Are Nicotine Pouches Legal in Norway? (Snus Yes, Pouches No)

By PouchGuide Editorial Team · Published October 4, 2026

Tobacco-free nicotine pouches can’t legally be sold in Norway. Under rules in force since July 2021, new nicotine products need approval from the Directorate of Health (Helsedirektoratet), and, according to TobaccoIntelligence, no nicotine pouch had been approved as of October 2025. Snus, which contains tobacco, is legal. Since January 1, 2026, private individuals also can’t order nicotine products from abroad.

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

Why snus is legal but pouches aren’t

Norway regulates the two products under different rules:

• Snus is a tobacco product. It’s legal and regulated under Norway’s Tobacco Control Act, and it’s widely used.
• Tobacco-free nicotine pouches (ZYN, VELO and similar) are treated as new nicotine products. It’s forbidden to produce, import, sell or transfer them unless they’re approved by the Directorate of Health, and none has been.

The 2026 import ban

Norwegian Customs says that from January 1, 2026, private individuals are prohibited from ordering tobacco and nicotine products from abroad. That covers online, telephone, postal and other distance sales. The list explicitly includes “nicotine snus (without tobacco)”, which means nicotine pouches.

Customs can detain, confiscate and destroy products imported in breach of the ban, with no compensation.

What’s still allowed to order includes herbal mixtures and snus without tobacco and nicotine.

Can I bring pouches in my luggage?

The import ban covers ordering from abroad. Rules on what travelers can carry are set separately in Norway’s customs quotas. Pouches aren’t approved for sale in Norway, so don’t assume you can bring them in. Check Tolletaten’s traveler rules before your trip, and be prepared for them to be confiscated.

What do Norwegians use instead?

Mostly snus, including “all-white” snus, which looks like a nicotine pouch but contains a small amount of tobacco, so it falls under tobacco rules. For how pouches and snus differ, see nicotine pouches vs snus.

How Norway compares

Sweden, Norway’s neighbor, allows both snus and nicotine pouches. Norway is stricter on pouches than most of Europe, though not as strict as France, which bans them outright (see France and countries where pouches are banned).

Bottom line

In Norway, snus is legal but tobacco-free nicotine pouches can’t be sold, because none has Directorate of Health approval. Since January 1, 2026, ordering any nicotine products from abroad, including pouches, is banned, and customs can confiscate them. See traveling with nicotine pouches.