Are snus and nicotine pouches legal in Latvia?
Nicotine pouches are legal in Latvia but tightly restricted since 1 January 2025: buyers must be 20 or over, pouches may contain at most 4 mg nicotine per gram, only tobacco flavourings are allowed, a pack must hold at least 20 pouches and weigh no more than 20 g, and buying them online (including from abroad) is prohibited. Tobacco snus (tobacco for oral use), chewing tobacco and nasal snuff may not be placed on the market at all, though possession and use are legal. Travellers may bring 300 g of tobacco substitute products and 1 kg of smoking tobacco from another EU country for own use; the standard EU allowance (200 cigarettes or 250 g tobacco) applies from outside the EU.
Northern Europe, EU member
Latvia at a glance
| Nicotine pouches (tobacco-free) | Tobacco snus | |
|---|---|---|
| Sale to adults | Legal with restrictions | Banned |
| Possession and use | Legal | Legal |
| Personal import (mail order, bringing in) | Allowed with limits | Allowed |
| Online sale inside the country | Not allowed | Not allowed |
| Regulated | as a tobacco substitute | as a tobacco product |
| Minimum age | 20 | 20 |
| Nicotine strength cap | 4 mg/g | No legal cap found |
| Flavours | Flavour ban | Unclear |
| Excise tax | Yes | Unclear |
| Legal basis | Tabakas izstrādājumu, tabakas aizstājējproduktu, augu smēķēšanas produktu, elektronisko smēķēšanas ierīču un to šķidrumu aprites likums, 3. pants (5.1) and (1) 8), 8. pants (2)–(3), 10.2 pants; amendments of 11 January 2024, in force 8 February 2024 with product rules from 1 January 2025 | Tabakas izstrādājumu ... aprites likums, 3. pants (1) 1)–2): ban on placing snuff, chewing tobacco and tobacco for oral use on the market (Directive 2014/40/EU Art. 17) |
| In force since | 1 January 2025 | – |
High confidence: Checked against legislation or an official government source. Research tier 1. How we verify.
Nicotine pouches in Latvia
Legal, 20+, max 4 mg/g, tobacco flavour only.
Nicotine pouches are 'tabakas aizstājējprodukti' (tobacco substitute products). Since 1 Jan 2025 they may only be placed on the market if: the unit pack weighs no more than 20 g and contains at least 20 pouches; the maximum nicotine concentration does not exceed 4 mg per gram; they contain no vitamins, caffeine/taurine, absorption enhancers or CMR substances; and packs are child-resistant. Flavourings other than those giving a tobacco taste (listed in the annex to the law) are banned. Sale to persons under 20 is prohibited and buyers aged 20–25 must show ID; adults under 20 may not use or possess them. Selling or buying tobacco substitutes by distance means (online), including from outside the EU/EEA, is prohibited and the State Revenue Service confiscates such postal consignments. Packs must list ingredients, nicotine per pack and per pouch, and mass.
Tax: Excise on tobacco substitute products is raised annually under the 2023 tax schedule (Tobacco Reporter); current rate not verified.
Sources: Likumi.lv (Latvijas Vēstnesis), Tobacco Reporter, Tobacco Reporter
Tobacco snus in Latvia
Banned for sale, legal to use.
Article 3(1) prohibits placing on the market nasal snuff, chewing tobacco and tobacco products for oral use (snus in powder or portion-bag form). Possession and use by adults are not offences; the age rules (20+, no use by adults under 20) apply to smokeless tobacco products too. Distance purchase of tobacco products is banned, so snus cannot be ordered online. Bringing a small personal quantity home from a trip is not prohibited by customs rules, which treat snus within the tobacco allowances.
Sources: Likumi.lv (Latvijas Vēstnesis), Tobacco Control Laws (Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids), Global State of Tobacco Harm Reduction (GSTHR)
Bringing snus or nicotine pouches into Latvia
| For personal use | Allowed with limits From another EU country (taxes paid, own use, age 18+): 800 cigarettes, 200 cigars, 1 kg of smoking tobacco and 300 g of tobacco substitute products (nicotine pouches). From outside the EU: standard EU allowance of 200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos or 50 cigars or 250 g of tobacco (Latvia may apply the lower limit for land/sea arrivals); tobacco is excluded from the EUR 300/430 value allowance. |
| Declaration | Not required within the allowance |
| Penalties | Under-18s have no tobacco allowance. Bringing in excise goods above the limits is fined under Section 23 of the Law On Excise Duties; distance-purchased tobacco and pouches from third countries are confiscated by the State Revenue Service. |
Latvian customs pages do not mention snus specifically. Note the purchase age in Latvia is 20 even though the customs allowance age is 18.
Full travel guide: can you bring snus and nicotine pouches to Latvia?
Buying snus and pouches in Latvia
- Nicotine pouches sold in shops: Yes
- Tobacco snus sold in shops: No
Pending and proposed changes
- 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. Status: proposed.
