Are Nicotine Pouches Legal in Russia? (No, Sales Banned Since 2020)

By PouchGuide Editorial Team · Published October 12, 2026

No, nicotine pouches can’t be legally sold in Russia. Article 19, part 8 of Russia’s tobacco law (Federal Law No. 15-FZ) bans the wholesale and retail sale of nasvay, snus, “food” nicotine products and nicotine-containing products meant for chewing, sucking or sniffing. Nicotine pouches are nicotine products you suck on, so they fall under the ban. The wording dates from Federal Law No. 303-FZ of July 31, 2020.

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

What does Russian law say about nicotine pouches?

Law 303-FZ rewrote Russia’s tobacco law to cover “nicotine-containing products”. These are products that contain nicotine, including synthetic nicotine and nicotine salts, used by sucking, chewing, sniffing or inhaling. Medicines, medical devices, foods with natural nicotine and tobacco products are excluded. The same law set the current text of Article 19, part 8:

“The wholesale and retail sale of nasvay, sucking tobacco (snus), food nicotine-containing products, and nicotine-containing products intended for chewing, sucking or sniffing is prohibited.”

Tobacco-free pouches are covered whether their nicotine comes from tobacco or is synthetic. Russia had already banned snus sales years earlier. Sellers then switched to tobacco-free “snus,” and the 2020 law closed that gap. Selling these products is an administrative offense under Article 14.53 of Russia’s Code of Administrative Offenses.

Can you make nicotine pouches in Russia?

Making them isn’t banned, but selling them in Russia is. In an April 2024 letter, Russia’s Ministry of Finance said federal law doesn’t prohibit producing these products in Russia, including for export.

Can you buy nicotine pouches online in Russia?

No. Selling them is banned in any form. Russian law also bans distance (online) sales and vending machine sales of tobacco and nicotine products in general. Sales of any nicotine product to anyone under 18 are banned too.

Can travelers bring nicotine pouches to Russia?

The ban targets selling, not owning or using pouches, and we found no rule that bans a small personal supply. You won’t be able to buy them legally once you’re there, though, and anything that looks like a commercial amount could be treated as illegal trade. Bring only a small amount for yourself, and see our travel guide.

How Russia compares

Russia bans pouch sales like Belgium and the Netherlands, though not as broadly as France, which bans possession and use too. Its neighbor Ukraine leaves pouches mostly unregulated. Lithuania also treats pouch sales as illegal.

Bottom line

Nicotine pouches are banned from sale in Russia. Since July 2020, federal law has banned trade in nicotine products meant for sucking or chewing, as well as snus. See our list of countries where pouches are banned and our legal status overview.