Are snus and nicotine pouches legal in Vanuatu?
Tobacco snus is banned for sale in Vanuatu: section 14(2) of the Tobacco Control Act No. 19 of 2008 (in force February 2009) prohibits importing for sale, selling, packing or distributing 'any tobacco product labelled or otherwise described as suitable for chewing, or for any other oral use (other than smoking)', with fines up to VT 1 million for individuals. Nicotine pouches are not named in any Vanuatu rule, but the Council of Ministers banned heated tobacco, e-cigarettes and non-nicotine vapes outright in April 2021 (Decision No. 064), so pouches should be treated as unclear. Tobacco may not be sold to under-18s. No customs allowance for oral products was found.
Melanesia
Vanuatu at a glance
| Nicotine pouches (tobacco-free) | Tobacco snus | |
|---|---|---|
| Sale to adults | No specific rule found | Banned |
| Possession and use | Unclear | Unclear |
| Personal import (mail order, bringing in) | Unclear | Unclear |
| Online sale inside the country | Unclear | Not allowed |
| Regulated | classification unclear | as a tobacco product |
| Minimum age | No specific limit found | 18 |
| Nicotine strength cap | No legal cap found | No legal cap found |
| Flavours | Unclear | Unclear |
| Excise tax | Unclear | Unclear |
| Legal basis | – | Tobacco Control Act No. 19 of 2008, s. 14(2) |
| In force since | – | 16 February 2009 |
Medium confidence: Based on consistent secondary sources; primary text not yet verified. Research tier 2. How we verify.
Nicotine pouches in Vanuatu
Unclear; vapes and HTPs banned.
No rule names nicotine pouches. The 2008 Act's oral-use ban (s. 14) applies to tobacco products, so tobacco-free pouches are outside its wording. Council of Ministers Decision No. 064 of 15 April 2021: 'COM approve that HTP, ENDS & ENNDS is totally ban from Vanuatu' and 'instruct Enforcement Authorities to remove and destroy all stocks in shops'. GSTHR confirms e-cigarettes and HTPs are banned by law but gives no Vanuatu-specific status for pouches. Given the policy direction, customs may treat pouches as prohibited novel nicotine products.
Sources: Government of the Republic of Vanuatu, via Tobacco Control Laws, Global State of Tobacco Harm Reduction (GSTHR)
Tobacco snus in Vanuatu
Banned for sale (oral tobacco).
Section 14(2): 'A person must not import for sale, sell, pack, or distribute any tobacco product labelled or otherwise described as suitable for chewing, or for any other oral use (other than smoking).' Penalty (s. 14(3)): up to VT 5 million for a body corporate, VT 1 million or two years' imprisonment for an individual. Section 13 separately bans loose tobacco in packages under 30 g. Sale to under-18s is prohibited. The ban is on commercial import and sale; the Act does not make consumer possession an offence, and personal import is not addressed. Tobacco Control Laws has not reviewed Vanuatu's measures.
Bringing snus or nicotine pouches into Vanuatu
| For personal use | Unclear No Vanuatu Customs and Inland Revenue page could be reached. The oral-tobacco ban in s. 14 of the 2008 Act covers import 'for sale', not personal import, but travellers should expect scrutiny. E-cigarettes and heated tobacco devices are banned outright and stocks are destroyed. Travel guides usually cite 250 cigarettes or 250 g of tobacco for adults, unverified. |
| Declaration | Unclear |
| Penalties | No specific penalty information found. |
Do not bring vapes or heated-tobacco devices. A small personal supply of snus or pouches is a grey area.
Full travel guide: can you bring snus and nicotine pouches to Vanuatu?
Buying snus and pouches in Vanuatu
- Nicotine pouches sold in shops: No
- Tobacco snus sold in shops: No
Frequently asked questions
Is snus legal in Vanuatu?
No, not for sale. Section 14 of the Tobacco Control Act 2008 bans importing for sale, selling or distributing any tobacco product described as suitable for chewing or other oral use. Individuals face fines up to VT 1 million or two years in prison for breaching it. Consumer possession is not itself an offence under the Act.
Are nicotine pouches legal in Vanuatu?
Unclear. No rule names tobacco-free pouches, and the oral-tobacco ban applies to tobacco products only. But Vanuatu banned e-cigarettes, non-nicotine vapes and heated tobacco outright in April 2021, so expect novel nicotine products to be treated strictly.
Can I bring snus or nicotine pouches into Vanuatu?
Unclear. The oral-tobacco ban targets import for sale, and no customs allowance page could be reached. Vapes and heated-tobacco devices are banned and would be seized. Carry at most a small personal quantity and declare it.
What is the age limit for tobacco in Vanuatu?
18. The Tobacco Control Act 2008 prohibits selling tobacco products to anyone under 18 and requires retailers to display a notice saying so.
Nearby in the atlas
- Australia – pouches prescription only, snus banned
- Fiji – pouches unregulated (sold openly), snus banned
- Kiribati – pouches no specific rule found, snus no specific rule found
- Marshall Islands – pouches no specific rule found, snus no specific rule found
- Micronesia – pouches no specific rule found, snus no specific rule found
- Nauru – pouches no specific rule found, snus legal
- New Zealand – pouches banned, snus banned
- Palau – pouches no specific rule found, snus no specific rule found
- Papua New Guinea – pouches no specific rule found, snus no specific rule found
- Samoa – pouches no specific rule found, snus no specific rule found
Where are nicotine pouches legal?Where is snus legal?Strength limits by countryAge limits by country
Sources
- Tobacco Control Act No. 19 of 2008 – Republic of Vanuatu, via Tobacco Control Laws (Legislation, 16 February 2009; accessed 4 September 2026) ✓ verified
“(2) A person must not import for sale, sell, pack, or distribute any tobacco product labelled or otherwise described as suitable for chewing, or for any other oral use (other than smoking).”
- Council of Ministers Decision No. 064: regulations of heated tobacco products, ENDS and ENNDS – Government of the Republic of Vanuatu, via Tobacco Control Laws (Government, 15 April 2021; accessed 4 September 2026) ✓ verified
“1. COM approve that HTP, ENDS & ENNDS is totally ban from Vanuatu. 2. COM instruct Enforcement Authorities to remove and destroy all stocks in shops.”
- Smoking, vaping, HTP, NRT and snus in Vanuatu – Global State of Tobacco Harm Reduction (GSTHR) (NGO / research; accessed 4 September 2026) ✓ verified
“Electronic nicotine delivery systems including e-cigarettes are banned by law in Vanuatu.”
Record last verified 4 September 2026. Found an error or a newer rule? Tell us and we will re-check the source.