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.
