Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation Minister Lynda Tabuya issued a warning to all store owners that once the sale of industrial glue is regulated, it will become a crime for anyone to sell the adhesive.
She said Government was aware of the glue sniffing issue and her ministry along with the Trade, Cooperatives, Small and Medium Enterprises Ministry had presented their plans to Cabinet for a paper to regulate sale of the glue.
Ms Tabuya said once it was regulated, only licensed companies would be allowed to sell the adhesive.
“We can’t ban it altogether because industrial glue is needed in certain industries,” she said.
“So, if you regulate it, we’d like to see that only licensed companies can buy the shoe glue from the hardware stores, because at the moment anyone can buy it.” She said it was unfortunate the glue was readily sold in shops around the country with some shopkeepers boasting it was their number one seller.
“I appeal to these shopkeepers to be more responsible and not sell the glue to children.”
Ms Tabuya said the glue sniffing issue warranted immediate action because it was luring children into prostitution and making them vulnerable to child abuse.
