Vapeboss – The Chairman of the National Awakening Party (PKB) Abdul Muhaimin Iskandar, or more commonly known as Gus Muhaimin, has asked the government to reconsider its decision regarding the 15% increase in excise tax on e-cigarettes or vapes over the next five years. He conveyed this when meeting with the Indonesian Liquid Entrepreneurs Association at the DPR RI complex in Senayan, Jakarta, on Friday (9/12/2022).

He stated that the decision to raise excise tariffs has been widely complained about by e-cigarette entrepreneurs and is feared to have an impact on the e-cigarette industry ecosystem.

"I ask that the excise and tax on vapes not be too high. We know that this industry absorbs hundreds of thousands of workers. This is directly related from upstream to downstream. Indirectly, it's probably even more," said Muhaimin.

He also asked the government to protect local e-cigarette entrepreneurs from the influx of foreign investors. For him, this step is important to ensure the continued existence of the industry.

"This is a creative industry for millennials as vape producers. What the government needs to do is increase protection for them from foreign investors. Of course, so that they can remain in existence, not go out of business," he said.

In addition, Gus Muhaimin also encouraged vape entrepreneurs to open a discussion forum with the Ministry of Health (KEMENKES) and other relevant parties to discuss the health impacts on e-cigarette consumers.

"I think they (vape entrepreneurs) and the Ministry of Health, in particular, need to sit down together. What are the health impacts for vape users and how do they manifest? For example, regarding age, is there a need for an age limit for consuming vapes? Well, this is important to discuss and socialize," he explained.

Thus, Gus Muhaimin is committed to continuing to monitor the development of the e-cigarette industry through amendments to Government Regulation No. 109 of 2012 concerning the Security of Addictive Substances. This is to ensure that the vape industry can develop and the ecosystem is well-established.

"If the nicotine is produced domestically, I think the excise tax can be cheap. The problem now is that liquid nicotine production is still from abroad. If we can produce local liquid nicotine, we can become a major player domestically and also be able to export," he concluded.

During this meeting, Gus Muhaimin was accompanied by the Chairman of Commission X of the PKB faction, Syaiful Huda, member of Commission IV DPR RI Daniel Johan, and member of Commission XI DPR RI Bertu Merlas.

Source: Detik Finance