Indonesian drug agency chief proposes ban on e-cigarettes and e-liquid containing harmful substances
The head of Indonesia’s drug agency proposed banning e-cigarettes and e-liquids due to the presence of harmful substances like synthetic cannabinoids and methamphetamine.Summary
The head of Indonesia’s National Narcotics Agency, Suyudi Ario Seto, has proposed a ban on e-cigarettes and e-liquids, advocating for their inclusion in the revised “Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances Act.” This proposal follows laboratory testing of 341 e-liquid samples, revealing the presence of dangerous substances in several, including 11 containing synthetic cannabinoids, one with methamphetamine, and 23 with etizolam. Seto highlighted the global emergence of 1,386 new psychoactive substances, with 175 identified in Indonesia, and noted that etizolam is now classified as a second-class narcotic under Indonesian Health Minister Regulation No. 15 of 2025. Currently, cases involving these substances are prosecuted under health laws, resulting in lighter penalties. Seto argues that a ban on e-cigarettes would significantly curb the circulation of e-liquids containing prohibited chemicals, citing similar measures taken by other ASEAN countries.
(Source：2Firsts)
