Regulation of Imports and Exports (Chewing Gum) Regulations

Regulation of Imports and Exports Act

(Chapter 272A, Section 3)

Rg 4

G.N. No. S 533/1995

REVISED EDITION 1999

(1st July 1999)

[1st December 1995]

Citation

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Regulation of Imports and Exports (Chewing Gum) Regulations.

Definitions

2. In these Regulations, unless the context otherwise requires —

“chewing gum” means the substance usually known as chewing gum, bubble gum or dental chewing gum, or any like substance prepared from a gum base of vegetable or synthetic origin and intended for chewing;

“chewing gum with therapeutic value” means chewing gum which is a medicinal product or an oral dental gum;

“medicinal product” has the same meaning as in section 3 of the Medicines Act (Cap. 176);

“oral dental gum” means chewing gum for use in promoting dental health or oral hygiene.

[S 632/2003 wef 01/01/2004]

Prohibition

3. Except as provided in regulation 3A, the importation into Singapore of any chewing gum is prohibited.

Importation of chewing gum with therapeutic value

3A. Regulation 3 shall not apply to any chewing gum with therapeutic value, subject to the following conditions:

(a)

where such chewing gum is a medicinal product —

(i)	a product licence has been granted under the Medicines Act (Cap. 176) in respect of the chewing gum that remains in force; and
(ii)	the chewing gum is not on a general sales list under section 23 of the Medicines Act;

(b)

where such chewing gum is an oral dental gum which contains calcium lactate at a concentration of between 2% to 5% weight in weight and xylitol at a concentration of between 12% to 36% weight in weight, or is sugarless and contains sodium hexametaphosphate at a concentration of between 1% to 2% weight in weight —

(i)	a product licence has been granted under the Medicines Act in respect of the chewing gum that remains in force; and
(ii)	the chewing gum is not on a general sales list under section 23 of the Medicines Act; or

(c)

where such chewing gum is an oral dental gum other than as described in paragraph (b) —

(i)	a product licence has been granted under the Medicines Act in respect of the chewing gum that remains in force; and
(ii)	the chewing gum is of a description, or falling within a class, specified in an order under section 29 of the Medicines Act. [S 632/2003 wef 01/01/2004]

Importation of chewing gum permitted in certain cases

4. Notwithstanding regulation 3, the Director-General may permit a person to import chewing gum into Singapore —

(a)	in transit to or from West Malaysia; or
(b)	on transhipment to any country.

Obligation on person who imports chewing gum in transit to or from West Malaysia

5. A person who imports chewing gum into Singapore in transit to or from West Malaysia shall —

(a)	ensure that chewing gum in transit by road is conveyed in a container or in completely covered vehicles or wagons which are capable of being locked, sealed or otherwise secured;
(b)	upon importation, lock, seal or otherwise secure the consignment of chewing gum in the manner required by a proper officer of customs or such other person as the Director-General may direct;
(c)	arrange, at his own expense, for the consignment of chewing gum to be escorted to the Woodlands Customs checkpoint or the Tuas Customs checkpoint from the free trade zone or from the Woodlands Customs checkpoint or the Tuas Customs checkpoint to the free trade zone;
(d)	submit to the Director-General the export permit for the re-export of the chewing gum within 7 days of the re-export; and
(e)	comply with such other conditions as the Director-General may impose. [S 172/2003 wef 01/04/2003] [S 632/2003 wef 0101/2004]

Obligation on person who imports chewing gum for re-export

6. A person who imports chewing gum (other than chewing gum in respect of which a product licence has been granted under the Medicines Act (Cap. 176) that remains in force) into Singapore on transhipment or for re-export to any country shall —

(a)

(b)

store the chewing gum in a warehouse situated within a free trade zone and confine its movement within the free trade zone except that movement between free trade zones is allowed if the chewing gum is —

(i)	conveyed in a container or in completely covered vehicles or wagons which are capable of being locked, sealed or otherwise secured; and
(ii)	locked, sealed or otherwise secured in the manner required by a proper officer of customs or such other person as the Director-General may direct before leaving one free trade zone for another;

(c)

furnish the Director-General with a letter of undertaking, and a banker’s guarantee or such other security as the Director-General may allow for an amount equivalent to $10,000;

[S 632/2003 wef 01/01/2004]

(d)

furnish the Director-General with a quarterly stock movement statement for chewing gum which shall, if the Director-General so requires, be audited by a firm of public accountants; and

(e)

comply with such other conditions as the Director-General may impose.

[S 592/99 wef 01/01/2000]

[S 172/2003 wef 01/04/2003]

Penalty

7. Any person who contravenes any of the provisions of these Regulations shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable —

(a)	on the first conviction to a fine not exceeding $100,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or to both; and
(b)	on the second or subsequent conviction, to a fine not exceeding $200,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years or to both.

[G.N. Nos. S 533/95; S 9/98]

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