TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Cigarette Producers Association (Gappri) has rejected the government’s plan to impose a revised law that controls the size of health warnings on cigarette packaging. The revision sees the minimum size for the warning changed from 40 percent to 90 percent.

The law in question is revised government’s decree No.109/2012 on protection against tobacco products that contain addictive substances.

“This will surely violate the right of consumers upon choosing a product,” said Gappri chairman Henry Najoan in a discussion about the limitations imposed on brands that are held by the Indonesian Entrepreneur Association (Aprindo) in South Jakarta today.

The Gappri chairman is also the Chief Personnel of PT Wismilak Inti Makmur Tbk, a cigarette producer known for its brand, Wismilak.

The revision of the government’s decree is currently formulated at the government level. The Health Ministry’s Public Relations Leader Widyawati Rokom has yet provided the public with the details. The Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI) has shown support for the implementation of the regulation.

“It is still discussed among State Ministries,” said Widyawati on Wednesday, Oct. 2.

Moreover, Henry Najoan argues that the government does not have a strong legal basis to impose a health warning that covers 90-percent of a cigarette pack. He claims it will not reduce cigarette sales but will rather increase the circulation of illegal cigarettes in the market.

FAJAR PEBRIANTO