Are Nicotine Pouches Legal in Argentina? (Yes Since May 2026, Max 8 mg)

By PouchGuide Editorial Team · Published October 12, 2026

Yes, nicotine pouches are legal in Argentina since May 2026, as long as they are registered. Ministry of Health Resolution 549/2026, published in the Boletín Oficial on May 4, 2026, created a national register for new tobacco and nicotine products and set rules for nicotine pouches. Registered pouches may contain at most 8 mg of nicotine, only tobacco or menthol flavor, and only tobacco-derived nicotine. Pouches count as tobacco products under Law 26.687, Argentina’s tobacco control law, so the same sales and advertising restrictions apply.

This is general information, not legal advice. Check official sources before you buy or travel.

What changed for nicotine pouches in Argentina in 2026?

Before 2026, Argentina had no specific rules for nicotine pouches. They appeared on the market in late 2025 without the health warnings required for tobacco products. In May 2026 the government switched from prohibiting new nicotine products to regulating them:

• ANMAT Disposition 2543/2026 repealed the 2011 ban on e-cigarettes.
• Resolution 549/2026 created the Register of Tobacco and Nicotine Products (RPTN) with a dedicated category for nicotine pouches (bolsas de nicotina) and set minimum product requirements.

Only products with a registration number printed on every pack may be sold. Products outside the listed categories can’t be imported or sold.

What are the product rules for nicotine pouches in Argentina?

According to the Annex to Resolution 549/2026, nicotine pouches may only be imported or sold if they:

• Contain at most 8 mg of nicotine per pouch. Lower strengths are allowed.
• Use only tobacco-derived nicotine, with no synthetic nicotine or nicotine analogues.
• Come only in menthol or tobacco flavor.
• Contain no vitamins, minerals, caffeine, taurine or other stimulants, and no carcinogenic, mutagenic or reproductive-toxic ingredients except nicotine.
• Use food-grade or pharmaceutical-grade ingredients.

Registration is filed online through the TAD platform, the number is issued within five business days, and it is valid for five years. The authorities can withdraw a product at any time. Packs must carry health warnings and may not use designs attractive to children, celebrity images or reduced-harm claims.

How old do you have to be to buy nicotine pouches in Argentina?

18. Because pouches are treated as tobacco products, Law 26.687 applies to them, and it bans the sale of tobacco products to minors.

Is the new framework controversial?

Yes. Medical societies and tobacco control groups called on the government to suspend Resolution 549/2026 and ANMAT Disposition 2543/2026, arguing that the change was made without independent scientific evidence. As of October 2026 the resolution was in force, but check for court rulings or amendments.

Can travelers bring nicotine pouches to Argentina?

A small amount for personal use is generally tolerated, but anything you sell or import commercially must be registered. Remember that pouches above 8 mg can’t legally be sold in Argentina. See our travel guide.

How Argentina compares

Argentina’s 8 mg cap is stricter than most European limits, such as the Czech Republic’s 12 mg, and close to Denmark’s 9 mg. In Latin America it is more open than Chile, where no pouch has been authorized, and different from Mexico, which remains a gray area.

Bottom line

Since May 2026, nicotine pouches are legal in Argentina if they are registered with the Ministry of Health, contain no more than 8 mg of tobacco-derived nicotine, and come in tobacco or menthol flavor. They are sold as tobacco products to adults 18+. See our legal status overview for other countries.