Are Nicotine Pouches Legal in Austria? (Yes, 18+, Sold Through Trafiken)

By PouchGuide Editorial Team · Published October 12, 2026

Yes, nicotine pouches are legal in Austria for adults 18 and over. But Austria tightened the rules a lot in 2026. Since April 1, 2026, pouches are part of the state tobacco monopoly and are subject to tobacco tax, which means they are meant to be sold through licensed tobacconists (Trafiken). An amendment to the tobacco law, BGBl. I Nr. 68/2026, adds a nicotine cap of 16.6 mg per gram, a ban on sales to under-18s, and mandatory warnings.

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

What changed for nicotine pouches in Austria in 2026?

Two laws changed the picture.

1. The tobacco monopoly and tax (from April 2026). In December 2025 the Nationalrat passed the Abgabenänderungsgesetz 2025. According to the Parliament’s own summary, it explicitly brings nicotine pouches into the tobacco monopoly, which restricts their sale to tobacconists, and adds them to the tobacco tax from April 2026, calculated by weight. The Finance Ministry put it simply: “nicotine pouches may in future only be sold in Trafiken,” supplied exclusively through licensed wholesalers. Shops that already sold pouches get a transition period until the end of 2028.

2. The product rules (from August 2026). The amendment to the Tobacco and Non-Smoker Protection Act (TNRSG) was published on July 29, 2026 and takes effect in stages (August 20 and December 31, 2026). For tobacco-free nicotine products such as pouches, it sets:

• Nicotine cap: at most 16.6 mg of nicotine per gram, and at most 1.6 g per pouch.
• Pack size: at least 15 pouches per can.
• Age 18: selling to anyone under 18 is banned nationwide.
• Warnings: every can must say “This product contains nicotine, a highly addictive substance” and that it is not meant for children and young people.
• Flavors: flavors such as menthol, fruit or candy may not be advertised on the pack; they may only appear in the ingredient list.
• Notification: makers and importers must notify each product six months before selling it.

Non-compliant products already on the market may generally be sold until June 30, 2027.

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

18. Before the federal law, the nine states (Bundesländer) already banned pouches for under-18s in their youth protection laws. The 2026 amendment makes it a federal sales ban as well.

Where can you buy nicotine pouches in Austria?

Mainly in Trafiken, the licensed tobacconists. Petrol stations and other shops that already sold pouches can keep doing so during the transition, but they now have to source them through the Trafik system. Expect strong products above 16.6 mg/g to disappear once the transition ends.

Can you order nicotine pouches online in Austria?

Don’t count on it. The tobacco monopoly rules out ordinary online shops, and the new law extends distance-selling rules (including covert test purchases by the authorities) to related products. Buy in person at a Trafik.

Can travelers bring nicotine pouches to Austria?

Yes, a reasonable amount for personal use is fine. Austria has no ban on possessing pouches. See our travel guide.

How Austria compares

Austria’s 16.6 mg/g cap matches Finland’s and is close to Italy’s 16.6 mg per pouch. It is stricter than neighboring Switzerland, which has no pouch-specific cap, and very different from Germany, where pouches are a legal gray area.

Bottom line

Nicotine pouches are legal in Austria for adults 18+, but they now sit inside the tobacco monopoly: taxed since April 2026, sold through Trafiken, and capped at 16.6 mg/g under the 2026 law. See our legal status overview for other countries.