PP Kesehatan Called Will Turn Off Tobacco Industry

Masses of tobacco farmers in Temanggung protest against the Health Bill article 154 paragraph 3 which equates tobacco with addictive substances. (ANTARA-Heru Suyitno)

JAKARTA - Issuance of Government Regulation (PP) Number 28 of 2024 concerning the Implementation of Law Number 17 of 2023 concerning Health is opposed by the National Committee for Kretek Preservation (KNPK). The KNPK assesses that PP 28/2024 can kill the tobacco products industry (IHT).

KNPK coordinator, Maddie Alvianto Wicaksono assessed, from the contents of PP 28/2024 articles, it seemed as if the government wanted to close the IHT forever. This can be seen from the ban on cigarette advertisements on social media, the ban on the sale of retail cigarettes, to the regulation of non-smoking areas (KTR).

"The government has not at all heard the aspirations of IHT friends from the grassroots that if the Health RPP is passed it will bring many problems. This is evident from the contents of every article that closes the access of business actors and activists of IHT," said Maddie in his statement, Thursday, August 1.

According to Maddie, the narrative of cigarette control by the government is just an excuse to limit and even turn off the space for business actors and IHT activists. In fact, he views, many people receive income to meet the needs of living from the cigarette industry.

"This regulation is a major blow to business actors, especially tobacco farmers, who want to celebrate the joy of their crops. This will set a bad precedent for the government for breaking the joy and hopes of farmers from harvesting tobacco," said Oddie.

Regarding the ban on total cigarette advertisements on social media, Oddie assessed that it would be very difficult for the government to monitor what are called advertisements and which are not.

Article 446 has the potential as a rubber article. What if a smoker only wants to express his preference for tobacco products? Can such an expression be considered an advertisement? If so, the government wants to curb someone's expression. How come it is restrained?" said Moddie.

In addition to banning total cigarette advertisements on social media, the PP also regulates the radius of where cigarettes are sold. In Article 434, there is a minimum radius of 200 meters from educational units and children's playgrounds. In fact, cigarette advertisements in outdoor media must be within a radius of 500 meters.

This is a rubber article. How does the government manage and even supervise the place of sale must be 200 meters from the place of education? What about the fate of traditional markets where there are already selling cigarettes?' he concluded.