

President Jokowi/PHOTO via Instagram @jokowi

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo signed Government Regulation Number 28 of 2024 regarding health which regulates the prohibition of selling tobacco products (smoking) at retail units per stick, except for cigars or electronic cigarettes.

This provision is stated in Article 434 paragraph (1) point c in the PP, as a copy of PP quoted by ANTARA in the Jdih.setneg.id page.

"Everyone is prohibited from selling tobacco products and electronic cigarettes in retail units per stick, except for tobacco products in the form of cigars and electronic cigarettes," reads the provisions in the PP.

Article 434 also regulates the prohibition, namely the sale of tobacco products and electronic cigarettes using self-service machines, to everyone under the age of 21 and pregnant women, by placing tobacco and electronic cigarettes in areas around entrances and exits or places that are often traversed, within a radius of 200 meters of education units and children's playgrounds, as well as using website services or commercial electronic and social media applications.

However, in Article 434 paragraph (2), it is explained that sales using the services of websites or commercial electronic applications are allowed if there is age verification.

The PP is the implementing rule of Law No. 17 of 2023 concerning Health.

Meanwhile, Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin explained that the ratification of this Government Regulation was one of the steps in the transformation of health in order to build a strong, independent, and inclusive Indonesian health architecture.

"We welcome the issuance of this regulation, which is our basis to jointly reform and build health systems to remote areas of the country," said Budi.

He explained that with the issuance of this PP, there are 26 Government Regulations and 5 Presidential Regulations that no longer apply, including Government Regulation Number 46 of 2014 concerning Health Information Systems and Government Regulation Number 88 of 2019 concerning Work Health.

The PP, which consists of 1172 articles, was determined by President Joko Widodo in Jakarta, dated July 26, 2024, and promulgated by Minister of State Secretary Pratikno on the same date.