Nicotine Pouches in New Zealand

New Zealand prohibits the sale of oral nicotine products. A product where nicotine is absorbed mainly through the mouth may not be imported for sale, sold, packed or distributed.

The prohibition sits in the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products Act 1990. The only exception is a nicotine replacement therapy approved by Medsafe as a medicine, and no mainstream pouch brand holds that approval.

Personal import is treated differently by product type. A tobacco-based oral product may be imported by the person who will use it. A synthetic one may not, unless it is a medicine imported for the importer's own therapeutic use.

Cabinet agreed in principle in 2024 to allow sale subject to safety and youth-access controls. That change has not been made.