TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The ban on selling out of package cigarettes (Loosie) is confirmed to be applied starting in 2023. President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo will issue a government regulation regarding this matter.

The certainty of the issuance of a government regulation regarding the ban on the sale of loosie cigarettes is stated in Presidential Decree No. 25 of 2022 concerning the 2023 formulation program in Government Regulation.

In the Presidential Decree signed by Jokowi on Friday, December 23, 2022, it is stated that the government intends to revise Government Regulation No. 109 of 2012 concerning Materials Containing Addictive Substances in Tobacco Products in the interest of health. In his explanation, the new regulation discussed seven issues, one of which is the prohibition of selling loosie cigarettes.

The following are the subject matter of government regulations that are going to be altered:

1. Increase the percentage of health warnings in the form of pictures and text on tobacco product packaging.
2. Electronic cigarette provisions.
3. Prohibition of advertising, promotion and sponsorship of tobacco products in media.
4. Prohibition of the selling of out-of-package cigarettes (loosie)
5. Surveillance of advertisement, promotion, and sponsorship of tobacco products in broadcast media, indoor and outdoor advertising, and information technology.
6. Enforcement and prosecution
7. Media and implementation of Non-Smoking Areas (KTR).

The Government Regulation on the safety of Materials Containing Addictive Substances in the form of Tobacco Products in the interest of Health is an implementing regulation of Article 116 of Law Number 36 of 2009 concerning Health.

Article 116 of Law No. 36 of 2006 states as follows:

"Further provisions regarding the safety of materials containing addictive substances are specified in a Government Regulation."

However, under the Health Law, there has been no regulation on the banning of selling loosie cigarettes.

Article 115 paragraph (1) of the Health Law only regulates smoke-free areas around health service facilities, educational institutions, playgrounds, places of worship, public transportation, workplace, and public and other designated places.

Article 115 paragraph (2) stipulates that regional governments are required to establish smoking-free areas in their regions.

The ban on the sale of loosie cigarettes was previously proposed by the Ministry of Health because of the increase in the number of first-time smokers in Indonesia. In 2020 alone, the Association of Public Health Experts (IAKMI) recorded an increase in first-time smokers reaching 240 percent in the last decade. Smokers who are generally teenagers tend to choose to buy loosie cigarettes rather than a pack due to their price being more affordable.

M JULNIS FIRMANSYAH

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