Guyana will restrict imports of vapes and vaping products, targeting recreational use amid concerns about children’s access to the devices, including in schools.

The government says exceptions will require approval from the relevant health authorities for legitimate medicinal, therapeutic or other authorised uses.

President Dr. Irfaan Ali announced the decision on Saturday, saying Senior Minister with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, would sign an order under the Customs Act, Chapter 82:01, to give effect to the restrictions.

However, the announcement did not specify a commencement date, penalties or enforcement arrangements. It also did not explain how retailers would be required to handle products already in the country. It is expected that the order will address these questions

The decision comes against a backdrop of reported vaping among secondary school students and warnings about cannabis-containing devices entering the local market.

In June, Health Minister Dr. Frank Anthony disclosed that 32 percent of 6,039 secondary school students screened earlier in the year reported vaping.

Separately, the Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit issued an early warning after seizing cannabis vapes during a January 15 operation in Campbellville, Georgetown. The unit warned that colourful packaging could appeal to young people and said the products’ chemical composition and potential contaminants were unknown pending laboratory analysis.

Those cannabis-containing products fall under existing narcotics controls. The unit said foreign “medical use” labels did not authorise their possession, sale or importation in Guyana.

In announcing the broader import restrictions, the Ali said governemnt had engaged parents, teachers, religious leaders, community representatives and children about the accessibility and use of vaping products.

He cited concerns about nicotine addiction, respiratory health and potential effects on children’s and adolescents’ brain development.

“The absence of complete knowledge about those long-term effects must not be mistaken for evidence of safety,” Ali said.

The announcement also follows a recent proposal in Trinidad and Tobago to impose a 20 percent customs duty on vaping devices and products from January 1, 2027, as part of its 2027 budget measures. That proposal would tax imports, while Guyana’s announced approach would restrict entry, subject to authorised exceptions.

Health concerns have also prompted public warnings within Guyana. In August, 39-year-old construction worker Devendra Jagmohan, of Land of Canaan, urged others to avoid vaping in a video released by the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation.

Jagmohan said he had vaped heavily before his hospitalisation and believed the habit contributed to his breathing problems. However, the publicly reported account did not include a medical assessment establishing vaping as the sole cause of his condition.

Under Guyana’s planned restrictions, products presented as having legitimate medical or therapeutic applications would still require assessment and approval by the relevant authorities. The government indicated that the Tobacco Control Board would have a role in determining which products qualify.