Guyana has moved to ban the importation of vaping products, with Senior Minister of Finance Dr. Ashni Singh formally signing the order this week, bringing it into effect through the Official Gazette.
The move follows a public announcement by President Irfaan Ali, who said his government had been hearing growing alarm from parents, teachers, religious leaders and community members about how freely vaping products were being sold and used — including among schoolchildren.
“As a responsible government, as a listening government, we have a duty to protect public health,” Ali said, particularly flagging concerns about the health and wellbeing of young people.
The list of worries is a long one: nicotine addiction, the impact of nicotine on brain development in adolescents, risks during pregnancy, and effects on both respiratory and mental health. Ali was careful to note that the lack of complete research on long-term effects shouldn’t be read as a green light. “The absence of complete knowledge about those long-term effects must not be mistaken for evidence of safety,” he warned.
Under the new order — formally titled the Customs (Amendment of Second Schedule) Order 2026 — vaping products, devices, components and substances are now restricted imports. The only exception is if the Minister of Health personally approves an importation in writing, and even then, approval is limited to products intended for scientific research, medical training or medical use.
The ban casts a wide net. It covers everything from disposable vape pens and pod devices to box mods, dab pens and dry-herb vaporizers — essentially any battery-powered device that heats a substance and produces an aerosol for inhalation. E-liquids, oils, waxes, concentrates and gels intended for use in such devices are also included, regardless of whether they contain nicotine or cannabis.
That said, the order draws a clear line around legitimate medical products. Standard inhalers, humidifiers, diffusers and devices designed to diagnose or treat medical conditions are not affected by the restrictions.
Ali urged parents, teachers and community leaders to have direct conversations with children about the risks of vaping, with particular attention to the chemical additives found in many products.
“We have to protect our children, we have to protect our schools, we have to protect our society,” he said.