The Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) has backed the Government’s planned restrictions on vape imports, while warning that weak enforcement and illicit trade could undermine efforts to protect children and young people.
Read the Chamber’s statement below:
The Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) welcomes the announcement by His Excellency President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali of measures to restrict the importation of vaping products into Guyana, recognising the importance of safeguarding public health, particularly the well-being of children and young people.
The increasing accessibility of vaping products, particularly among school-aged children, raises serious concerns about exposure to nicotine and other potentially harmful substances. The Chamber recognises the potential long-term implications for their health and development and supports decisive measures to address the availability of these products before they reach consumers.
The GCCI maintains that commercial activity must be accompanied by a responsibility to protect consumer health and safety. While trade remains essential to Guyana’s economic development, responsible commerce also requires recognising when products pose risks that warrant stronger regulatory intervention.
The Chamber emphasises that the effectiveness of these restrictions will depend on clear regulatory guidelines, consistent enforcement and engagement with affected businesses. Particular attention must be given to preventing illicit trade, which could undermine the intended public health benefits of the measures.
The GCCI therefore calls for strengthened monitoring at ports of entry, clearly defined importation and exemption procedures, and effective enforcement against unauthorised distribution. These measures will be essential to ensuring that the restrictions meaningfully reduce access to vaping products, particularly among young people, without creating opportunities for unregulated markets.
