Are Nicotine Pouches Legal in Slovenia? (Yes, 18+, No Online Sales)

By PouchGuide Editorial Team · Published October 12, 2026

Yes, nicotine pouches are legal in Slovenia for adults 18 and over. The ZOUTPI-B amendment to Slovenia’s tobacco law, which applies from May 24, 2024, brought pouches under the rules for “related products” as “new nicotine products.” They can be sold only to people 18 or older, only by shops with a sales license, and never online. Shops can’t display them, and you can’t use them in enclosed public places or workplaces.

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

How does Slovenian law classify nicotine pouches?

Parliament passed ZOUTPI-B on March 28, 2024, and it was published in the Official Gazette on April 9, 2024. It added a new category, the “new nicotine product”: any product that contains nicotine but no tobacco and isn’t an e-cigarette, a refill or a registered nicotine replacement therapy. Nicotine pouches fit that definition. The amendment lists new nicotine products among “related products,” so the sales, advertising and use rules for tobacco-related products now apply to pouches.

What are the rules for nicotine pouches in Slovenia?

• Age 18: selling pouches to anyone under 18 is banned, and sellers must be 18 too. Shops must post the age limit, and a seller can ask for ID. If you refuse to show it, they can’t sell to you.
• License required: only businesses with a license for each store can sell pouches. Licenses are issued by the Ministry of Health and are valid for five years. Selling without one can bring a fine of €50,000 for a company.
• No online sales: Slovenia bans placing tobacco and related products on the market over the internet, by phone or other technology, and bans cross-border distance sales.
• No vending machines, self-service or mobile stalls, and pouches must be sold in their original packaging.
• No displays or advertising: products must be kept out of sight and reach of customers. A shop may show only one A4-size notice saying they’re sold there. Advertising, sponsorship, gifts and discount coupons are banned.
• No use indoors: Article 39 bans smoking or using tobacco and related products in all enclosed public places and workplaces, and in vehicles with under-18s present. Only chewing tobacco and nasal snuff are exempt; nicotine pouches aren’t.

There’s no nicotine cap or flavor ban for pouches yet. Slovenia’s flavor ban applies to e-cigarettes and heated tobacco.

Can you buy nicotine pouches online in Slovenia?

No. Slovenian law bans online and other distance sales of tobacco and related products, including from foreign websites. You have to buy them in person at a licensed shop.

Can travelers bring nicotine pouches to Slovenia?

Yes. Bringing a reasonable amount for personal use is fine, but remember that using them indoors in public places is banned. Traditional snus is different: Slovenian law bans selling tobacco for oral use, as in the rest of the EU except Sweden. See our travel guide.

How Slovenia compares

Slovenia sits in the middle. Neighboring Croatia has only an 18+ rule, and Austria sells pouches through tobacconists. Hungary limits them to national tobacco shops and bans online orders, and Italy caps them at 16.6 mg. Slovenia’s ban on using pouches indoors is unusual, since most countries’ smoking bans don’t cover oral products.

Bottom line

Nicotine pouches are legal in Slovenia for adults 18+, but only from licensed shops, not online, not on display, and not for use in enclosed public places. See our legal status overview for other countries.