The Indonesian Health Ministry has announced plans to mandate plain packaging for all cigarettes and e-cigarettes, targeting the promotional designs that attract young demographics. This regulatory push, confirmed by Andi Saguni, the ministry’s acting director general for disease prevention and control, directly addresses the country’s concerning number of youth smokers.
The upcoming mandate serves as an implementation step for Government Regulation No. 28 of 2024, which stems from the landmark Health Law (Law No. 17 of 2023). Under the new rules, brand names and fonts will still be permitted on packaging, but they must adhere to strict, uniform design standards regarding color, layout, and graphic health warnings.
To facilitate the industry-wide shift, the ministry will grant tobacco and vape companies a 12-month transition period to update their packaging designs once the regulation is finalized.
By implementing plain packaging, Indonesia joins a growing list of nations utilizing standardized packaging to reduce smoking initiation, including:
- Australia and New Zealand
- The United Kingdom and France
- Canada
- Regional neighbors Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, and Myanmar
Global studies have consistently demonstrated that plain packaging successfully reduces the appeal of tobacco products, enhances the visibility of health warnings, and deters young people from starting to smoke or vape.
