Capturing insights from the experts during multisectoral policy dialogue. Credits: BPOM/Raka Dewa Pratama
Electronic cigarettes are becoming increasingly popular worldwide, especially among youth, and Indonesia is no exception. In a decade, the use of e-cigarettes in Indonesia has skyrocketed. According to the Global Adult Tobacco Survey Indonesia 2021, the number of users surged from 516 377 (0.3% of the population) in 2011 to over 6 million people (3% of the population) in 2021, indicating a pressing need for regulatory actions.
Novel and emerging nicotine and tobacco products (NENTPs) such as e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products and nicotine pouches are not free from health risks, and have become increasingly popular, especially among adolescents. To lure users, the industry produces various flavours with attractive product designs and aggressively promotes them on social media. In the absence of stringent regulation, the young generation is at greater risk of becoming addicted to both conventional and electronic cigarettes.
To support Indonesia’s efforts to regulate NENTPs, throughout 2023 WHO has strategically supported the Indonesia Food and Drugs Authority (BPOM) through a series of initiatives. This includes the Expert Panel Discussion and Multisectoral Policy Dialogue in February 2023, which brought together government officials, academia and civil society organizations. The event not only raised awareness about health risks associated with NENTPs, but also drew lessons from similar regulatory efforts in Singapore, Thailand and Philippines. Through interactive dialogue, stakeholders identified challenges and tailored policy recommendations for Indonesia.
Following this, BPOM and WHO organized a focus group discussion with the Ministry of Trade, Ministry of Industry and Ministry of Finance in July 2023. The discussion explored existing regulations regarding e-cigarettes, licensing procedures and retail monitoring mechanisms, yielding valuable insights to inform policy recommendations. Additionally, WHO supported BPOM in developing a technical paper on NENTPs, which synthesized global legislation and proposed policy measures for Indonesia. Its recommendations advocate for limiting nicotine concentration, regulating product volume, banning flavours, establishing licensing requirements, mandating ingredient reporting, and implementing strict advertising restrictions. The paper is timed with the enactment of the 2023 Omnibus Health Law, which categorizes NENTPs as tobacco products. The Government of Indonesia referenced the paper in the ongoing drafting of further provisions on e-cigarettes in the implementing regulation of the Omnibus Health Law.In a meeting on August 2023, Dra. Togi Junice Hutadjulu, Apt., MHA, then Acting Deputy for Drugs, Narcotics, Psychotropics, Precursors and Addictive Substances Control of BPOM, said, “This will provide valuable inputs to the draft regulations that will protect public health, especially for children and adolescents. Strong regulation will serve as strong basis to protect the future generation.”
WHO’s collaboration with BPOM has advanced evidence-based policy development on e-cigarettes and other NENTPs. The policy will enable Indonesia to protect the population, particularly children and youth, from the emerging threats of addiction and health risks associated with these new products.
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Written by Dina Kania, National Professional Officer for Policy and Legislation, WHO Indonesia