Changelog

Every country record carries the date it was last verified. This page lists verification batches and known pending changes, so you can see how fresh the data is. Latest verification 4 September 2026.

Pending rule changes we are tracking (66)

• Argentina: Implementation of the Registro de Productos de Tabaco y Nicotina is under way; products must be registered before they may be sold, so the legal retail range will change as registrations are granted. (expected 2026) – adopted not in force
• Australia: ABF states that from 24 July 2026 nicotine pouches cannot be imported or supplied unless entered on the ARTG or covered by a statutory exemption pathway in the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989, and that travellers cannot bring nicotine pouches into Australia. How this interacts with the Personal Importation Scheme was not confirmed on the TGA site at time of research. (expected 2026-07-24) – adopted not in force
• Austria: Staggered commencement of the TNRSG amendment BGBl. I Nr. 68/2026, including transition periods for nicotine pouch stock already on the market and the ban on single-use e-cigarettes; a littering ban for nicotine products on playgrounds applies from 20 August 2026. (expected 2026) – adopted not in force
• Bangladesh: PMI's approved nicotine-pouch factory in Narayanganj awaited environmental clearance as of late 2025; anti-tobacco groups have lobbied for pouches to be brought under or banned by the tobacco control law. – rumoured
• Belgium: Revision of the EU Tobacco Products Directive may set harmonised EU rules for nicotine pouches; Belgium already applies a national sales ban. (expected 2026) – consultation
• Bosnia and Herzegovina: Republika Srpska reported to have introduced broader tobacco restrictions from August 2026, which may affect nicotine pouches; effect on the entity-level legal status not yet confirmed against a primary source. (expected 2026-08) – rumoured
• Brazil: ANVISA opened a regulatory process in 2026 to decide whether to maintain the prohibition on nicotine pouches or create a framework to regulate them. – consultation
• Chile: The Institute of Public Health has been examining the classification of nicotine pouches; a decision to fold them into the tobacco law or into a product registration regime would settle the current ambiguity. – consultation
• China: Implementation detail of STMA Announcement No. 1 of 2026 (licensing procedure, product standards, treatment of export-only manufacturing) is still being worked out; industry expects further STMA guidance. (expected 2026) – proposed
• Colombia: Implementing regulation from the Superintendencia de Industria y Comercio and the Health Ministry is still being rolled out; enforcement against online and informal sale of pouches remains weak. – adopted not in force
• Croatia: The 2025 act gives the health ministry power to impose a temporary ban of up to 12 months on new nicotine products; nicotine pouches are the category most often named in the Croatian debate. – adopted not in force
• Cyprus: Private member's bill (MP Chrysis Pantelidis) to regulate nicotine pouches under the Protection of Health (Control of Smoking) Law: composition standards, ban on sale to minors, excise duty. – proposed
• Cyprus: EU Tobacco Products Directive revision may bring nicotine pouches under EU-wide rules. (expected 2026) – consultation
• Denmark: Remaining initiatives of the November 2023 prevention plan (30 measures on children's and young people's use of nicotine) are being phased in, including higher nicotine tax and stricter enforcement; ID requirement for online purchase of nicotine products already applies. – adopted not in force
• Estonia: Draft amendments to the Tobacco Act and State Fees Act (public consultation July 2026) would cap nicotine pouches at 4 mg/g and restrict flavours to tobacco and menthol. – consultation
• Finland: Transitional period: flavour, nicotine-strength (16.6 mg/g) and portion-weight rules for smokeless nicotine products apply to consumer sales from 1 February 2026; notification of existing products was due by 31 January 2026. (expected 2026-02-01) – adopted not in force
• France: Conseil d'État proceedings on the merits of décret n° 2025-898 continue after the December 2025 partial suspension of the manufacture, production and export provisions; the outcome could alter the scope of the ban. – proposed
• Germany: Revision of the EU Tobacco Products Directive (TPD3) is expected to bring nicotine pouches under harmonised EU rules, which would replace Germany's food-law approach with a product-specific regime. (expected 2026) – consultation
