Snus and nicotine pouch laws in Americas
Across the 35 countries in the Americas covered so far, nicotine pouches are legal to sell in 12 and banned in 1; tobacco snus is legal to sell in 29 and banned in 1. The US allows pouches for adults 21 and over under FDA oversight; Canada limits them to pharmacies at 4 mg; Brazil bans most novel nicotine products. Data verified 4 September 2026.
| Country | Nicotine pouches | Tobacco snus | Age | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antigua and Barbuda | No specific rule found Unclear, no specific rule found | Legal with restrictions Legal in principle, 18+, min. 10 g pack | 18 | |
| Argentina | Legal with restrictions Legal since May 2026, max 8 mg, tobacco/menthol only | No specific rule found Covered by tobacco law, 18+, not sold | 18 | |
| Bahamas | No specific rule found Unclear, no specific rule found | No specific rule found Unclear, general tobacco law only | – | |
| Barbados | No specific rule found Unclear, no specific rule found | Legal Permitted by default, general tobacco law | – | |
| Belize | No specific rule found Unclear, no specific rule found | No specific rule found Unclear, no specific rule found | – | |
| Bolivia | No specific rule found Unclear, no specific rule found | Legal Legal, 18+, general tobacco law | 18 | |
| Brazil | Banned Banned, no authorisation, ANVISA review open | Banned Banned for sale and import | 18 | |
| Canada | Legal with restrictions Pharmacy only, mint/menthol, 4 mg max | Legal Legal, 18+ federal (19 most provinces) | 18 | |
| Chile | No specific rule found No specific rule; status contested | Legal Legal as tobacco product, 18+ | 18 | |
| Colombia | Legal with restrictions Legal, 18+, treated as a tobacco product | Legal Legal, 18+, but not sold | 18 | |
| Costa Rica | No specific rule found Unclear, no specific rule found | Legal Legal, 18+, general tobacco law | 18 | |
| Cuba | No specific rule found Unclear, no data found | No specific rule found Unclear, no data found | – | |
| Dominica | No specific rule found Unclear, no data found | No specific rule found Unclear, no data found | – | |
| Dominican Republic | No specific rule found Unclear, no specific rule found | Legal Reportedly legal, age limit unclear | – | |
| Ecuador | Unregulated (sold openly) Unregulated, no product-specific rule | Legal Legal, 18+, general tobacco law | 18 | |
| El Salvador | No specific rule found Unclear, no specific rule found | Legal Legal, 18+, no online sale | 18 | |
| Grenada | No specific rule found Unclear, no rule found | Unregulated (sold openly) Unregulated, no tobacco control act | – | |
| Guatemala | Unregulated (sold openly) Unregulated, sold openly, no age limit in law | Legal Legal, 18+, general tobacco law | 18 | |
| Guyana | No specific rule found Unclear, no specific rule found | Legal Legal in principle, 18+, no online sale | 18 | |
| Haiti | Unregulated (sold openly) Unregulated, no rule found | Unregulated (sold openly) Unregulated, no tobacco law | – | |
| Honduras | No specific rule found Unclear, no specific rule found | Legal Legal, 21+, covered by tobacco law | 21 | |
| Jamaica | No specific rule found Unclear, no specific rule found | Legal Legal in principle, 18+, not sold | 18 | |
| Mexico | Unregulated (sold openly) Unregulated, sold openly, no age limit in law | Legal Legal, 18+, but not sold in Mexico | 18 | |
| Nicaragua | No specific rule found Unclear, no specific rule; vape ban does not name them | Legal Legal, general tobacco law | – | |
| Panama | Legal Legal, treated as tobacco product; bills pending | Legal Legal, 18+, general tobacco law | 18 | |
| Paraguay | Unregulated (sold openly) Unregulated, sold openly; registration rules pending | Legal Legal, 18+, no online sale | 18 | |
| Peru | Legal Legal, 18+, Law 32159 (2024) | Legal Legal, 18+, general tobacco law | 18 | |
| Saint Kitts and Nevis | No specific rule found Unclear, no rule found | Unregulated (sold openly) Unregulated, no tobacco control act | – | |
| Saint Lucia | No specific rule found Unclear, no rule found | Legal Legal in principle, unregulated | – | |
| Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | No specific rule found Unclear, no rule found | Unregulated (sold openly) Unregulated, no tobacco control law | – | |
| Suriname | No specific rule found Unclear, no specific rule; vape import ban | Legal Legal in principle, 18+ | 18 | |
| Trinidad and Tobago | No specific rule found Unclear, no specific rule found | Legal with restrictions Legal, 18+, warnings and pack-size rules | 18 | |
| United States | Legal with restrictions Legal, 21+, FDA authorisation required | Legal with restrictions Legal, 21+, FDA authorisation required | 21 | |
| Uruguay | Unregulated (sold openly) Unregulated, ban under consideration | Legal Legal, 18+, general tobacco law | 18 | |
| Venezuela | No specific rule found Unclear, no specific rule; vape ban does not name them | Legal Legal, 18+, general tobacco rules | 18 |
By subregion
Caribbean
| Country | Nicotine pouches | Tobacco snus | Age | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antigua and Barbuda | No specific rule found Unclear, no specific rule found | Legal with restrictions Legal in principle, 18+, min. 10 g pack | 18 | |
