Snus and nicotine pouch laws in Oceania
Across the 14 Oceaniaan countries covered so far, nicotine pouches are legal to sell in 4 and banned in 1; tobacco snus is legal to sell in 4 and banned in 4. Australia classifies nicotine as a prescription-only poison, so pouches cannot be sold legally; New Zealand regulates smokeless products under its vaping law. Data verified 4 September 2026.
| Country | Nicotine pouches | Tobacco snus | Age | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | Prescription only Prescription only; no retail sale; travellers cannot bring | Banned Sale banned since 1991; import up to 1.5 kg for own use | 18 | |
| Fiji | Unregulated (sold openly) Unregulated, not covered by tobacco law | Banned Banned for sale | 18 | |
| Kiribati | No specific rule found Unclear, no specific rule found | No specific rule found Unclear, general tobacco law applies | 18 | |
| Marshall Islands | No specific rule found Unclear, no specific rule found | No specific rule found Unclear, general tobacco law applies | 18 | |
| Micronesia | No specific rule found Unclear; 2024 Nicotine Control Act may apply | No specific rule found Unclear, general tobacco law applies | – | |
| Nauru | No specific rule found Unclear, not defined in law | Legal Legal to sell (not specifically prohibited) | – | |
| New Zealand | Banned Sale banned since 2020; personal import legal | Banned Sale banned; personal import legal, 50 g duty-free | 18 | |
| Palau | No specific rule found Unclear; may fall under 2023 e-cigarette ban | No specific rule found Unclear, general tobacco law applies | – | |
| Papua New Guinea | No specific rule found Unclear, no specific rule found | No specific rule found Unclear, general tobacco law applies | – | |
| Samoa | No specific rule found Unclear, no specific rule found | No specific rule found Unclear, general tobacco law applies | – | |
| Solomon Islands | Unregulated (sold openly) Unregulated, no specific rule | Legal with restrictions Legal, 18+, min 30 g pack | 18 | |
| Tonga | Unregulated (sold openly) Unregulated, no specific rule | Legal with restrictions Legal, 18+, min 30 g pack | 18 | |
| Tuvalu | Unregulated (sold openly) Unregulated, no specific rule | Legal Legal under tobacco law, 18+ | 18 | |
| Vanuatu | No specific rule found Unclear; vapes and HTPs banned | Banned Banned for sale (oral tobacco) | 18 |
By subregion
Australia and New Zealand
| Country | Nicotine pouches | Tobacco snus | Age | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | Prescription only Prescription only; no retail sale; travellers cannot bring | Banned Sale banned since 1991; import up to 1.5 kg for own use | 18 | |
| New Zealand | Banned Sale banned since 2020; personal import legal | Banned Sale banned; personal import legal, 50 g duty-free | 18 |
Melanesia
| Country | Nicotine pouches | Tobacco snus | Age | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fiji | Unregulated (sold openly) Unregulated, not covered by tobacco law | Banned Banned for sale | 18 | |
| Papua New Guinea | No specific rule found Unclear, no specific rule found | No specific rule found Unclear, general tobacco law applies | – | |
| Solomon Islands | Unregulated (sold openly) Unregulated, no specific rule | Legal with restrictions Legal, 18+, min 30 g pack | 18 | |
| Vanuatu | No specific rule found Unclear; vapes and HTPs banned | Banned Banned for sale (oral tobacco) | 18 |
Micronesia
| Country | Nicotine pouches | Tobacco snus | Age | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kiribati | No specific rule found Unclear, no specific rule found | No specific rule found Unclear, general tobacco law applies | 18 | |
| Marshall Islands | No specific rule found Unclear, no specific rule found | No specific rule found Unclear, general tobacco law applies | 18 | |
| Micronesia | No specific rule found Unclear; 2024 Nicotine Control Act may apply | No specific rule found Unclear, general tobacco law applies | – | |
| Nauru | No specific rule found Unclear, not defined in law | Legal Legal to sell (not specifically prohibited) | – | |
| Palau | No specific rule found Unclear; may fall under 2023 e-cigarette ban | No specific rule found Unclear, general tobacco law applies | – |
Polynesia
| Country | Nicotine pouches | Tobacco snus | Age | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samoa | No specific rule found Unclear, no specific rule found | No specific rule found Unclear, general tobacco law applies | – | |
| Tonga | Unregulated (sold openly) Unregulated, no specific rule | Legal with restrictions Legal, 18+, min 30 g pack | 18 | |
| Tuvalu | Unregulated (sold openly) Unregulated, no specific rule | Legal Legal under tobacco law, 18+ | 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.