The Ministry of Health has continued to take steps to gather support for the revision of Government Regulation (PP) No. 109 of 2012 to reduce smoking, which is medically harmful.
The ministry is currently continuing to lobby two other ministries so that they can fully support the revision of the regulation, Head of the ministry’s Chronic Lung Sisease and Immunological Sisorders Working Team Benget Saragih informed.
The two ministries are the Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of Economic Affairs, he said during a virtual discussion conducted by the Indonesia Institute for Social Development (IISD) on Monday.
In addition to garnering support from other ministries and government institutions, the Health Ministry is also conducting mitigation steps.
These steps include expanding its campaign and disseminating information on the importance of revising PP No. 109 of 2012 on the safekeeping of materials that contain addictive substances in the form of tobacco products for health.
One of the aspects highlighted by the campaign, which will be spread through various channels, including social and electronic media, is the danger of smoking.
Public figures will also be involved to raise people’s awareness on the urgent need for revising the regulation.
A review of the revision’s urgency and a discussion with the public will also be held.
“We will conduct education, communication, and dissemination with the entire public on a massive scale,” Saragih remarked.
This will be done in response to several rejections concerning the regulation’s revision expressed by several parties.
The revisions planned for Government Regulation 109/2012 include expanding the size of picture messages on cigarette packaging, including a regulation on electric cigarettes, and placing restrictions on advertisement, promotion, and sponsorship.
The revisions also include a ban on cigarette bar sales and strengthening of monitoring.
Earlier, the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture, during an online event on August 30, 2022, expressed its support for the revision of PP No. 109 of 2012 as part of an effort to protect children.
Source: Antara News