| Bahamas | No specific rule found Unclear, no specific rule found | No specific rule found Unclear, general tobacco law only | – | |
| Barbados | No specific rule found Unclear, no specific rule found | Legal Permitted by default, general tobacco law | – | |
| Cuba | No specific rule found Unclear, no data found | No specific rule found Unclear, no data found | – | |
| Dominica | No specific rule found Unclear, no data found | No specific rule found Unclear, no data found | – | |
| Dominican Republic | No specific rule found Unclear, no specific rule found | Legal Reportedly legal, age limit unclear | – | |
| Grenada | No specific rule found Unclear, no rule found | Unregulated (sold openly) Unregulated, no tobacco control act | – | |
| Haiti | Unregulated (sold openly) Unregulated, no rule found | Unregulated (sold openly) Unregulated, no tobacco law | – | |
| Jamaica | No specific rule found Unclear, no specific rule found | Legal Legal in principle, 18+, not sold | 18 | |
| Saint Kitts and Nevis | No specific rule found Unclear, no rule found | Unregulated (sold openly) Unregulated, no tobacco control act | – | |
| Saint Lucia | No specific rule found Unclear, no rule found | Legal Legal in principle, unregulated | – | |
| Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | No specific rule found Unclear, no rule found | Unregulated (sold openly) Unregulated, no tobacco control law | – | |
| Trinidad and Tobago | No specific rule found Unclear, no specific rule found | Legal with restrictions Legal, 18+, warnings and pack-size rules | 18 |
Central America
| Country | Nicotine pouches | Tobacco snus | Age | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belize | No specific rule found Unclear, no specific rule found | No specific rule found Unclear, no specific rule found | – | |
| Costa Rica | No specific rule found Unclear, no specific rule found | Legal Legal, 18+, general tobacco law | 18 | |
| El Salvador | No specific rule found Unclear, no specific rule found | Legal Legal, 18+, no online sale | 18 | |
| Guatemala | Unregulated (sold openly) Unregulated, sold openly, no age limit in law | Legal Legal, 18+, general tobacco law | 18 | |
| Honduras | No specific rule found Unclear, no specific rule found | Legal Legal, 21+, covered by tobacco law | 21 | |
| Nicaragua | No specific rule found Unclear, no specific rule; vape ban does not name them | Legal Legal, general tobacco law | – | |
| Panama | Legal Legal, treated as tobacco product; bills pending | Legal Legal, 18+, general tobacco law | 18 |
North America
| Country | Nicotine pouches | Tobacco snus | Age | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | Legal with restrictions Pharmacy only, mint/menthol, 4 mg max | Legal Legal, 18+ federal (19 most provinces) | 18 | |
| Mexico | Unregulated (sold openly) Unregulated, sold openly, no age limit in law | Legal Legal, 18+, but not sold in Mexico | 18 | |
| United States | Legal with restrictions Legal, 21+, FDA authorisation required | Legal with restrictions Legal, 21+, FDA authorisation required | 21 |
South America
| Country | Nicotine pouches | Tobacco snus | Age | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Argentina | Legal with restrictions Legal since May 2026, max 8 mg, tobacco/menthol only | No specific rule found Covered by tobacco law, 18+, not sold | 18 | |
| Bolivia | No specific rule found Unclear, no specific rule found | Legal Legal, 18+, general tobacco law | 18 | |
| Brazil | Banned Banned, no authorisation, ANVISA review open | Banned Banned for sale and import | 18 | |
| Chile | No specific rule found No specific rule; status contested | Legal Legal as tobacco product, 18+ | 18 | |
| Colombia | Legal with restrictions Legal, 18+, treated as a tobacco product | Legal Legal, 18+, but not sold | 18 | |
| Ecuador | Unregulated (sold openly) Unregulated, no product-specific rule | Legal Legal, 18+, general tobacco law | 18 | |
| Guyana | No specific rule found Unclear, no specific rule found | Legal Legal in principle, 18+, no online sale | 18 | |
| Paraguay | Unregulated (sold openly) Unregulated, sold openly; registration rules pending | Legal Legal, 18+, no online sale | 18 | |
| Peru | Legal Legal, 18+, Law 32159 (2024) | Legal Legal, 18+, general tobacco law | 18 | |
| Suriname | No specific rule found Unclear, no specific rule; vape import ban | Legal Legal in principle, 18+ | 18 | |
| Uruguay | Unregulated (sold openly) Unregulated, ban under consideration | Legal Legal, 18+, general tobacco law | 18 | |
| Venezuela | No specific rule found Unclear, no specific rule; vape ban does not name them | Legal Legal, 18+, general tobacco rules | 18 |
Other regions
Information on SnusAtlas is compiled from legislation, government sources and reputable secondary sources, and is provided for general information only. It is not legal advice. Rules change; always check the official source linked on each page before you buy, carry or ship nicotine products. Nicotine is addictive. This site is for adults only.