Importation of vaping products, devices, components and substances into Guyana is now restricted under a new Customs Order signed by Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh and published in the Official Gazette.
Order No. 196 of 2026 amends the Customs Act’s list of restricted imports. Importers must obtain written approval from the Minister of Health, and approval can be granted only for products intended for scientific research, training or medical purposes.
The restriction covers disposable, rechargeable and refillable devices, including electronic cigarettes, vape pens, pod devices and other products designed to produce vapour or aerosols for inhalation. It also applies to vaping substances such as e-liquids, oils and concentrates, whether or not they contain nicotine, tobacco, cannabis or cannabinoids.
Medical inhalation products and equipment, along with humidifiers and diffusers designed to release vapour into a room rather than for direct inhalation, are excluded.
The order regulates importation. It does not, by itself, establish a general ban on possessing, selling or using vaping products in Guyana.
The government says the measure follows concerns raised by parents, teachers and community leaders about vaping among children and young people.
President Dr. Irfaan Ali has cited concerns about nicotine addiction and potential effects on young people’s health and development.
