Indonesia Should Ratify the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control

 
Ady Thea Dian Achmad, Andin Aditya Rahman
 
Due to a long history and close relationships with the tobacco industry, Indonesia is yet to ratify the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) issued by the World Health Organization (WHO). The hesitation to ratify the FCTC is based on a concern that to do so will bring about negative impacts on the tobacco industry.
 
Considering that 178 nations have already ratified the FCTC, Dina Kania, National Professional Officer for the Tobacco Free Initiative of the WHO, believes it is about time Indonesia does the same.
 
According to Mrs. Kania, it is high time for Indonesia to ratify the FCTC, particularly considering that the Government has established a number of policies that are similar to the FCTC anyway including the obligation to affix pictorial warnings on tobacco products(ILB No. 2151), and establishing smoke-free areas, as rooted in Government Regulation No. 109 of 2012on the Control of Addictive Substances in the Form of Tobacco Products (ILD No. 290and ILB No. 2070).
 
Mrs. Kania further explained that the FCTC is a world response to the tobacco epidemic which aims to protect current and future generations from the negative health, economic and social effects of tobacco.
 
The policies set out in the FCTC, as Mrs. Kania explained, include provisions that control the demand and supply of tobacco, such as price and cigarette excise. There are also articles on protection from the dangers posed by cigarette smoke, tobacco product packaging and mandatory labels, as well as quit smoking and other educational programs.
 
Moreover, the FCTC also accommodates the eradication of the illegal trade of tobacco products, which is known to significantly hinder state revenue, and further provides for the prohibition of selling tobacco products to children as well as support for tobacco farmers.
 
In response to those arguing that the FCTC will bring about negative effects on the Indonesian tobacco industry including tobacco farmers and cigarette factories, Mrs. Kania asserts that the FCTC does not prohibit or deter the growth of the tobacco industry.
 
“In the FCTC, there is not one article that prohibits tobacco farmers and the tobacco industry,” Mrs. Kania said during a press conference in Jakarta last Thursday.
 
Mrs. Kania further explained that in fact major tobacco producing countries have ratified the FCTC without any significant impact to their tobacco industries. For example, China produced 38 percent of the world’s tobacco supply before ratify the framework which increased to 42.8 percent after the ratification.
 
Mrs. Kania stated that China’s annual production has increased to 2.3 million cigarettes in 2009 after adopting the FCTC, which is a considerable difference to its annual production of 1.6 million cigarettes in 2000.
 
“So there is no correlation between the FCTC and a decrease of cigarette laborers and tobacco farmers,” emphasized Mrs. Kania.
 
She added that the FCTC respects state sovereignty by being flexible to the constitution and regulations of a country. For example, the FCTC mandates pictorial warnings on tobacco products to be in accordance with national-level regulations.
 
“Therefore, Indonesia should not be afraid of acceding to the FCTC,” insists Mrs. Kania.
 
(hot/kc)