Are snus and nicotine pouches legal in Ukraine?
Tobacco snus cannot be sold in Ukraine: Article 10 of Law 2899-IV, as amended by Law 1978-IX (in force 11 July 2023), bans production, wholesale and retail trade and import for sale of 'tobacco for oral use', mirroring the EU rule. Tobacco-free nicotine pouches are legal and are regulated as tobacco products for licensing, age (18+) and excise purposes; since 1 January 2025 they carry excise of EUR 73 per kg, rising to EUR 77 in 2026 and EUR 81 in 2027. Adults may bring 250 g of tobacco products into Ukraine duty-free, and possession of snus for own use is not an offence.
Eastern Europe
Ukraine at a glance
| Nicotine pouches (tobacco-free) | Tobacco snus | |
|---|---|---|
| Sale to adults | Legal | Banned |
| Possession and use | Legal | Legal |
| Personal import (mail order, bringing in) | Allowed | Allowed |
| Online sale inside the country | Allowed with limits | Not allowed |
| Regulated | as a tobacco product | as a tobacco product |
| Minimum age | 18 | 18 |
| Nicotine strength cap | No legal cap found | No legal cap found |
| Flavours | Unclear | Unclear |
| Excise tax | EUR 73 per kg net in 2025, EUR 77 per kg in 2026, EUR 81 per kg in 2027 (target rate EUR 85 per kg) | Unclear |
| Legal basis | Law 3817-IX of 18 June 2024 on state regulation of alcohol, tobacco products and e-liquids, Art. 1(85) (definition of tobacco products includes nicotine-containing products for sucking); Tax Code of Ukraine Art. 215; Law 2899-IV Art. 13 (age 18) | Law 2899-IV on measures to prevent and reduce tobacco use, Art. 10(2)(8), as amended by Law 1978-IX of 16 December 2021 |
| In force since | 1 September 2024 | 11 July 2023 |
High confidence: Checked against legislation or an official government source. Research tier 1. How we verify.
Nicotine pouches in Ukraine
Legal, 18+, excise EUR 77/kg (2026).
Law 3817-IX defines 'tobacco products' to include 'nicotine-containing products, their substitutes for smoking, sniffing, sucking, chewing or inhaling without combustion' (Art. 1(85)); the provisions on 'other nicotine-containing products for oral use' took effect 1 September 2024. Retail requires a licence; products must carry excise stamps and a maximum retail price. Online sale is allowed only with age verification of the buyer at ordering and delivery (Law 3817-IX, retail article, part 9). No nicotine cap or flavour rule specific to pouches was found in the texts checked.
Tax: Tax Code of Ukraine, Art. 215, UKT ZED code 2404 91 90 00 'other nicotine-containing products for oral use'.
Sources: Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine
Tobacco snus in Ukraine
Banned for sale since July 2023, legal to use.
Art. 1 defines 'tobacco for oral use' exactly as the EU TPD does (powder or particle tobacco for oral use other than for inhaling or chewing, including in sachets or porous pouches). Art. 10(2) prohibits production (except for export), wholesale and retail trade, and import for sale in Ukraine of such tobacco. Financial sanction for breaching Art. 10 is UAH 20,000 per Art. 20. Chewing tobacco is not covered by the ban. The ban is on placing on the market; personal possession and use are not offences. Law 1978-IX was published 11 January 2022 and entered into force 18 months later, on 11 July 2023.
Tax: Not relevant to consumers because sale is prohibited.
Sources: Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine
Bringing snus or nicotine pouches into Ukraine
| For personal use | Allowed 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250 g of tobacco, or a set of these products not exceeding 250 g in total, per person aged 18 or over, without duty or written declaration (Customs Code Art. 376). Not duty-free if the traveller was outside Ukraine for less than 24 hours. |
| Declaration | Not required within the allowance |
| Penalties | No specific penalty information found. |
Under-18s may not import tobacco products at all. Tobacco snus brought in must be for own use; import for sale is banned under Law 2899-IV Art. 10. Nicotine pouches count as tobacco products for customs purposes.
Full travel guide: can you bring snus and nicotine pouches to Ukraine?
Pending and proposed changes
- Excise on nicotine pouches (code 2404 91 90 00) rises to EUR 81 per kg on 1 January 2027 under the transitional schedule in Tax Code section XX subsection 5. Expected: 2027-01-01. Status: adopted not in force.
Frequently asked questions
Is snus legal in Ukraine?
Sale is banned. Since 11 July 2023, Article 10 of Law 2899-IV prohibits producing, selling or importing for sale tobacco for oral use, which covers Swedish-style snus. Possessing and using it as an adult is not an offence.
Are nicotine pouches legal in Ukraine?
Yes. Tobacco-free nicotine pouches are regulated as tobacco products under Law 3817-IX, so they are sold by licensed retailers to buyers aged 18 or over and carry excise stamps.
How much snus or nicotine pouches can I bring into Ukraine?
Travellers aged 18 or over may bring 250 g of tobacco products (or 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars) duty-free under Article 376 of the Customs Code. This must be for personal use.
Is there tax on nicotine pouches in Ukraine?
Yes. The Tax Code sets excise on nicotine-containing products for oral use at EUR 73 per kg in 2025, EUR 77 per kg in 2026 and EUR 81 per kg in 2027.
Can I buy nicotine pouches online in Ukraine?
Only from licensed sellers that verify the buyer's age (18+) both when ordering and on delivery, as required by Law 3817-IX. Tobacco snus may not be sold online or offline.
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 country
Sources
- Law of Ukraine 2899-IV on measures to prevent and reduce tobacco use and its harmful effects on public health (consolidated text) – Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine (Legislation, 22 September 2005; accessed 4 September 2026) ✓ verified
“Забороняється виробництво (крім виробництва для експорту), оптова і роздрібна торгівля та імпорт для реалізації на території України: ... 8) тютюну для перорального вживання.”
- Law of Ukraine 1978-IX of 16 December 2021 amending certain laws on public health protection from the harmful effects of tobacco (card: publication and entry into force) – Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine (Legislation, 11 January 2022; accessed 4 September 2026) ✓ verified
“Цей Закон набирає чинності через вісімнадцять місяців з дня його опублікування”
- Law of Ukraine 3817-IX of 18 June 2024 on state regulation of production and circulation of ethyl alcohol, alcoholic beverages, tobacco products and e-cigarette liquids – Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine (Legislation, 18 June 2024; accessed 4 September 2026) ✓ verified
“85) тютюнові вироби - сигарети з фільтром або без фільтра, цигарки, сигари, сигарили, а також люльковий, нюхальний, смоктальний, жувальний тютюн, махорка та інші вироби з тютюну чи його замінників, інші відмінні від рідин, що використовуються в електронних сигаретах, нікотиновмісні продукти, їх замінники для куріння, нюхання, смоктання, жування чи вдихання без горіння”
- Tax Code of Ukraine 2755-VI, Art. 215 and Section XX subsection 5 (excise on nicotine-containing products for oral use) – Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine (Legislation; accessed 4 September 2026) ✓ verified
“2404 91 90 00 Інші нікотиновмісні продукти для орального застосування євро за 1 кілограм (нетто)* 73 77 81”
- Customs Code of Ukraine 4495-VI, Art. 376: Import of alcohol and tobacco products by citizens – Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine (Legislation, 13 March 2012; accessed 4 September 2026) ✓ verified
“1) 200 сигарет або 50 сигар чи 250 грамів тютюну, або ці вироби в наборі загальною вагою, що не перевищує 250 грамів”
Record last verified 4 September 2026. Found an error or a newer rule? Tell us and we will re-check the source.