Are snus and nicotine pouches legal in Romania?
Tobacco-free nicotine pouches are legal in Romania for adults aged 18 or over and have had their own rules since Law 64/2024 took effect on 31 March 2024: a pouch may not exceed 20 mg of nicotine, non-compliant products may not be placed on the market, sale to minors is prohibited and delivery through parcel lockers or vending machines is banned. Excise duty applies at RON 120.50 per kg in 2025, rising to RON 126 per kg in 2026. Tobacco snus cannot be sold because Article 17 of EU Directive 2014/40/EU bans placing tobacco for oral use on the market.
Southeast Europe, EU member
Romania 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 | Allowed with limits |
| Online sale inside the country | Allowed with limits | Not allowed |
| Regulated | as a nicotine product (own category) | as a tobacco product |
| Minimum age | 18 | 18 |
| Nicotine strength cap | 20 mg per pouch | No legal cap found |
| Flavours | No flavour restrictions | Unclear |
| Excise tax | RON 120.50 per kg (2025), RON 126 per kg (2026); RON 115 per kg in 2024 | Yes |
| Legal basis | Legea nr. 64/2024 (Monitorul Oficial nr. 267 of 28 March 2024), amending Legea 349/2002 and Legea 201/2016, art. 17^1; Legea 227/2015 (Fiscal Code), Annex 2 to Title VIII | Directive 2014/40/EU Art. 17, transposed in Legea 201/2016 on tobacco products |
| In force since | 31 March 2024 | 1 January 2007 |
High confidence: Checked against legislation or an official government source. Research tier 1. How we verify.
Nicotine pouches in Romania
Legal, 18+, max 20 mg per pouch.
Nicotine level per oral pouch may not exceed 20 mg. Placing non-compliant pouches on the market is prohibited. Sale to under-18s is banned with age verification required, including at the door on courier delivery. Sale through vending machines and delivery to parcel lockers (easybox) are prohibited; parcels must carry a visible warning that they contain nicotine products. Only tobacco-free pouches qualify; anything containing tobacco falls under the EU oral tobacco ban.
Tax: Annex 2 to Title VIII of the Fiscal Code, line 6: 'Produse cu nicotina, care nu contin tutun, destinate consumului pe cale orala'.
Sources: Lege5 (official text of Monitorul Oficial nr. 267/2024), ANAF (Agentia Nationala de Administrare Fiscala), Elvapo
Tobacco snus in Romania
Banned for sale (EU ban), use not punished.
Romania has had to prohibit the placing of tobacco for oral use on the market since EU accession in 2007. Personal possession and use are not offences; travellers may carry a personal supply.
Tax: No retail rate is published because oral tobacco cannot be placed on the market.
Sources: European Union (text as published by legislation.gov.uk)
Bringing snus or nicotine pouches into Romania
| For personal use | Allowed From another EU country: personal-use quantities, indicative limit 1 kg of tobacco products. From outside the EU: 250 g of tobacco or the equivalent proportional mix per adult traveller. |
| Declaration | Not required within the allowance No specific restriction on pouches or snus in hand or checked luggage. |
| Penalties | Above-allowance quantities attract duty, VAT and excise; commercial quantities can be seized and fined. |
Nicotine pouches are excise goods in Romania, so quantities beyond personal use brought from abroad can attract Romanian excise. Ordering pouches from abroad is possible but delivery must be by courier with age check, not to a parcel locker.
Full travel guide: can you bring snus and nicotine pouches to Romania?
Buying snus and pouches in Romania
- Nicotine pouches sold in shops: Yes
- Tobacco snus sold in shops: No
- Brands commonly seen: VELO, ZYN, Pablo, Killa, LOOP
Pending and proposed changes
- 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. Status: proposed.
Frequently asked questions
Are nicotine pouches legal in Romania?
Yes, for adults aged 18 and over. Law 64/2024, in force since 31 March 2024, allows tobacco-free oral nicotine pouches with a maximum of 20 mg of nicotine per pouch.
Is snus legal in Romania?
Tobacco snus may not be sold. Article 17 of EU Directive 2014/40/EU bans placing tobacco for oral use on the market in every EU country except Sweden. Using it is not an offence.
What is the strongest nicotine pouch allowed in Romania?
20 mg of nicotine per pouch. Products above that limit are non-compliant and can be pulled from sale by the consumer protection authority.
Can I order nicotine pouches online in Romania?
Yes, but delivery must be by courier with an age check at handover. Delivery to parcel lockers such as easybox and sale through vending machines are prohibited.
How much snus or pouches can I bring into Romania?
From another EU country a personal-use quantity, with 1 kg of tobacco products as the indicative limit. From outside the EU the duty-free allowance is 250 g of tobacco products per adult.
Is there an excise tax on nicotine pouches in Romania?
Yes. The rate is RON 120.50 per kilogram in 2025 and RON 126 per kilogram in 2026, set in Annex 2 to Title VIII of the Fiscal Code.
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
- Legea nr. 64/2024, art. 17^1 - pliculetele cu nicotina pentru uz oral – Lege5 (official text of Monitorul Oficial nr. 267/2024) (Legislation, 28 March 2024; accessed 4 September 2026) ✓ verified
“Nivelul de nicotina continut in fiecare (pouch) pliculet cu nicotina pentru uz oral nu poate depasi valoarea de 20 mg/pliculet. Introducerea pe piata a (pouch-urilor) pliculetelor cu nicotina pentru uz oral care nu respecta prevederile prezentei legi este interzisa.”
- Nivelul accizelor 2025 (Anexa nr. 2 la titlul VIII al Legii nr. 227/2015) – ANAF (Agentia Nationala de Administrare Fiscala) (Government, 1 January 2025; accessed 4 September 2026) ✓ verified
“Produse cu nicotina, care nu contin tutun, destinate consumului pe cale orala | kg | 115 | 120,5 | 126”
- 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.”
- Pliculete Nicotina Legale in Romania in 2026? – Elvapo (Retailer; accessed 4 September 2026) ✓ verified
“Atentie! Acest pachet contine produse din tutun si/sau produse care contin nicotina”
- 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”
Record last verified 4 September 2026. Found an error or a newer rule? Tell us and we will re-check the source.