By Sharon Gordon

I’VE been in the adult toy industry now for more than 22 years. At one time in old South Africa, sex toys and pornography were illegal. There was a great opportunity to smuggle Playboys over the border from Swaziland and sell them in SA. If you got caught, you went to jail.

Thankfully those laws have relaxed and selling adult toys is legal but still remains one of those edgy professions. There are all types of difficulties. Rental space is denied because nobody wants ‘that’ type of person next to them.

We cannot advertise on social media and our posts get shadow ghosted if they show the product we sell. This makes it extremely difficult to get out there and known.

Everyone else can have highly-suggestive adverts as long as what they are selling does not go near their genitals. So, while we have come a long way, I started thinking about what other countries are doing.

Obviously, Europe has a far freer attitude to sex and adult toys. All our distributors hail from across the continent. I was once told that one of the brands sold more products into a single store in Berlin per month than they did into South Africa in a year! I wanted to weep.

The legality of adult toys varies worldwide, with several countries enforcing bans on their use, possession, importation, or sale. Notable examples include:

Maldives: Classifies sex toys as “pornographic materials”, prohibiting their importation and possession. There is also a travel ban on sex toys, so don’t take them on holiday with you. Sad but true.

Bhutan: Toys may be seized if you have the intent to sell. If you are visiting only take one with you, make sure it’s not your favourite, just in case.

Saudi Arabia: Under Islamic law, sex toys are deemed “pornographic materials” and are banned.

United Arab Emirates (UAE): The importation and possession of sex toys are illegal, with such items considered obscene.

Iran: Just don’t. There is a travel ban when it comes to sex toys. Being caught with one can lead to extreme consequences.

Iraq: Same as Iran – Just don’t.

Oman: Taking sex toys into Oman is illegal – just don’t even try.

Kuwait: Has regulations against sex toys including having the ban from Islamic Law so you may have travel issues. Not sure about being in transit but I wouldn’t chance it.

Qatar: It is illegal to travel to Qatar with sex toys. I am sure that this applies to being in transit as well, so don’t take the chance.

Cayman Islands: Section 157 of their Penal Code restricts the importing of adult toys based on the probability of resale. It has rarely been enforced but something to be aware of.

Thailand: Sex toys are categorised as "obscene objects"; making their importation and possession illegal.

Indonesia: Travelling with sex toys can cause a problem and they may be confiscated. I wonder what they do with them.

Sri Lanka: Sex toys can be confiscated at the airport. There is no hard and fast rule about being in possession of an adult toy. It all depends on who checks your bag and if they fancy it for themselves.

Fiji: Some regulations can affect travelling with adult toys.

Papua New Guinea: Sex toys are classified as sexual enhancements (which they are) but that means that they are illegal.

Vietnam: The importation of sex toys is prohibited, and travellers may have such items confiscated upon entry.

India: Sex toys are considered obscene under the Indian Penal Code, making their sale and distribution illegal. Travelling with them may lead to them being confiscated.

Malaysia: The sale and importation of sex toys are illegal, with such items classified as obscene. There is also a travel ban on adult toys.

Egypt: Under Islamic Laws sex toys are prohibited so you may have issues travelling with them.

Turks and Caicos Islands: Sex toys are prohibited. It stands to reason that there would also be a travel ban.

Senegal: Sex toys are banned and may cause travel issues.

Malawi: Has very strict laws against adult toys and pornography which can result in a travel ban.

Uganda: Sex toys are prohibited as is homosexuality. You can go to jail for not reporting if someone is gay so I wouldn’t chance it.

Zambia: There are some restrictions around on particular types of sex toys which may lead to your pleasure product being confiscated. Don’t take the realistic looking ones.

Zimbabwe: The importation or possession of sex toys is illegal, as they are deemed "indecent"; or "obscene"; under the country's censorship laws.

Botswana: There is a ban on the sale and use of sex toys. The way I understand the law is you can have one in your possession, but you may not use it. They also have to catch you using it, so maybe don’t be a cam girl.

Kenya: There has been a history of confiscating adult toys when travelling to Kenya. We’re not sure about being in transit. I brought a couple in my luggage when I was in transit, and it didn’t seem to be a problem

St Kits and Nevis: (I had to look up where this was, it’s in the Caribbean), Realistic looking sex toys can be banned from importation and may get flagged at the airport.

Lucia: Another one where realistic looking sex toys are banned from importation and may get flagged. So be sure to take a lipstick or a Womanizer.

United States (Alabama): The sale of sex toys is prohibited under the 1998 Anti-Obscenity Enforcement Act, though possession is not criminalized. You can own one, but you may not sell them.

Texas: Bringing in more than 6 sex toys will get you into trouble but there is no travel ban. I wonder if you can stock your store 6 toys at a time. I’m not sure if there is a ban on the sale of sex toys.

I can’t remember which state it is in the USA who has recently made business licensing and conditions for adult stores so difficult that they are going out of business. One of the conditions is that on a prominent place on the window the words “Sexual Aids Sold Here” or something similar. I remember reading it and thinking you have to be bloody brave to walk in there.

22 years ago, I started the first female-friendly boutique style adult store. It revolutionised the industry in South Africa. At one stage there were only 300 upmarket adult stores worldwide and I owned 4. Since then, the world has changed, and I’m pleased that I was a part of it.

Today there are several stores that are not seedy, who will give great advice and sell you something that will add some zoom into your relationship. We don’t live in any of the countries mentioned above. Let’s be grateful and support those souls who are simply trying to make life better for everyone.

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