Jakarta. Indonesia's National Police and the Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM) have recommended banning electronic cigarettes, or vapes, urging the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) to conduct a further review based on evidence of their potential health and safety risks.

National Police Chief Gen. Suyudi Ario Seto said the two institutions had submitted the recommendation during a meeting with BPOM head Taruna Ikrar at police headquarters in South Jakarta on Monday.

“We have recommended a ban, and hopefully the MUI will conduct a special review based on the data and facts available to both the police and BPOM,” Suyudi told reporters.

The discussions come as authorities raise concerns about the use of vaping devices to distribute illegal drugs, including narcotics disguised in liquid cartridges.

Suyudi said the police had also issued an internal circular prohibiting officers and civilian employees from using or distributing vapes. The measure, introduced on Oct. 30, applies to police personnel across the country.

Under the policy, officers caught using vapes containing chemical substances could face disciplinary sanctions, while those found using devices containing narcotics could face criminal prosecution.

The police previously said the ban was intended to prevent drug abuse within the institution, citing concerns that narcotics such as etomidate could be concealed in vape liquids.

The National Police have warned that the contents of vape cartridges cannot always be identified through visual inspection, making it difficult to distinguish ordinary e-liquids from those containing illegal substances.

Police, BPOM Mulls Kratom Ban

Beyond vaping products, Monday's meeting also covered cooperation in monitoring the misuse of certain medicines, including tramadol, hexamine, and ketamine.

BPOM chief Taruna Ikrar said the two institutions also discussed regulating kratom, a plant with potential commercial uses but which carries risks of misuse, particularly among young people.

He said clearer regulations were needed to ensure the plant could be used appropriately and prevent abuse.

The agencies also discussed food safety oversight under the government's Free Nutritious Meals program and the Red and White Village and Urban Village Cooperatives initiative.

Their cooperation will include monitoring pharmacies, cold-storage facilities, and processed food products sold through cooperative outlets.

BPOM is also seeking stronger oversight of products sold through digital platforms. As of October, the agency had identified around 1.5 million online links requiring monitoring, with an estimated potential impact of Rp350 billion (US$21 million).

Suyudi said cooperation between the police and BPOM would focus on information sharing, tighter monitoring and stronger law enforcement against the distribution of products and substances that could endanger the public.

Add as a preferred source on Google +