• Greece: Greece was considering a flavour ban for e-cigarettes (tobacco and menthol only) in 2025; not known to cover nicotine pouches. – proposed
• Greece: EU Tobacco Products Directive revision may bring nicotine pouches under EU-wide rules. (expected 2026) – consultation
• Guatemala: Iniciativa 6498 (presented 29 Jan 2025) to regulate non-combustion nicotine products; stalled in commission as of Feb 2026. Its wording targets inhalation products and may not reach oral pouches. – proposed
• Hong Kong: Hong Kong is tightening its alternative smoking product regime; possession of specified alternative smoking products in public places became an offence on 30 April 2026 (fixed penalty HK$3,000). Oral nicotine pouches are not on the current list but could be added. – adopted not in force
• Iceland: Act 11/2026 (in force 5 March 2026) introduced a retail licensing requirement for nicotine products; GSTHR reports the government faces backlash over a plan to tighten access to nicotine pouches further. – proposed
• Ireland: Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) (Amendment) Bill 2026: bans sale of nicotine consumption products including pouches to under-18s, bans advertising in retail outlets and point-of-sale display in mixed retail outlets, and restricts flavour descriptors. (expected 2026) – proposed
• Israel: Ministry of Health initiatives to bring tobacco-free nicotine pouches under the smoking-products law (age limit, labelling, advertising ban) have been reported; status not verified because gov.il was inaccessible. – rumoured
• Italy: EU Tobacco Products Directive revision may bring nicotine pouches under EU-wide rules. (expected 2026) – consultation
• Jamaica: New Tobacco Control Bill, reviewed by a Joint Select Committee, awaiting debate in both Houses; it extends regulation to e-cigarettes and other products not covered by the 2013 regulations. – proposed
• Japan: The health ministry has denied reports that it plans to widen access to tobacco-free nicotine pouches; no change to the pharmaceutical classification is expected in the near term. – rumoured
• Kenya: Tobacco Control (Amendment) Bill 2024 before the National Assembly: would classify e-cigarettes and oral nicotine pouches as tobacco products, ban flavours, expand graphic warnings, possibly require plain packaging, add retailer licensing and a 100 m sales buffer from schools. (expected 2026) – proposed
• Kuwait: New national rules covering e-cigarettes, heated tobacco, nicotine liquids, nicotine pouches and oral/smokeless tobacco: minimum purchase age 21, ban on sale via websites, apps, social media and delivery services, no sale within 200 m of schools, health warnings covering at least 50% of packaging. (expected 2027-01-01) – adopted not in force
• Latvia: Latvia has pushed for EU-wide flavour restrictions on vapes and nicotine pouches in the Council; the EU Tobacco Products Directive revision may harmonise pouch rules. – proposed
• Lithuania: Nicotine pouches are expected to be brought under EU-wide rules in the revision of the Tobacco Products Directive; Lithuania already bans vape flavours and has discussed further restrictions on nicotine products. – rumoured
• Luxembourg: Revision of the EU Tobacco Products Directive is expected to set harmonised rules for nicotine pouches, which could replace Luxembourg's 0.048 mg cap. (expected 2026) – consultation
• Malaysia: Malaysia's control of nicotine is in flux after the government withdrew its appeal in the nicotine-delisting case; parliamentarians have pushed to return nicotine liquid to the controlled poisons list. Any change could also affect how pouches are handled. – proposed
• Malta: Malta's Tobacco Control Strategy 2025-2030 is expected to address nicotine pouches (age limit, marketing, flavours). – consultation
• Malta: EU Tobacco Products Directive revision may bring nicotine pouches under EU-wide rules. (expected 2026) – consultation
• Mexico: A bill tabled in the Chamber of Deputies in March 2026 would amend the General Health Law to regulate nicotine pouches: ban on sale to minors, mandatory sanitary registration and health warnings, on a par with tobacco products. – proposed
• Micronesia: FSM's Nicotine Control Act (Public Law No. 23-72) took effect 15 May 2024; its scope for nicotine pouches and smokeless tobacco has not been confirmed from primary text and should be reviewed directly. – adopted not in force
• Netherlands: Revision of the EU Tobacco Products Directive may set harmonised EU rules for nicotine pouches; the Netherlands already applies a stricter national ban. (expected 2026) – consultation
