SINGAPORE: The ban on the sale of chewing gum in Singapore stays as the government is concerned that lifting the ban could see a return of the problem of gum litter.
Parliamentary Secretary for National Development Dr Maliki Osman said this in response to a question on the appropriate time to do away with the ban.
Dr Maliki said gum litter has not been a significant problem since the ban took effect in 1992 but is worried that this may change if the ban is lifted.
He explained: "We remain concerned that lifting the ban on the sale of chewing gum could result in chewing gum litter resurfacing as a problem and undermine our ongoing efforts to curb littering.
“As the rationale for the imposition of the ban is still valid at present, the government’s position is that the ban should remain.”
The government decided to impose a complete ban on the sale of chewing gum in 1992 due to problems arising from the indiscriminate disposal of gum litter such as difficulty and costs incurred in removing gum litter from public places, vandalism and service disruptions caused by gum being stuck between the doors of MRT trains.
The government made an exception in 2004 for the sale of chewing gum with therapeutic value as defined under the Medicines Act. These include those that help smokers quit as well as products of dental hygiene. — CNA/vm
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We still have not yet learnt not to throw things out of windows, and therefore will never learn how to dispose of spent gum properly.
