Are Nicotine Pouches Legal in Uzbekistan? (No, Banned, Even Possession)

By PouchGuide Editorial Team · Published October 12, 2026

No, nicotine pouches are banned in Uzbekistan. Law No. LRU-1098, signed on November 27, 2025, rewrote Article 37 of Uzbekistan’s alcohol and tobacco law. It now prohibits the production, manufacture, acquisition, storage, transportation, transfer, import and export of “smokeless tobacco products, including smokeless products containing nicotine.” Nicotine pouches fall into that category. The only exemption is the traditional product nasvay. Unlike most bans, Uzbekistan’s covers buying and keeping pouches too, not just selling them.

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

What does Uzbek law say about nicotine pouches?

Law No. LRU-1098 amended Law No. LRU-844 of May 24, 2023, “On Restricting the Distribution and Consumption of Alcohol and Tobacco Products.” The new Article 37 lists products that may not be produced, acquired, stored, transported, transferred, imported into or exported from Uzbekistan:

“smokeless tobacco products, including smokeless products containing nicotine”

The same list covers nicotine liquids, nicotine-free vape liquids and e-cigarettes. Nasvay may still be made, bought, stored and transported inside Uzbekistan and exported.

The law was officially published on November 28, 2025 and took effect three months later, at the end of February 2026.

What are the penalties?

The law also rewrote Article 186¹ of the Administrative Responsibility Code and of the Criminal Code:

• Buying or keeping prohibited tobacco products worth no more than one base calculation amount (BCA) is punished by confiscation and a fine of one BCA. A repeat offense within a year costs 2 to 5 BCA.
• Larger quantities, as well as making, transporting, transferring, importing or exporting them, are fined 100 to 200 BCA, with confiscation.
• Doing this in large quantities, or again after an administrative penalty, is a criminal offense: fines of 300 to 500 BCA or three to five years in prison, and more for organized groups.

People who voluntarily report the offense and hand over the prohibited products are exempt from liability.

Can you buy nicotine pouches online in Uzbekistan?

No. Pouches can’t be sold legally at all. Ordering them from abroad would count as importing and acquiring a prohibited product, both of which are offenses.

Can travelers bring nicotine pouches into Uzbekistan?

Don’t. The ban covers import, acquisition and storage, and the law doesn’t make an exception for a personal supply. Even a single can could lead to confiscation and a fine. Leave pouches at home or finish them before you arrive, and see our travel guide.

How Uzbekistan compares

Uzbekistan is one of the strictest countries we cover. Neighboring Kyrgyzstan has banned the import and circulation of nicotine pouches since 2021, also with an exception for nasvay. Russia bans sales but not possession. Only a few countries, such as France, also go after buyers and users.

Bottom line

Nicotine pouches are banned in Uzbekistan. Since early 2026, it has been an offense to buy, keep, import or sell them, with fines even for small amounts. See our list of countries where nicotine pouches are banned and our legal status overview.