Parliament has passed two Bills to strengthen protections for children and young people from tobacco and nicotine products and improve the regulation of healthcare professionals.
The Tobacco (Amendment) Bill, 2026 introduces new measures to reduce access to tobacco, vaping and other nicotine products among children and young people. The Health Practice (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill, 2026 give professional councils greater flexibility to carry out their regulatory responsibilities.
Minister for Health, Environment and Sustainability, Hon. Katherine Ebanks-Wilks, MP, said the Bills form part of the Government's broader programme to protect public health, modernise the health system and improve regulation. The measures reflect commitments made by the Ministry to address emerging health challenges, strengthen safeguards for children and young people, and ensure healthcare regulation remains responsive to the needs of a growing and evolving population.
“These Bills address strengthen protections for children and young people ad give Professional Councils greater flexibility to carry out their responsibilities effectively. These are practical reforms that support both public health and good governance. I thank the public, stakeholders and Members of Parliament who contributed to the development and consideration of this legislation.”
Tobacco (Amendment) Bill, 2026
The Tobacco (Amendment) Bill, 2026 brings vaping and other nicotine products within the regulatory framework of the Tobacco Act and introduces measures aimed at reducing youth access to nicotine products and preventing a new generation from developing nicotine dependence.
The legislation prohibits the sale or supply of tobacco, vaping and nicotine products to persons under the age of 18, prohibits the importation, manufacture and sale of disposable vaping products and prohibits the advertising and promotion of all vaping products. It also strengthens requirements relating to registration, health warnings, packaging, advertising, enforcement powers and penalties
Amendments agreed during Committee Stage further strengthened and clarified the Bill. These included exemptions for legitimate medical and therapeutic products, strengthened provisions for enforcement authorities and provided transitional arrangements to give existing retailers time to comply with the new requirements.
The prohibition on the sale of tobacco and nicotine products to children will take effect immediately, while the ban on disposable vaping products will be subject to a six-month transition period. Other provisions will come into effect as supporting Regulations are developed and approved, with drafting work already under way.
The Ministry has begun planning for implementationand will work closely with Customs, schools, the National Drug Council and other partners to support enforcement, public awareness and compliance with the new legislation.
Health Practice (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill, 2026
The Health Practice amendments are designed to improve how the councils responsible for regulating healthcare professionals carry out their statutory functions.
The legislation allows the four professional councils (Medical and Dental Council, Nursing and Midwifery Council, Pharmacy Council and Council for Professions Allied with Medicine), with Cabinet approval, to delegate specified duties and functions to sub-committees made up of Council members and other appropriately appointed persons. Councils retain responsibility and accountability for decisions made under delegated authority.
One of the first practical applications will support the transition of oversight of the Ruth Eleanor McLaughlin School of Nursing to the Cayman Islands Nursing and Midwifery Council through an education sub-committee. These amendments also support the continued development of a strong and sustainable local healthcare workforce by enabling more dedicated oversight of healthcare education and professional development. This is particularly significant in the nursing profession, where high-quality education and regulatory oversight play an important role in meeting future healthcare demands.
The provisions allowing Councils to establish sub-committees are expected to come into force as soon as possible. This will enable the Nursing and Midwifery Council to establish a sub-committee to provide local oversight of nursing education and students during the current academic year, while allowing other Councils to determine their areas of focus and develop appropriate procedures.
Public Health and Environmental Health Bills
The Public Health Bill, 2026 and Environmental Health Bill, 2026 were withdrawn to allow additional amendments to be incorporated following extensive public consultation and constructive discussions with Opposition members. While the Ministry was prepared to proceed with both Bills, it determined that taking additional time to address feedback received through the consultation and parliamentary process would result in stronger legislation and better long-term outcomes. The decision reflects the Government's commitment to meaningful consultation and ensuring major legislative reforms are carefully considered before both Bills return to Parliament at its next session in November.
The Public Health Bill, 2026 is intended to replace a legislative framework dating back more than 40 years and establish a modern framework for preventing disease, protecting population health and preparing for and responding to public health threats.
The Environmental Health Bill, 2026 is intended to establish dedicated legislation bringing environmental health functions together within a single modern framework covering areas including food safety and hygiene, sanitation, waste management, water and air quality, noise and vibration, vector control, swimming pools and potentially health-impacting trades.
The legislative reforms have been informed by an extensive programme of public and stakeholder engagement. Before the formal public consultations began, the Ministry held community town halls in every district across Grand Cayman, as well as Cayman Brac and Little Cayman. The subsequent formal consultations generated 204 written submissions across the four Bills, with the Tobacco (Amendment) Bill receiving the highest level of participation.
Minister Ebanks-Wilks said the decision to withdraw the two Bills demonstrates the Government’s commitment to ensuring feedback received through the legislative process is properly considered.
“Public consultation must be meaningful. When members of the public, stakeholders and Members of Parliament raise issues that can strengthen legislation, we have a responsibility to consider them carefully. Following the consultation process and further constructive discussions with Opposition members, I determined that amendments should be made to the Public Health and Environmental Health Bills before they proceed. Both Bills will return to Parliament at the next session in November.”
Chief Officer for the Ministry of Health, Environment and Sustainability, Tamara Ebanks, said work will continue on implementing the legislation that has passed and finalising amendments to the two Bills that will return to Parliament.
“Our immediate focus is on implementing the Tobacco and Health Practice amendments, including the necessary regulations, guidance and engagement with affected stakeholders. At the same time, our teams will finalise the additional amendments to the Public Health and Environmental Health Bills so they can return to Parliament next month.”
The Ministry will provide further information on implementation of the Tobacco and Health Practice amendments and on the revised Public Health and Environmental Health Bills as work progresses.