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Are snus and nicotine pouches legal in Honduras?
Tobacco snus is legal in Honduras but regulated as a tobacco-derived product under the Special Tobacco Control Law (LECT, Decree 92-2010, in force February 2011), which explicitly covers smokeless tobacco: sale to anyone under 21 is prohibited and use is banned wherever smoking is banned. GSTHR lists snus as allowed. Tobacco-free nicotine pouches are not named in any Honduran rule found; whether the LECT's 'tobacco-derived products' definition reaches them is unclear. Travellers may bring 200 cigarettes or 250 g of tobacco plus 50 cigars duty-free under the Customs Law (Decree 212-87, Art. 120).
Central America
Honduras at a glance
| Nicotine pouches (tobacco-free) | Tobacco snus | |
|---|---|---|
| Sale to adults | No specific rule found | Legal |
| Possession and use | Legal | Legal |
| Personal import (mail order, bringing in) | Unclear | Allowed |
| Online sale inside the country | Unclear | Unclear |
| Regulated | classification unclear | as a tobacco product |
| Minimum age | No specific limit found | 21 |
| Nicotine strength cap | No legal cap found | No legal cap found |
| Flavours | Unclear | Unclear |
| Excise tax | Unclear | Unclear |
| Legal basis | – | Ley Especial para el Control del Tabaco (Decreto 92-2010); Reglamento (Acuerdo Ejecutivo 05-2011) |
| In force since | – | 21 February 2011 |
Medium confidence: Based on consistent secondary sources; primary text not yet verified. Research tier 2. How we verify.
Nicotine pouches in Honduras
Unclear, no specific rule found.
No Honduran law, ARSA regulation or health-ministry notice specific to tobacco-free nicotine pouches was found. The only official mentions are trademark registrations for 'bolsas de nicotina oral libres de tabaco' (Nice class 34) published in La Gaceta in 2023 and 2025, which show the products are being prepared for the market but do not regulate them. The LECT applies to 'productos derivados del tabaco'; tobacco-free pouches are arguably outside that definition. Treat as unregulated in practice, unclear in law.
Sources: Tobacco Control Laws, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, Tobacco Control Laws, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids
Tobacco snus in Honduras
Legal, 21+, covered by tobacco law.
Tobacco Control Laws: 'Consumption of tobacco-derived products, which includes smoked and smokeless tobacco products and e-cigarettes, is banned in all workplaces, public places, and all public transportation'; sale of tobacco products prohibited to under-21s; whether internet sale is prohibited is uncertain. GSTHR lists snus as 'Allowed' with products marketed (2014 industry data). Swedish-style snus is not a significant retail product.
Tax: Honduras levies a specific production and consumption tax on cigarettes; treatment of smokeless tobacco not confirmed.
Sources: Tobacco Control Laws, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, Global State of Tobacco Harm Reduction (GSTHR)
Bringing snus or nicotine pouches into Honduras
| For personal use | Allowed 200 cigarettes or 250 g of tobacco, plus 50 cigars and 2 litres of alcoholic beverages, free of import duties (Ley de Aduanas, Decreto 212-87, Art. 120). Snus counts as tobacco; pouches are not itemised. |
| Declaration | Not required within the allowance |
| Penalties | No specific penalty information found. |
The 1987 Customs Law text is the accessible source; Honduras also applies the Central American customs code (CAUCA/RECAUCA), whose personal-effects list is similar. Third-party guides cite 200 cigarettes, 100 cigars or 450 g of tobacco for adults over 18.
Full travel guide: can you bring snus and nicotine pouches to Honduras?
Frequently asked questions
Is snus legal in Honduras?
Yes, for adults aged 21 or over. The Special Tobacco Control Law of 2010 covers smokeless tobacco as a tobacco-derived product, bans its sale to under-21s and its use in smoke-free places, but does not prohibit it.
Are nicotine pouches legal in Honduras?
No rule names tobacco-free nicotine pouches, so their status is unclear; they are not prohibited and trademarks for oral nicotine pouches have been registered in Honduras since 2023.
What is the minimum age to buy snus in Honduras?
21. Honduras is one of the few countries in the region with a 21-year minimum age for tobacco products.
How much snus can I bring into Honduras?
The Customs Law allows 200 cigarettes or 250 grams of tobacco, plus 50 cigars, free of duty. Snus would count as tobacco; nicotine pouches are not listed separately.
Nearby in the atlas
- Antigua and Barbuda – pouches no specific rule found, snus legal with restrictions
- Argentina – pouches legal with restrictions, snus no specific rule found
- Bahamas – pouches no specific rule found, snus no specific rule found
- Barbados – pouches no specific rule found, snus legal
- Belize – pouches no specific rule found, snus no specific rule found
- Bolivia – pouches no specific rule found, snus legal
- Brazil – pouches banned, snus banned
- Canada – pouches legal with restrictions, snus legal
- Chile – pouches no specific rule found, snus legal
- Colombia – pouches legal with restrictions, snus legal
Where are nicotine pouches legal?Where is snus legal?Strength limits by countryAge limits by country
Sources
- Honduras: Legal Summary – Tobacco Control Laws, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids (NGO / research; accessed 4 September 2026) ✓ verified
“Consumption of tobacco-derived products, which includes smoked and smokeless tobacco products and e-cigarettes, is banned in all workplaces, public places, and all public transportation.”
- Using snus in Honduras – Global State of Tobacco Harm Reduction (GSTHR) (NGO / research; accessed 4 September 2026) ✓ verified
“Regulatory status: Allowed”
- Ley de Aduanas de la República de Honduras, Decreto 212-87, Art. 120 (efectos personales) – Congreso Nacional de Honduras (via BVS/PAHO legislation repository) (Legislation, 1 January 1987; accessed 4 September 2026) ✓ verified
“Todo viajero podrá, además introducir libre de derechos y gravámenes a la importación, los artículos siguientes: a) 200 cigarrillos 0 250 gramos de tabaco; b) 50 cigarros; y, c) Dos litros de bebidas alcohólicas.”
- Honduras: Laws and regulations – Tobacco Control Laws, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids (NGO / research; accessed 4 September 2026) ✓ verified
“Decree No. 92-2010 (Special Tobacco Control Law/LECT) - Effective February 21, 2011”
Record last verified 4 September 2026. Found an error or a newer rule? Tell us and we will re-check the source.