Indonesia to Cap Cigarette Nicotine and Tar, Starting June 2026

Key points:

1.The Indonesian government plans to establish maximum nicotine and tar content standards in cigarettes by June 2025 to support the goal of reducing youth smoking rates outlined in the National Medium-Term Development Plan for 2025-2029.

2.The goal is to reduce the smoking rate among adolescents aged 10 to 21 to 12.4% by 2025, with a consistent annual decrease of 1%. The target for 2029 is 8.4%.

3.Multiple regulatory measures are being implemented successively, including the banning of single cigarette sales, restricting tobacco sales near schools, and expanding the range of warning graphics on packaging.

According to Megapolitan.antaranews on April 29th, the Indonesian government is intensifying efforts to implement tobacco control policies, with the goal of setting national standards for nicotine and tar content in cigarettes by June 2025 to align with the strategic direction of controlling youth smoking behavior outlined in the 2025-2029 National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN).

According to the head of the Tobacco Disease Control Working Group (PPAT) of the Indonesian Ministry of Health, Benget Saragih, the working draft is nearing completion and is expected to be officially finalized in June 2025. Implementation is expected to begin in June 2026.

Bonko pointed out that the primary goal of this policy is to reduce the smoking rate among individuals aged 10 to 21 to 12.4% by the year 2025, with a target of 11.4% in 2026, and an expected decrease to 8.4% by 2029. He added that in order to achieve a 1% decrease in the national smoking rate, provinces must achieve an annual reduction rate of 2.5% at the provincial level.

In order to achieve this goal, the Department of Health is implementing a series of specific measures:

Ban on additives and penalties for underage smoking: The new regulations will prohibit the use of certain additives in tobacco products, establish penalties for smokers under the age of 21, and strengthen identity verification mechanisms. 

Ban on single cigarette sales: Due to findings showing that 71% of underage smokers start by purchasing single cigarettes, the sale of single cigarettes will be banned. Restrictions on tobacco sales near schools: Sales of cigarettes will be prohibited within a 200-meter radius of schools, with advertising not allowed within a 500-meter radius.

Expansion of smoke-free areas: Currently, there are seven designated "smoke-free zones," and the regulatory framework is established through Articles 442 and 443 of Government Regulation No. 28 (2024), with oversight from the Indonesian FDA, Ministry of Trade, and local governments. 

Enhanced regulation of advertising and health warnings: The Ministry of Health is pushing for the establishment of a specialized task force to strengthen regulation of tobacco advertising. Additionally, the size of health warning images on packaging has been increased from 40% to 50%, effective from June 2026, and will also apply to e-cigarette products. 

Uniform packaging standards: In the future, cigarette packaging will have uniform colors, reducing the use of bright packaging to attract young people. Brand logos and production dates will still be retained as basic information. 

"Smoking cessation intervention services": The Ministry of Health is also preparing smoking cessation intervention services to provide a more systematic support mechanism.