Are Nicotine Pouches Legal in Malta? (Yes, Taxed Since April 2026)

By PouchGuide Editorial Team · Published October 12, 2026

Yes, nicotine pouches are legal in Malta. They aren’t covered by Malta’s tobacco control law, so they’re legal by default. Since April 1, 2026, though, they’ve been taxed. Legal Notice 38 of 2026 added nicotine pouches to Malta’s Excise Duty Act at €8 per kilogram, and every can sold must carry an excise stamp. We couldn’t find a pouch-specific age limit, nicotine cap or flavor rule in force.

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

Are nicotine pouches regulated in Malta?

Only as a taxed product so far. In July 2025, Malta’s Superintendence of Public Health warned that nicotine pouches were “a new and unregulated product” that fell outside existing laws and was “legal by default.” It said the issue would be addressed in Malta’s Tobacco Control Strategy 2025–2030. We found no published pouch-specific health rules since then, such as an age limit, a nicotine cap or a flavor ban. Check for updates before relying on this.

How are nicotine pouches taxed in Malta?

Legal Notice 38 of 2026, published on February 6, 2026 and in force since April 1, 2026, made nicotine pouches excisable goods. It covers oral nicotine products classified under HS code 2404.91, not cessation aids.

• Rate: €8 per kilogram of product.
• Excise stamp: cans can’t be placed on the market unless sealed with an excise stamp that breaks when the can is opened.
• Penalties: sellers who fail to affix stamps on time face fines of €100. Anyone without authorization who holds excise stamps faces a €250 fine. Unstamped pouches can be seized and forfeited.

At €8 per kg, the tax on a typical 15 g can is about 12 cents.

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

There’s no pouch-specific minimum age that we could confirm. Malta’s under-18 ban applies to tobacco products, and health authorities have flagged pouch marketing to young people as a concern. Expect this to change once the tobacco strategy brings in new rules.

Can travelers bring nicotine pouches to Malta?

Yes. Bringing a reasonable amount for personal use is fine. Commercial quantities fall under the excise and stamp rules. Traditional snus is different: like everywhere in the EU except Sweden, it can’t be sold in Malta. See our travel guide.

How Malta compares

Malta is one of the most open EU markets. It’s similar to Portugal, which taxed pouches before it set age and strength rules. It’s a far cry from Italy, which caps pouches at 16.6 mg and bans online sales, and from France, which bans them outright.

Bottom line

Nicotine pouches are legal in Malta and lightly regulated. Since April 1, 2026, they carry an €8/kg excise duty and need an excise stamp, with more health rules expected under the 2025–2030 tobacco strategy. See our legal status overview for other countries.