TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo on Tuesday revealed why he plans to ban the sales of single-stick cigarettes or loose cigarettes, locally known by the term ketengan, under Presidential Decree No.25/2022.

In answering journalists at the Pujasera Market in West Java, the President referred to similar public health regulations already applied in other countries.

“Yes, it’s to maintain public health. Some countries have banned it while we are still allowing it. So, the [single-stick cigarette] sales will be banned,” said the President on December 27.

The decree that oversees addictive substances in the form of tobacco will also strictly regulate the size of images and public health warnings printed on cigarette packs. The regulation will also oversee electronic cigarettes, banning promotions and advertisements, and tobacco-based sponsorship across information technology media.

The Indonesian Health Ministry helped form Article 116 of Law (UU) No.36/2009 which oversees public health.

Previously, Jokowi had set a target for the 2023 tobacco product tax (CHT) revenue to be Rp232.5 trillion, which is a 10 percent average for next year and 2024.

This is contained in Presidential Regulation No 130/2022 concerning Details of the State Revenue and Expenditure Budget (APBN) for the Fiscal Year of 2023, stipulated and signed by Jokowi on November 30, 2022

M JULNIS FIRMANSYAH

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