JAKARTA. Despite of pro and cons, DPR (the House of the Representatives or Parliament) insists to continue the discussion on Tobacco Bill.
Member of DPR from Golkar Faction Misbakhun said the Tobacco Bill is formulated to protect local farmers. Understandably, to date the tobacco imports comprise 60% of supplies for cigarette industry, while the farmers are overshadowed by the low tobacco price.
The discussion is unlikely to run smoothly, on the grounds that the bill will include the master plan on tobacco cultivation and the development of tobacco industry. In fact, recently the Supreme Court has approved the judicial review on the Minister of Industry Regulation No 63/2015 on the 2015-2020 Roadmap of the Tobacco Product Industry.
It is said tha the ministerial regulation has violated five laws, including Law on Health, Law on Excise, Law on Child Protection, Law on Environment Protection and Management, and Law on Human Rights. The roadmap also contradicts wih the Minister of Health Regulation No 40/2013 on the Roadmap of the Control on the Impacts of Cigarette Consumption to Health.
However, Misbakhun estimates that the judicial review will not affect to the discussion on the bill, on the grounds that the law making process at DPR is not related with the judicial review process.
Member of DPR from PAN Toto Daryanto stressed that the cigarette consumptions bring negative impacts to the public, mainly in terms of reducing public’s economic ability.
Toto said, some articles, such as article 3, 10, and 37 that regulate the enhancement of tobacco production are still debatable. According to Toto, if the productions rise, the cigarette consumptions will also rise. He claimed that PAN will reject the overall bill.
Member of Advisory Board of National Commission of Tobacco Control Emil Salim said that discussion of Tobacco Bill as the initiative from DPR reflects the pressures from cigarette industries to maintain their business interests.
According to Emil Salim, the bill will likely to include the technical aspects of the roadmap. “Every law making process will definitely involve many interests, including government or entrepreneurs. They can organize the associations of cigarette industries, tobacco farmers, and others,” Emil said. (Muhammad Farid/Translator)
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