With the world of nicotine pouch legislation changing so fast in the US, it’s only natural to wonder what’s coming next. While nobody can give a truly satisfying answer to that until the relevant policies are all but passed, other countries provide an interesting point of comparison. Given that in some parts of the world, nicotine pouches are legally classified as poison, it will be a relief to some that global legislation isn’t a roadmap for the US — different nations have vastly different political and social contexts.
This article runs through the main regulatory approaches taken, including prohibition, restrictions on marketing, and requiring a prescription to purchase nicotine pouches.
Differences in Nicotine Pouch Categorization
Legislation Differences Across the US
Countries that Prohibit Nicotine Pouch Sales
Countries that Require a Prescription for Nicotine Pouches
Countries that Limit Nicotine Pouch Availability
Countries with Limited Nicotine Pouch Regulations
Around the world, in summary:
- In an increasing number of countries, nicotine pouch sales are completely prohibited, including France.
- There are also countries with limited regulations on nicotine pouches, such as the United Kingdom.
- Elsewhere, governments are somewhere in the middle, heavily restricting access to nicotine pouches but staying clear of a complete ban.
Differences in Nicotine Pouch Categorization
It's worth taking a moment to talk about how the classification of nicotine pouches varies across the globe.
In the US, nicotine pouches are considered to be tobacco products — or, more specifically, Other Tobacco Products (OTP). There are various other countries that classify nicotine pouches similarly to tobacco; for instance, in Norway, they’re categorized as tobacco surrogates under the Law on Tobacco Products.
Other countries do things differently. In the Czech Republic, tobacco-free nicotine pouches have their very own category. In Canada, they’re classed as Natural Health Products (NHPs) since they are only authorized to help people quit smoking.
The United Kingdom treats nicotine pouches as general consumer products, despite strict restrictions on other nicotine products like cigarettes.
Some countries have even more severe-sounding categories — in Malaysia, nicotine is treated as “poison” under the country’s Poisons Act (although it’s still legal to buy and sell nicotine pouches in the country). Similarly, in France, nicotine pouches are "poisonous substances.”
These distinctions pave the way for many of the regulatory differences, as legal definitions affect which legislation applies to nicotine pouches.
Legislation Differences Across the US
While this article is intended as a comparison between the United States and the rest of the world, it’s worth remembering that rules are far from uniform across the country.
Different states take different approaches:
- Flavor bans. In some states, flavored nicotine pouches are banned, but it’s still possible to buy unflavored products. This is the case when buying nicotine pouches in California, for instance.
- Taxes. Some states have high nicotine taxes, such as in Washington.
- Other regulations. In some states, nicotine and tobacco products are regulated in other ways. For example, Kentucky requires businesses to have a license to sell the products.
- Limited or no regulation. In some US states, like Florida and Texas, there is no state-specific legislation (just age restrictions and rules that affect the whole country).
Countries that Prohibit Nicotine Pouch Sales
The strictest action a country could take against nicotine pouches is banning them completely, and many countries have taken this approach.
According to a report from Global Tobacco Control, at least ten countries have completely prohibited the sale of nicotine pouches, including Germany, Belgium, Singapore, and the Netherlands. Many of these countries have a tendency toward greater state control, which is a key difference from the US.
Singapore
Singapore is known for its laws regarding everything from littering to eating on public transport, so it’s no surprise that it takes an equally strict approach to nicotine pouches.
It’s illegal to sell, distribute, or import nicotine pouches, and even possession of nicotine pouches carries severe consequences — there are fines of up to $2,000 (SGD).
Netherlands
While the Netherlands takes a more liberal approach than Singapore to many substances, it’s equally hostile toward nicotine pouches.
There has been a total ban since January 2025, with nicotine pouches included in the Tobacco and Tobacco Products Act and classed as “tobacco-free nicotine products for oral use.” Snus, flavored cigarettes, and vapes are also banned.
Ireland
Ireland has gone one step further than many countries. The amendment to its Public Health Bill 2026, focused on tobacco and nicotine products, will prohibit the sale of nicotine pouches and other nicotine products to people under the age of 18.
But the nation is also “future-proofing” its legislation by applying the rules to not just products currently on the market, but also to any new nicotine products. That includes products that haven’t yet been invented!
There has been a wave of countries banning the sale of nicotine pouches recently, and this trend may continue. But a second possibility is a shift toward nations treating nicotine pouches as a nicotine replacement therapy (NRT). In this case, direct sales to consumers could be banned while allowing access nicotine pouches under certain conditions — such as with a prescription (a scenario outlined in the section below).
Countries that Require a Prescription for Nicotine Pouches
In the countries where nicotine pouches are classed as medicine or similar, nicotine pouches are often restricted to those who need them for medical use (such as quitting cigarettes). This recognizes the importance of harm reduction while preventing access to nicotine for everyone else.
