Are Nicotine Pouches Legal in the Netherlands? The Rules in 2026
The Netherlands has one of the strictest positions on nicotine pouches in Europe. In short: nicotine pouches may not be sold in the Netherlands, whatever their nicotine content. Here is what the rules say and how they came about.
Not legal advice: this is a general overview checked in November 2026. For an official answer, contact the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) or see the sources at the end.
The short answer
- Selling nicotine pouches is banned. The Tobacco and Smoking Products Act (Tabaks- en rookwarenwet) prohibits placing nicotine products without tobacco for oral use on the market. That includes nicotine pouches.
- The ban applies regardless of strength. It covers all nicotine pouches, including low-strength ones.
- Advertising is banned too. The tobacco advertising ban applies to these products.
- Using them is not a criminal offence. The law targets the trade, not consumption.
How the ban came about
Step 1: treated as unsafe food
Nicotine pouches were not covered by Dutch tobacco law when they first appeared. The authorities therefore treated them as a food product under EU food law. Based on a safety assessment by the national health institute RIVM, pouches with more than 0.035 mg of nicotine per pouch were considered unsafe, which in practice meant almost every pouch on the market. The NVWA could take products off the shelves on that basis.
Step 2: a total ban in tobacco law
In April 2023 the Dutch government announced a total ban. A new article in the Tobacco and Smoking Products Act made it illegal to place any nicotine product for oral use on the market, with no minimum nicotine threshold. The NVWA was also given stronger powers to seize products. According to Nicotine Atlas, the explicit ban has applied since 1 January 2025.
What about snus?
Snus (oral tobacco) is banned for sale throughout the EU except in Sweden, under the EU Tobacco Products Directive. That has been the case in the Netherlands for many years. Read more in nicotine pouches vs snus.
Travelling to the Netherlands
The law bans the trade in nicotine pouches, and it does not make using them a crime. Whether you may bring pouches for your own use is less clear-cut, and official sources do not give a simple answer for pouches. If you are travelling, check the latest guidance from the NVWA or Dutch customs before you go, and do not count on buying pouches locally. See also travelling with nicotine pouches.
Other Dutch rules on nicotine products
- E-cigarettes: only tobacco-flavoured e-liquids have been allowed since 1 January 2024.
- Sales points: e-cigarette sales are being limited to specialist shops, and tobacco sales points must be registered from 1 July 2026.
- Other non-oral nicotine products are not banned outright, but fall under the advertising ban, the 18+ age limit and sales restrictions.
How the Netherlands compares
The Netherlands is not alone. Belgium also bans the sale of nicotine pouches, while countries such as Sweden allow them, and others like Denmark allow them with limits on strength and flavour. There is still no single EU-wide law, although a revised Tobacco Products Directive is being prepared. See our EU country-by-country overview and our guide to nicotine pouches in Germany.
Sources
- Rijksoverheid: Roken ontmoedigen (Dutch government)
- Explanatory memorandum to the bill amending the Tobacco and Smoking Products Act (Kamerstuk 36403, no. 3)
- Staatsblad 2024, 378
- Nicotine Atlas: Netherlands
Frequently asked questions
Are nicotine pouches legal in the Netherlands?
No. Selling nicotine pouches is banned under the Dutch Tobacco and Smoking Products Act, whatever their nicotine content. Using them is not a criminal offence.
When did the Netherlands ban nicotine pouches?
Pouches were first treated as unsafe food above 0.035 mg of nicotine per pouch. The government announced a total ban in April 2023, and according to Nicotine Atlas the explicit ban in tobacco law has applied since 1 January 2025.
Can I bring nicotine pouches to the Netherlands?
The law targets sale and trade. Official guidance on bringing pouches for personal use is not clear-cut, so check with the NVWA or Dutch customs before you travel.
Is snus legal in the Netherlands?
No. Snus cannot be sold anywhere in the EU except Sweden.
