28. Poppy seeds
Believe it or not, poppy seeds can land you in serious hot water in Singapore. While poppy seeds are unlikely to do you harm, they can contain traces of opiates. That’s why they’re classified as prohibited goods by the country’s strict Central Narcotics Bureau. You can import them, but only once they’ve been cleared by Singapore’s Health Sciences Authority.
27. Chewing gum
Singapore’s government took keeping the streets clean to a new level when it decided to ban chewing gum in 1992. The only exception – brought in through changes to the law in 2004 – is ‘therapeutic’ gum, including nicotine gum or gum prescribed for medical purposes. Don’t worry, though: it’s OK for travellers to bring a small amount with them for personal chewing.
26. Shark fins
Although shark fins are commonly used in some parts of Asia for soup, the practice of shark finning is widely condemned. This is not just due to the shrinking shark population, but also the cruelty of the practice. Shark fins are typically cut off while the shark is still alive, and the animal is sometimes thrown back into the water to die. The US, Canada and the UK have all banned the trade of shark fins, and one of Hong Kong’s major restaurant chains has taken shark fins off its menus for good.