Australia
Australia uses this approach (with the exception of South Australia, where nicotine pouches are completely prohibited). To buy nicotine pouches, Australians must obtain a prescription from a health professional confirming they need them for a medical reason. However, there are no approved products, and no physical retailers can stock nicotine pouches. The only way to purchase pouches is through online retailers.
Canada
Other countries have approved products. For instance, in Canada, there is just one brand of nicotine pouch that is authorized for sale, called Zonnic. Its pouches are mint-flavored and contain 4mg of nicotine. Health Canada also urges that they are intended for nicotine replacement therapy and not recreational use, and they can only be bought over the counter at pharmacies.
Countries that Limit Nicotine Pouch Availability
Some national governments have limited certain types of nicotine pouches rather than opting for a blanket ban.
Finland
In Finland, the country’s Tobacco Act restricts which strengths and flavors of nicotine pouches are available. It’s only possible to buy nicotine pouches in tobacco, mint, or menthol flavors, with a maximum of 16.6mg/g of nicotine.
Online and distance sales are also banned to make it easier to control which nicotine pouches are in circulation
New Zealand
New Zealand takes almost the opposite approach, by permitting the importation of nicotine pouches through online retailers for personal use while stopping stores in the country from selling the products.
The aim is to put barriers in place rather than introducing a blanket ban.
Norway
While nicotine pouches are prohibited in Norway, it’s worth giving this Nordic nation an honorable mention because of its unique approach to legislating all white snus (the country’s tobacco-containing answer to nicotine pouches).
The country has an approach to packaging rules that’s somewhat reminiscent of tobacco advertising elsewhere. All cans must have plain packaging that follows the same format — a color somewhere between green and brown, with the brand and product name written in a uniform font.
No branding, logos, or images are allowed, while health warnings are also compulsory.
China
China is known for its state-controlled economy, so it perhaps shouldn’t come as a surprise that it now plans to introduce a state monopoly for nicotine pouches, alongside other smokeless products. Cigarettes are also under a monopoly in China.
This moves nicotine pouches from a legal grey area to a crystal clear legislative stance in China. The government will therefore closely control branding, production, and distribution.
Other Countries
Then there are countries that limit the strength of nicotine pouches:
- Czech Republic: Maximum of 10mg per pouch
- Hungary: Maximum of 17mg per pouch
- United Arab Emirates: Maximum of 16.6mg per pouch
- Denmark: Maximum of 9mg per pouch
- Luxembourg: Maximum of 0.048mg per pouch
Some countries regulate tobacco-derived nicotine pouches but not synthetic nicotine pouches, such as Argentina. These countries would require legislation changes to place stringent restrictions on all types of nicotine pouches.
Countries with Limited Nicotine Pouch Regulations
Since we’ve focused mostly on countries with heavier restrictions than the United States, it would be misleading not to mention nations that have fewer restrictions.
Sweden
In Sweden — the home of nicotine pouch precursor snus — the advertising of nicotine pouches is restricted, and packages must have health warnings. But there are no restrictions on the sale of nicotine pouches.
The country has a strong focus on harm reduction and reducing cigarette use, and sees smoke-free options like nicotine pouches as playing a role in this.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom currently has limited regulations on nicotine pouches, largely due to their current classification as general consumer products, which means they’re not included in the country’s advertising restrictions on tobacco products.
However, this may change soon. The government has faced mounting pressure to increase regulation, and an upcoming Tobacco and Vapes Bill will bring in more regulations around the marketing and contents of nicotine pouches in the country.
Mexico
Another nation with no restrictions on the sale or advertising of nicotine pouches is Mexico. This is likely because nicotine pouches are such a new product on the market, with estimations suggesting that only around 0.1% of the country are regular users. Other countries across Africa and Latin America have a similar approach.
But it’s worth noting that even in countries that don’t have specific limitations on nicotine pouches or their advertising, the country’s regulatory authorities are still highly likely to flag any campaigns that target the youth or make health claims.
Minimum Age to Buy Nicotine Pouches Across the World
At a federal level, the minimum age to buy nicotine pouches in the US is 21, overriding local laws.
Elsewhere in the world, the minimum age is lower. Most countries require people to be 18 years of age to buy nicotine pouches. This includes:
- Sweden
- Denmark
- Spain
- China
- Colombia
- South Africa
One exception is Japan, which has a minimum age of 20.
The Future of Nicotine Pouch Legislation
Nicotine pouch regulation is evolving rapidly around the world. While some countries are moving toward bans, others are regulating them as harm-reduction products or consumer goods.
In the United States, the FDA continues to evaluate nicotine pouches through the PMTA process, which weighs up scientific and public health evidence. However, it has reduced restrictions on unauthorized nicotine products. More products are also receiving full marketing authorization from the FDA, such as ZYN and on! Plus, with more set to join them thanks to the recent pilot program.
As a result, the regulatory landscape may change further in the coming years. It’s also important not to underestimate the impact and powers of individual states — different areas of the country may take drastically different approaches.