Frequently asked questions
Are nicotine pouches legal in Latvia?
Yes, but under strict rules since 1 January 2025: you must be 20 to buy them, they may contain at most 4 mg nicotine per gram, only tobacco flavour is allowed, and packs must contain at least 20 pouches. Online sales are banned.
Is snus legal in Latvia?
Selling snus is banned: the law prohibits placing tobacco for oral use, chewing tobacco and nasal snuff on the market. Using or possessing snus as an adult is not an offence.
What is the age limit for nicotine pouches in Latvia?
20. Tobacco products and tobacco substitutes may not be sold to anyone under 20, and buyers aged 20 to 25 must show ID. Adults under 20 may not use or possess them either.
How many nicotine pouches can I bring into Latvia?
From another EU country you may bring up to 300 g of tobacco substitute products for your own use if you are 18 or over. Ordering pouches online from abroad is prohibited.
Can I buy strong nicotine pouches in Latvia?
No. Since 2025 the maximum nicotine concentration is 4 mg per gram of product, far below typical Scandinavian strengths.
Nearby in the atlas
- Albania – pouches unregulated (sold openly), snus banned
- Andorra – pouches no specific rule found, snus no specific rule found
- Austria – pouches legal with restrictions, snus banned
- Belarus – pouches unregulated (sold openly), snus legal
- Belgium – pouches banned, snus banned
- Bosnia and Herzegovina – pouches no specific rule found, snus legal
- Bulgaria – pouches legal with restrictions, snus banned
- Croatia – pouches legal, snus banned
- Cyprus – pouches prescription only, snus banned
- Czechia – pouches legal with restrictions, snus banned
Where are nicotine pouches legal?Where is snus legal?Strength limits by countryAge limits by countryThe EU snus ban explained
Sources
- Tabakas izstrādājumu, tabakas aizstājējproduktu, augu smēķēšanas produktu, elektronisko smēķēšanas ierīču un to šķidrumu aprites likums (consolidated, in force from 01.01.2025) – Likumi.lv (Latvijas Vēstnesis) (Legislation, 4 May 2016; accessed 4 September 2026) ✓ verified
“Aizliegts laist tirgū: 1) šņaucamo tabaku un košļājamo tabaku; 2) tabakas izstrādājumus orālai lietošanai; [...] Tabakas aizstājējproduktus atļauts laist tirgū tikai tad, ja [...] maksimālā nikotīna koncentrācija tabakas aizstājējproduktā nepārsniedz četrus miligramus uz gramu [...] aizliegts pārdot personām, kuras ir jaunākas par 20 gadiem”
- Latvia: Tobacco Sellers Look for Loopholes in New Regulations – Tobacco Reporter (Trade press, 3 January 2025; accessed 4 September 2026) ✓ verified
“cannot be sold to individuals under 20 years old [...] The amount of nicotine in nicotine pouches will also be reduced”
- Travelling within the European Union – Valsts ieņēmumu dienests (State Revenue Service) (Customs; accessed 4 September 2026) ✓ verified
“On tobacco products: 800 cigarettes; 400 cigarillos (cigars with less than 3 grams weight each); 200 cigars; 1 kilogram of smoking tobacco. On other products: [...] 300 grams of tobacco substitute products. [...] If you are under 18 years old, you are not permitted to have a tobacco or alcoholic beverage allowance.”
- Goods in personal luggage – Valsts ieņēmumu dienests (State Revenue Service) (Customs, 20 October 2022; accessed 4 September 2026) ✓ verified
“tobacco products, alcoholic beverages and fuel, which are imported in personal luggage and do not exceed defined quantitative restrictions.”
- Latvia to Raise E-Liquid Taxes by 21 Percent Annually – Tobacco Reporter (Trade press, 12 October 2023; accessed 4 September 2026) ✓ verified
- Latvia: legislation summary – Tobacco Control Laws (Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids) (NGO / research, 27 August 2021; accessed 4 September 2026) ✓ verified
“prohibits the sale of tobacco products via vending machines and the internet, small packets of cigarettes, and smokeless tobacco products.”
- Latvia country profile – Global State of Tobacco Harm Reduction (GSTHR) (NGO / research; accessed 4 September 2026) ✓ verified
- Alcohol, tobacco and cash: travelling with alcohol and tobacco in the EU – European Union – Your Europe (Government; accessed 4 September 2026) ✓ verified
“200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos or 50 cigars or 250 g tobacco [...] 40 cigarettes or 20 cigarillos or 10 cigars or 50 g tobacco”
- Rewriting the Rules – Tobacco Reporter (Trade press, 1 September 2024; accessed 4 September 2026) ✓ verified
“In June, EU health ministers discussed proposals by Latvia and Denmark to restrict flavors in vapes and nicotine pouches.”
Record last verified 4 September 2026. Found an error or a newer rule? Tell us and we will re-check the source.