Letter: We need tobacco control law

I read with interest the editorial entitled "Punitively Taxing Smokers", and wish to share the views of PT HM Sampoerna Tbk. (Sampoerna) on two key topics raised in the article.

First, Sampoerna supports the goal of enacting a comprehensive tobacco control law in Indonesia.

To this end, we have submitted our views to the House of Representatives' speaker and the chairman of the House's legislative commission recently, urging the House to include such a law on the one-year priority list of the National Legislation Project for the 2009-2014 term.

Our proposal recommends, among other measures: to make the sale of cigarettes to children under 18 illegal; to place restrictions on the marketing and sale of tobacco products; provide larger, more prominent health warnings; mandate public smoking restrictions in designated public places; advocate reasonable, science-based product regulation standards; and authorize the formation of a dedicated tobacco control agency to oversee the implementation and compliance of such measures.

Second, we will continue to support the government's excise tax approach as laid out in the tobacco industry's roadmap, with the goal being a specific single rate for each cigarette category by 2016.

On behalf of close to 90,000 people employed by us and our manufacturing partners, as well as the many thousands who rely on our business for their livelihood, Sampoerna is ready to work with the government, members of the House, and any other interested parties that are committed to an open and transparent process in pursuit of a tobacco control law as soon as possible.

Christopher R. Nelson
Director PT HM Sampoerna Tbk.
Jakarta