• New Zealand: Government (Associate Health Minister Casey Costello) plans to legalise retail sale of oral tobacco and nicotine products such as snus and nicotine pouches, following a 2024 Cabinet in-principle decision and an expert advisory group report. No bill passed as of mid-2026; public opinion polling (April 2026) shows more opposition than support. – proposed
• Nigeria: National Tobacco Control Act (Amendment) Bill 2025 would create a differentiated, more permissive framework for e-cigarettes, heated tobacco and nicotine pouches (broader advertising, online sales, retail display, sampling; lighter packaging and warning rules). A coalition of health groups called for its withdrawal in August 2026. – proposed
• Norway: EU Tobacco Products Directive (2014/40/EU) entered into force in Norway on 30 March 2026; the e-cigarette registration provisions (section 34 a) are held back while the government considers keeping the ban on nicotine e-cigarettes. Approval applications for new nicotine products under section 34 d could in principle change the status of nicotine pouches. – consultation
• Pakistan: Authorities are expected to consider stricter age controls, product standards and monitoring for nicotine pouches as the category grows; no specific bill identified. – rumoured
• Panama: Bills 263 (total ban on ENDS), 347 (use restrictions) and 467 (marketing and quality standards including oral nicotine pouches) are being merged into one framework by a National Assembly sub-commission; outcome could range from strict regulation to prohibition. (expected 2026) – proposed
• Paraguay: DINAVISA draft resolution establishing registration requirements for nicotine pouches (manufacture, import and sale); public consultation closed 19 May 2024, adoption not confirmed. Senate request for information on pouch regulation filed 9 Sept 2025. – consultation
• Peru: Implementing regulation (reglamento) of Law 32159 covering e-cigarettes, heated tobacco and nicotine pouches was still pending in 2026; Ministerial Resolution 734/2025 was issued in October 2025 and is not yet analysed by Tobacco Control Laws. (expected 2026) – proposed
• Poland: Ministry of Health draft would ban flavoured nicotine pouches (leaving only tobacco flavour) and ban disposable e-cigarettes. (expected 2026) – proposed
• Portugal: Bill approved by the Council of Ministers on 7 May 2026 tightening rules for nicotine pouches: flavour ban, ban on online sales, packaging and product standards, with the maximum nicotine level deferred to a later decree. Requires parliamentary approval. – proposed
• Portugal: EU Tobacco Products Directive and excise directive revisions may bring nicotine pouches under EU-wide rules; Portugal has opposed taxing pouches at cigarette levels. (expected 2026) – consultation
• Romania: Parliamentary bill to extend the smoking and nicotine ban for minors to all tobacco and nicotine products, including oral nicotine pouches, reported adopted by the Senate in 2026. – proposed
• Russia: Consultant.ru lists Federal Law 186-FZ of 26 June 2026 as amending Article 19 of Law 15-FZ with provisions not yet in force. The text was not retrieved; whether it affects oral products is unknown. – adopted not in force
• Serbia: Serbia aligns tobacco legislation with the EU acquis as an accession candidate; future adoption of the EU oral tobacco ban or TPD pouch rules is possible but not scheduled. – rumoured
• Sierra Leone: Implementing regulations for the Tobacco and Nicotine Control Act, 2022 had not been adopted as of the last review; these could potentially clarify rules on e-cigarettes and other nicotine products including pouches. – adopted not in force
• Slovakia: Excise duty on nicotine pouches scheduled to double to EUR 0.20 per gram from 1 February 2027. (expected 2027-02-01) – adopted not in force
• South Africa: Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill (B33-2022) would regulate nicotine products alongside tobacco (age limits, advertising and display bans, packaging, use restrictions). The Portfolio Committee on Health adopted a motion of desirability in June 2026 and moved to clause-by-clause deliberation; non-combustible products may be exempted from plain packaging and graphic warnings. (expected 2027) – proposed
• South Korea: Transitional 50% tax reduction on nicotine pouches and other synthetic-nicotine products expires two years after the 24 April 2026 amendment took effect, raising the effective rate. (expected 2028) – adopted not in force
