New Sanctions for Cigarettes Exceeding Nicotine and Tar Limits

Cigarette manufacturers will be subject to sanctions if they produce or distribute products that exceed the maximum permissible levels of nicotine and tar. The provisions governing such sanctions are planned to be further regulated under Regulation of the Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Cultural Affairs (“ Menko PMK ”).

“The sanction will only take the form of product withdrawal; there will be no criminal penalties,” stated Benget Saragih, Head of the Tobacco-Related Disease Control Working Team, in a statement to Hukumonline.

The implementation of the product withdrawal sanction will be carried out in phases and is planned to become fully effective within the next five years. During this period, the Government will conduct outreach and socialization efforts to manufacturers as well as tobacco farmers as part of the policy transition process.

The Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Cultural Affairs and the Ministry of Health have established the maximum permissible nicotine content at 1 milligram per cigarette and the maximum tar content at 10 milligrams per cigarette. This regulatory measure constitutes a follow-up to Regulation of the Government No. 28 of 2024 on Implementing Regulation to Law No. 17 of 2023 on Health (“ PP 28/2024 ”).