BPOM to Oversee Nationwide Vape Monitoring
Indonesia’s National Agency of Drug and Food Control (BPOM) will soon assume responsibility for monitoring the circulation of vapes throughout the country.
The agency stated that it will collaborate with the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) in this effort.
This move follows revelations by the BNN regarding the emergence of e-liquids containing narcotics.
Reports indicate that Indonesia has long waged a campaign against narcotics; in 2023, the country enacted a comprehensive law related to health, followed by the issuance of implementing regulations the following year.
BPOM Says Existing Laws Support New Vape Regulations
BPOM Head Taruna Ikrar stated over the weekend that, based on existing regulations. The agency can issue technical rules clearly defining which vape products are permitted and which are prohibited.
He added that these rules would also serve as the basis for implementing relevant enforcement measures and penalties.
BNN Calls for a Complete Vape Ban
The BNN recently proposed a complete ban on vapes within Indonesia.
Just days earlier, BNN Head Suyudi Ario Seto told the media that the “only way” to prevent the proliferation of liquid narcotics is to implement a total ban.
Taruna, however, suggested that Indonesia should exercise caution before adopting such measures.
BPOM Pushes for Science-Based Regulation
Taruna stated that the BPOM would determine which products should be banned based on scientific assessments.
He stated that scientific assessments would assist regulatory bodies in determining which products are genuinely hazardous and must be prohibited from entering Indonesia.
He noted that regulators need to distinguish between the types of vapes that should be banned and those that should not; such restrictions cannot be applied indiscriminately.
Drug-Laced E-Liquids Found Mainly in Illicit Vapes
Reports indicate that the BNN (National Narcotics Agency) has primarily discovered drug-laced e-liquids within illicit vapes—specifically, those lacking the requisite excise tax stamps.
In light of these findings, Taruna agreed that illicit vapes must be strictly regulated, but he did not advocate for a blanket ban on all vapes.
Survey Highlights Vape Use Among Indonesian Adults
In 2021, a survey conducted jointly by the Indonesian Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization revealed that 11.9% of adult respondents in Indonesia had used vapes.
The survey further indicated that among those who use vapes daily and have done so for over two years, adults aged 25 to 44 constituted the largest demographic, accounting for 8.8% of the group.
