Are Nicotine Pouches Legal in Moldova? (No, Banned Since June 2026)

By PouchGuide Editorial Team · Published October 12, 2026

No, nicotine pouches can no longer be sold legally in Moldova. Law No. 125/2025 amended Moldova’s tobacco control law (Law No. 278/2007). It added nicotine pouches to the list of products that may not be placed on the market, alongside oral, chewing and nasal tobacco. The law was published on June 24, 2025 and took effect 12 months later, on June 24, 2026.

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

What does Moldovan law say about nicotine pouches?

Law No. 125/2025 added a definition of “nicotine pouches” to the tobacco control law:

“a related product containing nicotine for oral use, consisting of nicotine powder extracted from tobacco or synthetic, as well as other ingredients, portioned in pre-filled pouches.”

The same law extended Article 24(1) of the tobacco control law. That paragraph already banned placing smokeless tobacco on the market, including tobacco for oral use (snus), chewing tobacco and nasal tobacco. It now also covers “the following related products: nicotine pouches.” Because the definition names both tobacco-derived and synthetic nicotine, “tobacco-free” branding doesn’t get around the ban.

When did the ban take effect?

Under Article VII, the law took effect 12 months after its publication in the Official Gazette on June 24, 2025, which makes the start date June 24, 2026. Moldova’s National Agency for Public Health (ANSP) had announced that putting these products on the Moldovan market would be banned in 2026.

The law also says that tobacco and related products placed on the market before it took effect may be sold for another 12 months. It is not clear how the authorities apply this to pouches that were already in stock. New pouches can no longer be put on the market.

What are the penalties?

The law also amended Moldova’s Contravention Code. Article 91¹(3), which covers placing oral and nasal tobacco on the market, now also names nicotine pouches. Selling them is therefore an administrative offence. We could not confirm the current fine amounts from an official consolidated text, so we don’t quote them here.

Can you buy nicotine pouches online in Moldova?

No. The ban covers placing pouches on the market in any form, so online sales to Moldova are not allowed either. The same law also bans selling tobacco and related products from kiosks, stalls, vending machines and other mobile sales points.

Can travelers bring nicotine pouches into Moldova?

The ban targets placing pouches on the market, not personal possession or use. We found no rule that bans carrying a small personal supply. You can’t buy them legally in Moldova, though, and anything that looks like a commercial quantity could be treated as illegal trade. Bring only a small amount for yourself and see our travel guide.

How Moldova compares

Moldova has moved closer to the strictest European countries. Like Belgium, the Netherlands and Russia, it bans sales. France goes further and also bans possession and use. Neighboring Romania allows pouches, and Ukraine leaves them largely unregulated.

Bottom line

Nicotine pouches are banned from the market in Moldova since June 24, 2026. The ban covers both tobacco-derived and synthetic nicotine. See our list of countries where nicotine pouches are banned and our legal status overview.