Are Nicotine Pouches Legal in Bulgaria? (Yes, 18+, Max 20 mg)

By PouchGuide Editorial Team · Published October 12, 2026

Yes, nicotine pouches are legal in Bulgaria for adults 18 and over. An amendment to Bulgaria’s Tobacco, Tobacco Products and Related Products Act, passed on June 19, 2025 and published in the State Gazette on July 4, 2025, bans the offer and sale of nicotine products containing more than 20 mg of nicotine per unit. That cap took effect immediately on publication. The same law adds a health warning covering 30% of the pack for nicotine products. Selling nicotine products to minors is banned.

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

What did Bulgaria’s 2025 law change for nicotine pouches?

The amendment was best known for banning disposable vapes, but it also covers nicotine pouches:

• 20 mg cap: Article 30(2) of the Tobacco Act lists products whose offer and sale are banned. The amendment adds item 21: “products containing nicotine whose nicotine content exceeds 20 mg per unit”. Unlike the rest of the law, this point took effect on the day of publication (July 4, 2025).
• Health warning: a new chapter requires every pack and outer pack of nicotine-containing products to carry the warning “Това изделие съдържа никотин, който води до силно пристрастяване. Не се препоръчва за употреба от непушачи” (“This product contains nicotine, which is highly addictive. Not recommended for non-smokers”), covering 30% of the largest surface.
• Schools and children’s events: the bans on offering and selling near nurseries, schools, student dormitories and health facilities, and at events for children, now explicitly cover products other than tobacco products.
• Enforcement: the Consumer Protection Commission can order unlawful online sellers to stop, and if they don’t, ask the Sofia District Court to have internet providers block the website within 72 hours.

Most provisions took effect after the EU’s standstill period for technical regulations ended. Check the State Gazette for the exact dates.

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

18. Bulgarian law bans the sale of tobacco and nicotine products to minors.

Can you buy strong nicotine pouches in Bulgaria?

Up to 20 mg per pouch. Products above that can’t legally be offered or sold, so the strongest “extra strong” pouches sold elsewhere aren’t allowed.

Can travelers bring nicotine pouches to Bulgaria?

Yes. Bringing a reasonable amount for personal use is fine. Traditional snus is different: like everywhere in the EU except Sweden, it can’t be sold in Bulgaria. See our travel guide.

How Bulgaria compares

Bulgaria’s 20 mg cap matches neighboring Romania’s and is looser than Serbia’s 17 mg and Greece’s 16 mg. It is far from the outright ban in France.

Bottom line

Nicotine pouches are legal in Bulgaria for adults 18+, up to 20 mg per pouch, and since 2025 they must carry a 30% health warning. See our legal status overview for other countries.