Therapeutic chewing gum OK in Singapore

by Leigh K Cunningham
in Life in Singapore
28 Nov 2009 | 18 Comments

I came to live in Singapore in 2004, which was the year the Singapore government relaxed its ban on chewing gum to permit the import of chewing gum that has a therapeutic value. And since chewing gum is allowed solely for this purpose (therapy), citizens like myself must buy our stash from the pharmacy, actually consult with the pharmacist, and sign the Chewing Gum Register. The Register includes your name, ID card number, signature and how many bottles of therapeutic gum were dispensed. If there is no pharmacist on duty at the time you happen by, you are connected by video to an on-duty pharmacist elsewhere who asks a few questions and checks you out through a camera lens before authorizing the puchase. Pharmacists who do not observe these rules could be jailed for up to two years and fined $2,940.

Therapeutic gum available at the pharmacy includes Wrigleys Orbit (for healthy teeth) and Pfizer Inc's Nicorette.

Since chewing gum is now imported into Singapore arising from the 2004 United States-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (USS-FTA), there is a misconception amongst citizens that this means it is OK to bring your own stash in whenever you return home from overseas. Not so—even small quantities for whatever purpose are technically prohibited under the "Regulation of Imports and Exports (Chewing Gum) Regulations."

Singapore has a global reputation for being the cleanest, tidiest city/country in the world, and it is a well-deserved title. Chewing gum was banned because it was causing serious maintenance problems in high-rise public housing flats, with vandals disposing of spent gum in mailboxes, inside keyholes and even on elevator buttons. Chewing gum left on floors, stairways and pavements in public areas increased the cost of cleaning and damaged cleaning equipment. Gum stuck on the seats of public buses was also considered a problem.

In 1987, the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) began operations. Shortly thereafter, it was reported that vandals were sticking chewing gum on the door sensors of MRT trains, preventing the door from functioning properly and causing disruption of train services. Although the incidents were rare, it was costly, and so the ban was implemented in 1992.

Since 2004, street cleaners have complained about the return of spent wads on our pristine pavements, albeit therapeutic wads. Should this continue, those of us in the Chewing Gum Register might well be rounded up and asked to explain.

Regards
Leigh

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Comments (18)

I've received a lot of emails and Twitter DMs about this blog, so here's a little more background information.

Chewing gum is only available now in Singapore because it was a sticking point (pardon pun) in negotiations between the USA and Singapore for a bilaeral free trade agreement. There were two unresolved issues to address in the final phase of negotiations: the War in Iraq and chewing gum.

Chicago-based Wrigley company enlisted a Washington DC lobbyist to get chewing gum on the agenda for the trade talks. As a compromise, the Singapore government allowed sales of "medicinal gum" provided it was sold by a dentist or pharmacist, who must take down the names of buyers in the Chewing Gum Register.

6 Dec 2009, Leigh K Cunningham, www.leighkcunningham.com

This made me laugh out loud. Thanks for sharing it. Our world is so wacky. I live in Shanghai where there are a number of things I wish the government would ban. :)

29 Nov 2009, Kristin Bair O'Keeffe, http://www.kristinbairokeeffeblog.com

This would not surprise me, Hannah, if spent wads of gum started to take over the sidewalk or ruin too many pairs of Gucci shoes!

28 Nov 2009, Leigh K Cunningham, www.leighkcunningham.com

Not as far as I know, Phil!

28 Nov 2009, Leigh K Cunningham, www.leighkcunningham.com

When we first arrived in Singapore, I did not understand the absence of gum at the supermarket, so I was bringing in a stash after each trip away, for personal use only :)

28 Nov 2009, Leigh K Cunningham, www.leighkcunningham.com

Now that you have spoken out are you being followed by any gumshoes?

28 Nov 2009, Phil Harrison, @philharrison

Maybe the DNA left by the chewer can be extracted from the gum from the saliva. MAybe the govt will start to demand a saliva sample from citizens when theyregister.

28 Nov 2009, Hannah Goh

While not a gum chewer I would find myself, if I lived in Singapore, dreaming of running gum in from neighboring countries by fast boat. Shady deals in dock side warehouses and chewing it on the sly or in dens covertly created for that purpose.

27 Nov 2009, mcl

That's so interesting Leigh. I'd heard re the chewing gum ban and so was very careful not to chew any while there not so long ago - briefly! I understand the reasons why it's banned now after reading this. Makes a lot of sense.

27 Nov 2009, Kay, andbottlewasher.blogspot.com

Chewing gum is also supposed to curb appetite by tricking the stomach that you're full because of all the chewing. Let me assure you that this DOES NOT work! If anything, it makes you hungrier!

27 Nov 2009, Sandra Williamson

The penalties include fines, Corrective Work Orders, and jail time - similar to the penalties for spitting in public and not flushing public toilets.

27 Nov 2009, Leigh K Cunningham, www.leighkcunningham.com

What happens to you if you're caught at customs with a couple of packets of non-therapeutic PK?

27 Nov 2009, Molly Hardwick

To tell you the truth, Kat, I've never noticed or seen anyone chewing gum in 6 years, apart from myself, but only in the gym when I'm shuffling on the treadmill. Definitely never in public.

27 Nov 2009, Leigh K Cunningham, www.leighkcunningham.com

It is hilarious, extreme and understandable. Do you see people chewing in public or is it only done behind closed doors? :)

27 Nov 2009, Kat Walsh

I agree, Louisa. I've been there too! I don't chew gum so it wouldn't bother me in the least if it was banned here (UK).

27 Nov 2009, Katherine Charles

That's hilarious, but I can understand it. I've had to cut bubble gum from my kids' hair and clothing. It's also banned in my house!

27 Nov 2009, Louisa Carrington

Lucky I didn't know this when I was in Singapore in 1998! When I was trying to quit smoking I used to chew gum all the time. It didn't work though.

27 Nov 2009, Allan Grayshore

Absolutely, no way! Not true, surely?

27 Nov 2009, Lucy Browne-Wilson

Therapeutic chewing gum OK in Singapore

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