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Guyana is taking steps to curb the importation of vaping products, according to reporting from Kaieteur News. President Irfaan Ali announced the initiative on Saturday evening via social media, emphasizing the need to protect public health and shield children from what he described as unregulated and widespread vaping.
The government plans to impose restrictions through an order signed by Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh under the Customs Act. However, the measure will include a pathway for exceptions: health authorities, including the Minister of Health, the National Tobacco Control Council, and the Tobacco Control Board, may approve imports for legitimate medicinal, therapeutic, or alternative applications deemed appropriate.
President Ali highlighted multiple health concerns driving the decision. Beyond nicotine addiction, he pointed to risks of exposure to toxic substances, respiratory problems, and potential effects on mental health and brain development in children and adolescents. He also noted concerns about exposure during pregnancy and warned that easy availability of vaping products could introduce young people to these risks early, including within schools.
The President stressed that the absence of complete knowledge about long-term effects should not be interpreted as evidence of safety. He acknowledged that some vaping products are marketed as alternatives to conventional cigarettes and that certain technologies might have medicinal applications, but insisted such uses must be assessed and approved by relevant health authorities.
According to Kaieteur News, the decision follows consultations with parents, teachers, children, religious leaders, and community members who expressed concern about increasing vape use among young people. Ali called on educators, parents, and community leaders to educate young people about vaping dangers, particularly products containing additives. He positioned the move as part of a broader international effort to strengthen regulation of vaping products, noting that several countries have already imposed similar restrictions.
Vaping has become a growing public health concern in many jurisdictions, with regulators worldwide grappling with how to balance potential harm reduction applications against recreational use, particularly among youth. The move reflects a global trend toward stricter oversight of vaping products.
As a Caribbean nation, Guyana’s regulatory approach to vaping may influence policy discussions across the region, where youth access to vaping products and their health impacts are emerging concerns for policymakers and parents alike.
Sources and attribution
- Kaieteur News
- Pres Ali announces restrictions on vape imports amid public health concerns
- ‘We have to protect our children, our schools, our society’ — President Ali announces restrictions on vape imports – Guyana Chronicle
- Guyana bans recreational vaping products
- Tobacco: E-cigarettes
- www.who.int › news-room › fact-sheetsTobacco and nicotine – World Health Organization (WHO)
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