Indonesia to continue regulating vapes instead of imposing ban

Tax revenue from industry among factors despite drug abuse and health fears

- Wahyudi Soeriaatmadja

Indonesia looks to continue to regulate vape products rather than ban them, despite a recent finding that one in 10 vape products in the country contained harmful substances.

The Indonesian authorities sampled 350 vape products across the country’s provinces from July to mid-September, and found that around 10 per cent of them contained harmful Class | narcotics.

The finding means that vape users — the bulk of whom are Gen Zs, according to the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) - run a significant risk of abusing etomidate, methamphetamine, marijuana or synthetic marijuana without even knowing it.

Health advocates are calling for an outright ban on vapes, which remain legal in Indonesia. However, with the vape industry being a major contributor to Indonesia’s economy, officials told The Straits Times that Indonesia would continue to just regulate it, unlike neighbours Singapore and Malaysia.

Dr Siti Nadia Tarmizi, a spokeswoman for the Health Ministry, told ST that Indonesia looks to regulate the sale of vapes instead, pointing to presidential regulation No. 28 in 2024.

Under the regulation, vaping liquids can contain only water, nicotine, flavourings, propylene glycol (a synthetic liquid substance used to keep moisture), and vegetable glycerin (a solvent for flavours and food colouring).

“Other than those listed, or if drugs are added, that is obviously illegal and the police would step in,” said Dr Nadia.

A senior BNN official told ST: “A lot of companies that produce vape products are conventional cigarette manufacturers. They have the right to operate either or both businesses under the existing law.”