Are snus and nicotine pouches legal in Malta?
Tobacco-free nicotine pouches are unregulated in Malta: they are sold openly in small shops and bars with no product-specific law, nicotine cap or statutory age limit, and health authorities said in July 2025 they would address them in the Tobacco Control Strategy 2025-2030. Tobacco snus is treated more strictly than elsewhere in the EU: regulation 21 of the 2016 Tobacco Products Regulations (L.N. 67/2016) bans not only the sale but also the import and storage of any smokeless tobacco product, so travellers should not bring snus into Malta. Tobacco sales are 18+.
Southern Europe, EU member
Malta at a glance
| Nicotine pouches (tobacco-free) | Tobacco snus | |
|---|---|---|
| Sale to adults | Unregulated (sold openly) | Banned |
| Possession and use | Legal | Unclear |
| Personal import (mail order, bringing in) | Allowed | Not allowed |
| Online sale inside the country | Allowed | Not allowed |
| Regulated | not specifically regulated | as a tobacco product |
| Minimum age | No specific limit found | 18 |
| Nicotine strength cap | No legal cap found | No legal cap found |
| Flavours | No flavour restrictions | Unclear |
| Excise tax | No product-specific excise | Unclear |
| Legal basis | – | Manufacture, Presentation and Sale of Tobacco and Related Tobacco Products Regulations 2016 (L.N. 67 of 2016), reg. 21; Tobacco (Smoking Control) Act, Cap. 315, s. 13 |
| In force since | – | 20 May 2016 |
Medium confidence: Based on consistent secondary sources; primary text not yet verified. Research tier 1. How we verify.
Nicotine pouches in Malta
Legal, unregulated.
No Maltese law specific to tobacco-free nicotine pouches was found. The Tobacco (Smoking Control) Act (Cap. 315) s. 13 bans sale of tobacco products and smoking requisites to under-18s, which does not clearly cover pouches. Per Times of Malta (9 July 2025, via GSTHR/Nicotine Policy), health authorities are concerned about 'unregulated nicotine pouches' sold in colourful flavoured containers in small stores and bars, and say the issue will be addressed in the forthcoming Tobacco Control Strategy 2025-2030. GSTHR pouch datasheet has no regulatory data for Malta.
Tax: No specific excise found.
Sources: Tobacco Control Laws (document mirror), Nicotine Science and Policy (GSTHR), citing Times of Malta, Times of Malta, Global State of Tobacco Harm Reduction (GSTHR)
Tobacco snus in Malta
Banned, including import.
Reg. 21: 'No person may import, manufacture, prepare, store, keep for sale, sell or supply by way of compensation or otherwise, any smokeless tobacco product.' 'Smokeless tobacco product' is defined to include chewing tobacco, nasal tobacco and tobacco for oral use, so Malta's ban is broader than the EU minimum (Directive 2014/40/EU Art. 17 covers oral tobacco only) and expressly covers importation and storage. No personal-use exemption is stated; personal possession is therefore recorded as unclear.
Tax: Not marketable.
Sources: Tobacco Control Laws (document mirror of Government Gazette text), Tobacco Control Laws (document mirror)
Bringing snus or nicotine pouches into Malta
| For personal use | Not allowed Snus and other smokeless tobacco: importation prohibited by reg. 21 of L.N. 67/2016, no personal allowance. Nicotine pouches (tobacco-free): no restriction; general goods allowance applies. Cigarettes and smoking tobacco follow EU rules (250 g smoking tobacco or 200 cigarettes from outside the EU; guide level 1 kg from EU countries). |
| Declaration | Unclear Pouches are dry goods; no restrictions in carry-on or checked baggage. |
| Penalties | Contravention of the 2016 Regulations is an offence under reg. 24 (fines); goods may be seized. |
The Malta Customs traveller page (customs.gov.mt) could not be retrieved (Cloudflare block); EU allowance figures are from the European Union's Your Europe page. Enforcement against small personal quantities of snus is not documented, but the law contains no exemption.
Full travel guide: can you bring snus and nicotine pouches to Malta?
Buying snus and pouches in Malta
- Nicotine pouches sold in shops: Yes
- Tobacco snus sold in shops: No
Pending and proposed changes
- Malta's Tobacco Control Strategy 2025-2030 is expected to address nicotine pouches (age limit, marketing, flavours). Status: consultation.
- EU Tobacco Products Directive revision may bring nicotine pouches under EU-wide rules. Expected: 2026. Status: consultation.
Frequently asked questions
Are nicotine pouches legal in Malta?
Yes, but unregulated. Tobacco-free nicotine pouches are sold in small shops and bars with no product-specific law, nicotine cap or statutory age limit. Health authorities plan to address them in the Tobacco Control Strategy 2025-2030.
Is snus legal in Malta?
No. Regulation 21 of the 2016 Tobacco Products Regulations bans importing, storing, selling or supplying any smokeless tobacco product, including snus. Malta's ban goes beyond the EU-wide sales ban by also covering importation.
Can I bring snus to Malta?
No. Importation of smokeless tobacco is prohibited under reg. 21 of L.N. 67/2016 with no personal-use exemption. Tobacco-free nicotine pouches are not covered by the ban and can be brought in.
What is the age limit for nicotine pouches in Malta?
There is no statutory age limit for tobacco-free pouches because they fall outside the Tobacco (Smoking Control) Act. Tobacco products may not be sold to under-18s.
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
- Manufacture, Presentation and Sale of Tobacco and Related Tobacco Products Regulations, 2016 (L.N. 67 of 2016) – Tobacco Control Laws (document mirror of Government Gazette text) (Legislation, 20 May 2016; accessed 4 September 2026) ✓ verified
“21. No person may import, manufacture, prepare, store, keep for sale, sell or supply by way of compensation or otherwise, any smokeless tobacco product.”
- Tobacco (Smoking Control) Act, Chapter 315 of the Laws of Malta – Tobacco Control Laws (document mirror) (Legislation, 1 April 1987; accessed 4 September 2026) ✓ verified
“13. (1) No person shall sell, supply or distribute by way of compensation or otherwise, any cigarettes, cigars, tobacco, tobacco products or smoking requisites to any person who is under the age of eighteen years”
- Health authorities concerned over 'toxic, addictive' nicotine product (news digest) – Nicotine Science and Policy (GSTHR), citing Times of Malta (NGO / research, 9 July 2025; accessed 4 September 2026) ✓ verified
“Nicotine pouches are sold in colourful containers with various flavors and nicotine strengths, commonly found in small stores and bars.”
- Health authorities concerned over 'toxic, addictive' nicotine product – Times of Malta (News, 9 July 2025; accessed 4 September 2026) , not re-verified
- Malta pouches datasheet – Global State of Tobacco Harm Reduction (GSTHR) (NGO / research; accessed 4 September 2026) ✓ verified
“No information”
- Alcohol, tobacco and cash: travelling 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”
- Travellers – Malta Customs (Customs; accessed 4 September 2026) , not re-verified
Record last verified 4 September 2026. Found an error or a newer rule? Tell us and we will re-check the source.