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18 Bizarre Things That Have Been Banned Around the World

Yes, there’s actually a country that bans its citizens from wearing blue jeans.

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Baby walker
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Baby walkers

Baby walkers are banned in Canada in an effort to keep children safe. They were banned in 2004, meaning babies can only crawl until they learn to walk on their own. If you’re caught with a baby walker in your possession (or you’re selling one), you can be fined up to $100,000. You won’t believe that these 50 things are banned in the U.S.

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Vinaigrette or french dressing recipe ingredients on vintage wood background. Olive oil, balsamic vinegar, garlic, salt and pepper from above.
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Too much ketchup, mayo, and vinaigrette

In France, these three condiments are limited in public schools. The rule was put in place in an effort to improve the dietary quality of the schools’ meals for the students. The rule states that, “all sauces (mayonnaise, ketchup, and vinaigrette) must not be in free access but served according to the dish.”

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Love concept for mother's day and valentine's day. Valentine. Love. Valentine's Day postcard. Happy Valentine's day hearts on wooden background. Valentine card with space for text
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Valentine’s Day

Citizens of Pakistan, Indonesia, and Saudi Arabia are banned from celebrating Valentine’s Day. Pakistan banned the holiday in 2017 because it is not a Muslim tradition and it focuses on love that isn’t directed towards God. These ingredients that people use in American are banned in other countries.

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man with overweight. symbolic photo for beer belly, unsuccessful dieting and eating the wrong foods. Weight loss concept. Tight shirt.
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Obesity

If you live in Japan and are in between the ages of 40 and 74, there’s a law that mandates the company you work for measure your waistline. If your waistline is larger than the government-mandated limits, you’re given “dietary guidance” and your company could be fined.

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Portrait Of A Beautiful Young Blond Woman With Ponytail Hairsty?le. Back view
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Mullets and ponytails

Men are not allowed to sport a mullet, ponytail, or any long hair in Iran. These nine countries have banned McDonald’s.

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Tender lace over woman's skin
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Lacey underwear

Lacey underwear is banned from being sold in Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan. In 2013, regulations were passed that require clothing that touches your skin to contain at least 6 percent cotton. This was put in place for health concerns that lace isn’t breathable fabric for the skin.

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pray of monks on ceremony of buddhist in Thailand
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Reincarnation

Buddhist monks in Tibet can only be reincarnated with permission from the Chinese government. The law, which was passed in 2007, is pretty hard to enforce. Many people think the only reason it was put in place was to insult the Dalai Lama and have the public not think as highly of him. These are books we bet you never knew were banned.

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Pink Bubble Gum Background that can be used to provide your message
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Chewing gum

It’s illegal to import chewing gum into Singapore, with only certain gums allowed for medical reasons. The country takes it very seriously too—you can get fined up to $100,000 (SGD) and be put in prison.

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Friends Radio Boombox Sound Vintage Concept
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Noise

In Victoria, Australia you’re restricted from making any loud noises during certain times. More specifically, noise is banned at night, when people are most likely trying to fall asleep. On Good Friday, loud noises are banned all day long.

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Goldfish in an aquarium, close up
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Goldfish

No, not the snack that smiles back. In Rome, while you are allowed to have goldfish, you’re not allowed to keep them in a glass bowl. It’s considered cruel since the bowl limits their oxygen flow and can cause them to go blind. A subsection of the law prohibits people from giving away goldfish, or any other animal, as a prize.

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Walking the pack/array of dogs, most dachshunds, being walked by single person in the background on city sidewalk
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Not taking Fido for a walk

Rome has some strict animal rules: walking your dog is a requirement by law. If you don’t, you could be fined $700. These foods are banned from space.

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Pumping gas at gas pump
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Running out of gas

In Germany, you’re banned from stopping your vehicle on the Autobahn, so running out of gas is a big no-no. You’re also not allowed to walk on the Autobahn. If you do, you can be fined $100 for putting other drivers in danger.

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Chocolate Easter eggs and sweets on brown wooden background
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Candy eggs

In the United States, Kinder Surprise Candy Eggs are banned. Since these chocolate treats come with a little toy inside, they have been deemed a choking hazard. People have been detained in airports trying to smuggle in this candy from Canada.

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Close up of female legs of worker standing near her office. The woman is wearing formalwear and shoes on high heels. She is holding a handbag. Copy space in left side
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High heels

Ever since 2009, people in Greece have been banned from wearing heels at all historical sites. The point on high-heeled shoes puts too much pressure on the ground and it can chisel away at the architectural sites. These everyday items are banned from Disney parks.

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Huge pile of the US coins
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Pennies

In Canada, you’re not allowed to use more than 25 pennies per transaction. This was one of the country’s laws to phase out the coin, which started in 2013.

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Close up of microphone on stage in audience room blur background.
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Lip-syncing

In 2005, the president of Turkmenistan banned lip-synching to preserve “true culture.” He also banned opera and ballet, saying that they were unnecessary.

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Memes

Due to Australia’s strict copyright rules, it’s illegal to create and share memes. Section 132A part 2 of the Copyright Act says, “distributing an infringing article that prejudicially affects the copyright owner” is against the law.

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jeans button hole closeup fashion denim background
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Blue jeans

In North Korea, you aren’t allowed to wear blue jeans—but don’t worry, black jeans are still OK. The color blue is associated with the United States, so North Korea doesn’t let their citizens wear them. Next, read about the dumbest laws in every U.S. state.

[Sources: InsiderBuzzfeed]

Morgan Cutolo
Morgan Cutolo is a former senior production editor at Trusted Media Brands. She graduated from the University of New Hampshire in 2016, where she received her Bachelor of Arts in Journalism. In her free time, she likes exploring the seacoast of Maine, where she lives, and snuggling up on the couch with her corgi, Eggo, to watch HGTV or The Office.