• Spain: Draft Royal Decree amending RD 579/2017: maximum 0.99 mg nicotine per pouch, flavour ban for pouches and e-cigarettes, labelling rules. First cabinet reading September 2025; stalled at the Ministry of Finance pending Council of State review (status June 2026). – proposed
• Spain: Bill amending Ley 28/2005 (proyecto de ley del tabaco), approved by the Council of Ministers on 21 July 2026 and sent to the Cortes: bans consumption of tobacco and related products including nicotine pouches by under-18s, limits sale of related products to specialised shops, extends smoke-free spaces (pouches excluded from the smoke-free rules). (expected 2027) – proposed
• Spain: EU Tobacco Products Directive revision may bring nicotine pouches under EU-wide rules. (expected 2026) – consultation
• Sweden: EU Tobacco Products Directive revision may bring nicotine pouches under EU-wide rules (nicotine cap, flavour restrictions). Sweden has opposed a low cap. (expected 2026) – consultation
• Switzerland: A revision of the TabPG tightening advertising aimed at minors is expected to enter into force in early 2027. (expected 2027) – adopted not in force
• Tajikistan: A draft amendment to Tajikistan's tobacco-control law would ban production, import and sale of e-cigarettes. Reporting on this bill did not specify whether it also targets nicotine pouches or other non-smoking nicotine products. – proposed
• Thailand: Enforcement campaign against illegal nicotine pouch sales on social media, in malls and at tourist spots ordered by the government in March 2026; further guidance on licensing and labelling expected. (expected 2026) – proposed
• Türkiye: Draft tobacco bill under public discussion (April 2026) expanding Law 4207 to e-cigarettes, heated tobacco and 'all nicotine-containing systems', with judicial fines for producers and sellers, administrative penalties for users and a 2040 target for a full tobacco ban. – proposed
• Ukraine: Excise on nicotine pouches (code 2404 91 90 00) rises to EUR 81 per kg on 1 January 2027 under the transitional schedule in Tax Code section XX subsection 5. (expected 2027-01-01) – adopted not in force
• United Arab Emirates: Cabinet Decision No. 137 of 2026 changes the minimum excise price mechanism for tobacco products and e-liquids from 1 September 2026; it does not name nicotine pouches. (expected 2026-09-01) – adopted not in force
• United Kingdom: Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026: minimum age of sale of 18 for all consumer nicotine products including pouches, plus bans on free distribution and on vending-machine sales. (expected 2026-10-29) – adopted not in force
• United Kingdom: Ban on advertising and sponsorship of nicotine products, including pouches. (expected 2027-06-01) – adopted not in force
• United Kingdom: Powers to restrict packaging, display, flavours and nicotine content of nicotine products; secondary regulations require public consultation first. – proposed
• United Kingdom: Smokefree generation: sale of tobacco products to anyone born on or after 1 January 2009 becomes illegal. (expected 2027-01-01) – adopted not in force
• United States: FDA is running a pilot review programme for nicotine pouch PMTAs; further authorisations and possible enforcement against unauthorised brands are expected. State legislatures in about 20 states have bills extending tobacco excise to nicotine pouches. (expected 2026) – proposed
• Uruguay: MSP evaluating a decree to prohibit nicotine pouches; Uruguay proposed at Mercosur (Sept 2025) that pouches be regulated or banned. – rumoured
• Uzbekistan: Law No. LRU-1098, banning e-cigarettes and liquids for e-cigarettes with tightened criminal penalties, took effect 1 March 2026. Resolution No. 290 on the contents of tobacco products (including heated tobacco) and nicotine-containing products took effect 1 January 2025. Neither instrument's text was independently retrieved to confirm scope over nicotine pouches specifically. – adopted not in force
• Vietnam: Vietnam is drafting implementing rules for the ban on e-cigarettes and heated tobacco under Resolution 173/2024/QH15; other novel nicotine products, including oral pouches, may be brought within scope. – rumoured
• Zambia: A draft comprehensive tobacco control bill, reported in November 2025, would extend Zambia's regulation to e-cigarettes, require graphic health warnings covering 75 per cent of packs and restrict flavoured tobacco products. Its treatment of nicotine pouches is not documented; BAT Zambia lobbied against parts of it. – proposed

Verification batches

Site history

• September 2026: Site launched with the first batch of country records, the EU ban guide and travel pages.