Are snus and nicotine pouches legal in Poland?
Nicotine pouches are legal to buy and use in Poland for adults aged 18 or over, but since the Act of 21 May 2025 (in force 5 July 2025) they are tightly restricted: nicotine may not exceed 20 mg/g, all distance and cross-border online selling is banned, vending machines and self-service displays are prohibited, and advertising and promotion are banned. Excise duty has applied to pouches since 2025. Tobacco snus cannot be sold anywhere in Poland under the EU oral tobacco ban in Article 17 of Directive 2014/40/EU, although possessing and using it is not an offence.
Central Europe, EU member
Poland 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 with limits |
| Online sale inside the country | Not allowed | Not allowed |
| Regulated | as a nicotine product (own category) | as a tobacco product |
| Minimum age | 18 | 18 |
| Nicotine strength cap | 20 mg/g | No legal cap found |
| Flavours | Some flavours restricted | Unclear |
| Excise tax | PLN 150 per kg (1 Aug - 31 Dec 2025), PLN 200 per kg from 2026 | Yes |
| Legal basis | Ustawa z dnia 9 listopada 1995 r. o ochronie zdrowia przed nastepstwami uzywania tytoniu i wyrobow tytoniowych, as amended by the Act of 21 May 2025 (Journal of Laws 2025 item 799), Art. 11hb | Directive 2014/40/EU Art. 17, transposed in the Polish tobacco act; distance selling of tobacco products banned by Art. 7f |
| In force since | 5 July 2025 | 1 May 2004 |
High confidence: Checked against legislation or an official government source. Research tier 1. How we verify.
Nicotine pouches in Poland
Legal, 18+, max 20 mg/g, no online sale.
The 2025 amendment inserted a legal definition of 'nicotine pouch' (Art. 2 pt 44a), a 20 mg/g nicotine ceiling, a ban on additives listed in Art. 7c(3) (vitamins, caffeine, colourants and similar), a mandatory health warning covering 30% of the two largest surfaces, and manufacturer/importer notification to the President of the Office. Art. 7f bans distance selling including cross-border distance selling. A further Ministry of Health proposal would restrict flavours to tobacco only.
Tax: Nicotine pouches became an excise good on 1 April 2025. Published rates differ between sources (PLN 100/kg for 2025 in some reporting); the escalating schedule to PLN 200-300 per kg by 2026-2027 is consistent.
Sources: Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids / Tobacco Control Laws, Infor.pl, Dudkowiak Kopec & Putyra (law firm)
Tobacco snus in Poland
Banned for sale (EU ban), use not punished.
Poland has had to prohibit the placing of tobacco for oral use on the market since EU accession in 2004; the current basis is Article 17 of the 2014 Tobacco Products Directive. There is no offence of personal use, but shops may not stock it and it may not be mail-ordered into Poland.
Tax: Oral tobacco cannot be lawfully placed on the market, so no retail excise rate is published for it.
Sources: Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids / Tobacco Control Laws, European Union (text as published by legislation.gov.uk)
Bringing snus or nicotine pouches into Poland
| For personal use | Allowed with limits From another EU country: personal-use quantities, with an indicative limit of 1 kg of tobacco products. From outside the EU: 250 g of smoking tobacco (or the equivalent mix) arriving by air or sea, and only 50 g arriving by land. Tobacco snus may be carried for own use but not sold or gifted onward. |
| Declaration | Not required within the allowance Snus and pouches are dry goods with no carry-on restriction. |
| Penalties | Quantities above the allowance attract customs duty, VAT and excise; commercial quantities can be seized. |
Nicotine pouches are not listed separately in the EU traveller allowances; Polish customs treat them under the general tobacco/excise goods limits. Ordering pouches from a foreign webshop for delivery to Poland is caught by the Art. 7f distance-selling ban even though carrying them in personally is not.
Full travel guide: can you bring snus and nicotine pouches to Poland?
Buying snus and pouches in Poland
- Nicotine pouches sold in shops: Yes
- Tobacco snus sold in shops: No
- Brands commonly seen: VELO, ZYN, LOOP, Kurwa, Pablo
Pending and proposed changes
- Ministry of Health draft would ban flavoured nicotine pouches (leaving only tobacco flavour) and ban disposable e-cigarettes. Expected: 2026. Status: proposed.
Frequently asked questions
Are nicotine pouches legal in Poland?
Yes, for adults aged 18 and over. Since 5 July 2025 they must contain no more than 20 mg of nicotine per gram, carry a health warning on 30% of the pack, and may not be advertised.
Can I order nicotine pouches online to Poland?
No. Article 7f of the tobacco act bans distance selling, including cross-border distance selling, of nicotine pouches, tobacco products and e-cigarettes.
Is snus legal in Poland?
Tobacco snus may not be sold in Poland because Article 17 of EU Directive 2014/40/EU bans placing tobacco for oral use on the market. Using it is not itself an offence.
Can I bring snus into Poland from Sweden?
You can carry a personal-use quantity when travelling from another EU country; the indicative limit for tobacco products is 1 kg. You may not resell or mail-order it.
What is the age limit for nicotine pouches in Poland?
18. Article 6(1) of the tobacco act prohibits making tobacco products, nicotine pouches, e-cigarettes or refill containers available to anyone under 18.
Is there a tax on nicotine pouches in Poland?
Yes. Nicotine pouches became an excise good in 2025, with a rate that rises in steps towards PLN 200-300 per kilogram by 2026-2027.
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
- Act of 21 May 2025 amending the Act on the protection of health against the consequences of the use of tobacco and tobacco products (Journal of Laws item 799) - unofficial English translation – Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids / Tobacco Control Laws (Legislation, 21 May 2025; accessed 4 September 2026) ✓ verified
“Art. 11hb. 1. Nicotine pouches shall meet the following requirements: 1) the nicotine content in a nicotine pouch shall not exceed 20 mg/g; ... Article 7f. The distance selling, including cross-border distance selling, of the following is prohibited: 1) tobacco products; 2) electronic cigarettes and refill containers and their parts; 3) nicotine pouches.”
- Directive 2014/40/EU, Article 17: Tobacco for oral use – European Union (text as published by legislation.gov.uk) (Legislation, 3 April 2014; accessed 4 September 2026) ✓ verified
“Member States shall prohibit the placing on the market of tobacco for oral use, without prejudice to Article 151 of the Act of Accession of Austria, Finland and Sweden.”
- Alcohol, tobacco and cash when travelling - duty-free allowances – European Commission, Your Europe (Government; accessed 4 September 2026) ✓ verified
“200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos or 50 cigars or 250 g tobacco”
- Saszetki nikotynowe beda drozsze. W 2025 r. trzeba bedzie zaplacic akcyze. 100 zl za 1 kg – Infor.pl (News; accessed 4 September 2026) ✓ verified
“stawka akcyzy na saszetki nikotynowe i inne wyroby nikotynowe ma w 2025 r. ma wynosic 100 zl/kg, w 2026 r. 200 zl/kg, a docelowa w 2027 r. - 300 zl za kazdy kilogram.”
- Nicotine Pouch Regulations in Poland - 2025 Legal Framework, Tax and Upcoming Restrictions – Dudkowiak Kopec & Putyra (law firm) (Other; accessed 4 September 2026) ✓ verified
“a ban on flavored pouches - only tobacco flavors would be permitted”
Record last verified 4 September 2026. Found an error or a newer rule? Tell us and we will re-check the source.