HEALTH MINISTER BACKS VAPE IMPORT RESTRICTIONS, WARNS OF NICOTINE ADDICTION AMONG GUYANA’S CHILDREN

GEORGETOWN, GUYANA | OCTOBER 17, 2026

Guyana’s Minister of Health has expressed strong support for President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali’s decision to restrict the importation of vaping products, warning that the increasing availability of electronic cigarettes poses significant public health concerns, particularly for children and adolescents.

In an official statement titled Protecting Our Children from Vaping and Nicotine Addiction, the minister described the President’s announcement as a preventive public health measure intended to reduce young people’s exposure to nicotine and potentially harmful substances associated with vaping.

The statement follows President Ali’s announcement on Saturday that the government will introduce restrictions on the importation of vapes and related products under the Customs Act. The proposed order will prohibit imports unless the products receive approval from the Minister of Health or the relevant tobacco control authorities.

The Health Minister warned that electronic cigarettes are not harmless alternatives to conventional tobacco products, noting that some devices deliver highly addictive nicotine directly into the lungs and bloodstream. The statement also identified potentially harmful substances that may be present in vaping aerosols, including ultrafine particles, volatile organic compounds, carbonyl compounds and toxic metals such as nickel, lead, chromium and arsenic.

Particular concern was expressed about the effects of nicotine on the developing adolescent brain. According to the minister, nicotine can affect neurological pathways associated with learning, reward, stress and self-control, increasing the vulnerability of children and teenagers to addiction.

The statement also highlighted the design and marketing of modern vaping products, including compact devices, colorful packaging and sweet flavors, which the minister said can increase their appeal to younger consumers.

Citing warnings from the American Thoracic Society, the minister argued that the growing popularity of electronic cigarettes among young people threatens progress made over several decades in reducing nicotine and tobacco use.

Respiratory health was another major concern raised in the statement. The minister pointed to associations between vaping and symptoms such as persistent coughing, bronchitis, worsening asthma and reduced exercise tolerance. The statement also referenced severe vaping-associated lung injuries that have resulted in hospitalization and death.

The minister distinguished between discussions about smoking cessation among adults and the risks of introducing nicotine to children who have never smoked.

“We should not wait until thousands of Guyanese children are addicted to nicotine before we act,” the minister stated.

The statement continued: “For an adult cigarette smoker, questions of cessation and harm reduction require appropriate medical guidance. But a child who has never smoked does not need a ‘safer’ cigarette. That child needs to remain nicotine-free.”

The Ministry of Health has pledged to work with relevant government agencies to strengthen enforcement, public education and prevention initiatives as the import restrictions are introduced.

The ministry also indicated that support for individuals already dependent on nicotine will form part of its response, recognizing the need to address existing addiction alongside measures intended to prevent new cases.

The minister emphasized that Guyana’s efforts to reduce tobacco use should not be undermined by the growing availability of alternative nicotine-delivery devices.

“We fought for decades to reduce tobacco use. We cannot allow nicotine addiction to return through colourful devices, sweet flavours and clouds of aerosol,” the statement declared.

President Ali’s proposed restrictions will allow exceptions for vaping products approved for legitimate medicinal, therapeutic or other authorized applications, subject to the relevant health regulations and oversight.

The Health Ministry’s endorsement adds a public health perspective to the government’s announced import restrictions, with particular emphasis on protecting school-aged children, preventing nicotine dependence and expanding education about the risks associated with vaping.

Details concerning the implementation of the import restrictions, enforcement procedures and the treatment of existing retail supplies have not yet been outlined in the statements provided.