Indonesia Backs BNN Proposal for Total Ban on Vapes

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The government has responded to a proposal from the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) to ban the distribution of electronic cigarettes, commonly known as vapes. BNN submitted the recommendation following a surge in narcotics abuse facilitated through vaping devices.

Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Djamari Chaniago stated that the government welcomed the initiative. "I instructed officials not to hesitate in implementing a complete prohibition on vapes," Djamari said on Thursday, July 23, 2026.

According to Djamari, e-cigarettes are increasingly being exploited as a vehicle for drug consumption. He noted that roughly 39.5 percent of vape users have consumed drug-infused liquids through these devices. Djamari warned that the illicit use of vapes for drug consumption has reached an alarming level. "Therefore, anticipative steps are needed through tighter regulations, heightened oversight, and policy studies," he said.

The government subsequently tasked BNN with leading discussions on tightening control over the distribution and sale of e-cigarettes, including evaluating a potential nationwide ban. BNN Chief Commissioner General Suyudi Ario Seto noted that the agency had submitted a formal recommendation for a total vape ban to House of Representatives Commission III. "[We also proposed] a seminar on vape regulation and governance involving various stakeholders," Suyudi said.

The initiative prompted action from the Ministry of Health, which classified etomidate—a substance frequently added to vape liquids—as a Category III narcotic. This classification is codified under Minister of Health Regulation No. 15/2025.

Earlier, Head of the BNN Narcotics Laboratory Center Supianto reported that 23.97 percent of 438 tested vape liquid samples contained illicit drugs. "We recommended that vapes ultimately be banned, as in other countries," Supianto said at the BNN Headquarters on Wednesday, February 18, 2026.

Jihan Ristiyanti contributed to this article

Read: Behind BNN's Discovery of 178 New Drugs in Indonesia

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