Indonesia to bring in electronic cigarette ban

The Indonesian government plans to ban the sale of electronic cigarettes amid ‘growing concerns over the product’s negative impact on people’s health’, according to a story in The Jakarta Post.

The Post reported that one in five Indonesians currently smoked and that ‘a high number’ of those smokers were using electronic cigarettes to help them quit the habit, ‘said to cause various serious illnesses, including cancer, chronic respiratory problems and cardiovascular diseases’.

Nevertheless, the Trade Minister Rachmat Gobel said on Monday that sales of electronic cigarettes would be banned in line with concerns recently voiced by the Health Ministry.

“It has been deemed that e-cigarettes pose health risks and that’s why we need to impose a ban,” he said.

There are no domestic electronic cigarette producers; so consumers are said to rely on imports from China.