Snus and nicotine pouches look alike, but UK law treats them completely differently. One is a tobacco product that no shop can legally sell. The other is legal and, from 29 October 2026, age-restricted. This guide sets out what the law says about each, what changes under the Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026, and what the government is planning next. If you're not sure which is which, start with our guide to what snus is.
Is snus legal in the UK?
No, not to sell. Snus is a moist, ground tobacco placed under the lip, and UK law bans selling it. The Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026 creates three offences for what it calls a "relevant oral tobacco product":
- manufacturing it (section 7)
- selling it, or offering or displaying it for sale (section 8)
- having it with intent to supply it to someone else in the course of business (section 9)
The Act defines a relevant oral tobacco product as a tobacco product intended for oral use that isn't meant to be inhaled or chewed and consists wholly or partly of tobacco in powder or particulate form. That covers snus and other moist oral tobacco. It deliberately leaves out chewing tobacco and nasal snuff.
These offences are serious. Manufacturing or selling snus can lead to up to two years in prison on conviction in the Crown Court, or a fine, or both. The Act also gives enforcement officers powers to seize and detain snus held with intent to supply.
Is it the same across the UK?
Yes. The Act applies the same offences in England and Wales, and adds matching offences to Scottish law and to Northern Ireland's health legislation. The rules on snus are the same wherever you are in the UK.
Why is snus illegal?
The ban isn't new. The UK prohibited selling oral tobacco such as snus while it was part of the EU, under a Europe-wide ban that dates back to 1992. The EU kept that ban in its 2014 Tobacco Products Directive to prevent the spread of a product it describes as addictive and with adverse health effects. Sweden is exempt because of its long tradition of snus use.
Snus manufacturers have challenged the ban. In 2018, a challenge by snus maker Swedish Match reached the EU's Court of Justice, and the court's Advocate General advised that the ban was valid. The ban stayed in place, and the 2026 Act now writes it into UK law.
Is it illegal to have snus?
The Act's offences target making, selling and supplying snus as a business. It doesn't include an offence of simply having snus for your own use. That doesn't make it easy to get hold of legally: no UK shop can sell it, so what UK retailers sell as "snus" is almost always a tobacco-free nicotine pouch.
Can you bring snus into the UK?
We haven't found an official answer. The government hasn't published a personal allowance for bringing snus into the UK, and retailers' accounts of the rules contradict each other. Some say travellers can bring small amounts for their own use; others say customs can seize any snus. If you're coming back from Sweden or Norway, don't assume your snus will get through.
Are nicotine pouches legal in the UK?
Yes. Nicotine pouches contain nicotine but no tobacco leaf, so they fall outside the Act's definition of snus. They're legal to sell to adults, and that includes brands like VELO and ZYN.
Nicotine pouches have had almost no product-specific rules in the UK. The government confirmed in Parliament that there is no set nicotine limit for them, and strengths range from 2mg to as much as 150mg per pouch. The Tobacco and Vapes Act brings in the first ones.
What changes on 29 October 2026
According to the government's guidance for retailers, from 29 October 2026:
- it's an offence to sell nicotine pouches and other nicotine products to anyone under 18, in shops or online
- it's an offence for an adult to buy them on behalf of someone under 18
- vending machines selling them are banned
- giving them away free to the public, or selling them at a nominal price to promote them, is banned
Sellers can face a £200 fixed penalty (£250 in Northern Ireland, subject to Assembly approval) or a fine of up to £2,500 if prosecuted (£5,000 in Northern Ireland). Our guide to how old you have to be to vape and buy nicotine products covers the age rules in full.
What's changing next
The Act gives the government powers to go further. Ministers have told Parliament these will allow them to limit the amount of nicotine in a pouch and ban harmful ingredients, although no limit has been set yet.
The first proposals are already out. On 10 July 2026 the UK government and the devolved governments opened a consultation on packaging, appearance and display covering vaping and nicotine products, including nicotine pouches. It proposes plain white packaging with restrictions on colour, imagery and branding, and closes on 2 October 2026. Nothing in it is law yet.
Snus vs nicotine pouches: the law at a glance
| Snus | Nicotine pouches | |
|---|---|---|
| Contains tobacco | Yes | No |
| Legal to sell in the UK | No | Yes, to adults |
| Minimum age to buy | Not applicable: no one can legally sell it | 18, from 29 October 2026 |
| Main law | Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026, sections 7 to 9 | Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026, sections 10 to 15 |
| Nicotine strength limit | Not applicable | None yet; the government has powers to set one |
Snus and nicotine pouches abroad
Rules outside the UK vary widely. Sweden allows snus to be sold under its EU exemption. France went the other way and banned nicotine pouches from 1 April 2026. Before you travel with pouches, read our guide to vaping on holiday, which covers pouch rules too.
Frequently asked questions
Is snus illegal in the UK?
Selling it is. Under the Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026 it's an offence to make snus, sell it or offer it for sale, or hold it to supply as a business. The Act doesn't create an offence of having snus for your own use.
Is it illegal to buy snus in the UK?
The offences fall on the seller rather than the buyer, but no UK business can legally sell snus. Anything a UK shop sells as "snus" should be a tobacco-free nicotine pouch.
Are nicotine pouches banned in the UK?
No. They're legal to sell to adults. From 29 October 2026 they're age-restricted to 18 and over, and more rules on packaging and strength may follow.
Is VELO legal in the UK?
Yes. VELO is a tobacco-free nicotine pouch, not snus, so it can be sold legally to adults. See what snus is and why VELO isn't snus.
Will nicotine pouches be banned in the UK?
There's no proposal to ban them. The government's current plans focus on age limits, packaging, display and potentially nicotine strength. If you use pouches, see our guide to how to use nicotine pouches, or browse our nicotine pouch range.