Ordinary chewing gum will continue to be outlawed in the so-called nanny-state, but nicotine gum could get a reprieve to help smokers kick the habit, they said.

The Health Sciences Authority said its review will be strictly limited to "chewing gum containing a theraputic agent and approved for theraputic use," the Straits Times reported Jun 1.

Importing and selling all variations of chewing gum has been banned in Singapore since 1992, and anyone caught smuggling gum into the country faces a year in jail and a S$10,000 (US$5500) fine.

But a pharmaceutical company Pharmacia said last month it was seeking an exemption for nicotine gum on medical grounds.

Chewing gum was originally banned because authorities considered it a public nuisance and difficult to clean up.

The last straw was when pranksters found that gum could be used to jam train doors and disrupt the service.

An environment ministry spokesman told the Straits Times an exemption for nicotine gum was considered when the ban was imposed, but it was not considered then to be critical to the smoking control programme.

An estimated 15 percent of Singapore's four million population are smokers, one of the lowest rates in Asia.