Snus & Vapes in Switzerland: What the Tobacco Products Act allows
· Schnupfhus Redaktion
Status: October 29, 2026. This article is for general information purposes and does not constitute legal advice.
The most important facts at a glance
- The Federal Act on Tobacco Products and Electronic Cigarettes (Tobacco Products Act, TabPG) has been in force in Switzerland since October 1, 2024.
- It covers snuff, snus, nicotine pouches, and e-cigarettes with and without nicotine, including liquids.
- The sale to minors is prohibited throughout Switzerland (uniform age limit of 18 years).
- A maximum tank capacity of no more than 2 ml applies to disposable e-cigarettes and disposable cartridges (Art. 9 TabPG).
- An approved revision to restrict tobacco advertising is expected to come into force at the beginning of 2027.
What does the Tobacco Products Act regulate?
On October 1, 2024, the Federal Act on Tobacco Products and Electronic Cigarettes, or Tobacco Products Act / TabPG (SR 818.32) for short, as well as the associated Tobacco Products Ordinance (TabPV), came into force in Switzerland. As a result, the same basic rules apply to tobacco and nicotine products throughout Switzerland.
The law covers a wide range of products. These include traditional products such as snuff, but also modern alternatives like snus and nicotine pouches, i.e., oral nicotine products with or without tobacco. In addition, the TabPG fully includes e-cigarettes. Legally, it makes no difference whether these e-cigarettes or the corresponding liquids contain nicotine or are nicotine-free. A central concern of the Tobacco Products Act is the protection of minors.
Is snus legal in Switzerland?
In short: Yes, snus is legal in Switzerland. Since October 1, 2024, the Tobacco Products Act has regulated the sale of snus at the federal level. Adults who consume snus with tobacco are therefore acting within a clearly regulated framework.
According to the TabPG in force since October 2024, snus is officially recognized as a tobacco product and may be sold in the Swiss retail sector or in specialized online shops. Like all products covered by the law, snus may not be sold to minors. Adults can buy snus in Switzerland relying on a clear legal basis.
Are nicotine pouches legal in Switzerland?
In addition to traditional snus, there are so-called nicotine pouches. These products, often referred to as all-white, differ from classic snus in one key respect: they contain no tobacco. Instead, they consist of plant fibers, flavorings, and added nicotine. Are nicotine pouches legal in Switzerland even though they are tobacco-free?
The new Swiss law provides a clear answer to this. The Tobacco Products Act explicitly covers oral nicotine products with or without tobacco. Nicotine pouches therefore also fall under the TabPG and may be legally purchased and consumed by adults. The fact that they do not contain tobacco does not change the age limit of 18. Thus, nicotine pouches are legal in Switzerland as long as they comply with the legal requirements of the federal act.
Snuff under current Swiss law
Snuff is one of the oldest forms of tobacco consumption and enjoys a long and deeply rooted tradition in Switzerland. Unlike snus or nicotine pouches, snuff is intended for nasal use. Snuff is also legally available in Switzerland.
Classic snuff also falls under the provisions of the Federal Act on Tobacco Products and Electronic Cigarettes. It is subject to the same ban on sales to minors as snus, nicotine pouches, and e-cigarettes. Sales to adults are legal, provided that suppliers comply with the requirements of the TabPG. Snuff thus remains a legal part of the Swiss product range.
E-cigarettes and disposable vapes: the 2 ml limit
E-cigarettes, often simply called vapes in everyday life, have also been regulated in the Tobacco Products Act since October 2024. Anyone looking for the law on e-cigarettes in Switzerland will find the rules in the TabPG. It does not matter whether these devices vaporize an e-liquid with nicotine or whether only nicotine-free flavors are used; the law fully encompasses e-cigarettes with and without nicotine, including liquids.
A key point of the TabPG concerns single-use devices. The legislature has introduced a clear technical limit for disposable e-cigarettes and disposable cartridges. The tank capacity may not exceed 2 ml (Art. 9 TabPG). The Federal Supreme Court confirmed this limit in its ruling 2C_353/2025. Larger tanks in purely disposable devices and closed disposable cartridges are therefore not legally compliant on the Swiss market.
Adults looking for a disposable vape in Switzerland should therefore pay attention to the 2 ml limit. An overview of the range can be found under buy vapes in Switzerland; the differences between the systems are explained in the article disposable vapes vs. reusable e-cigarettes.
Snus and vapes only from 18
The protection of children and adolescents is the central concern of the new Tobacco Products Act. With the TabPG and TabPV coming into force on October 1, 2024, the following applies: Sales to minors are prohibited throughout Switzerland. This means that a uniform age limit of 18 years applies to all products covered by the law.
Whether e-cigarettes with or without nicotine, liquids, snuff, tobacco-free nicotine pouches, or traditional snus – sales are only permitted to adults without exception. The fact that snus is available from the age of 18 is therefore current Swiss federal law. This applies to kiosks as well as to online retail.
What is expected to change in 2027
While the current Tobacco Products Act has been in force since October 1, 2024, the next legal development is already on the horizon. A revision of the TabPG has been approved to implement the initiative "Children and young people without tobacco advertising".
The parliamentary debate on this revision concluded on June 20, 2025. It is important to understand that these new advertising regulations have been adopted at this time but are not yet in force. According to current information from the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH), the revised provisions restricting tobacco advertising are expected to come into force at the beginning of 2027. Until then, the provisions of the current TabPG of October 2024 will apply to advertising and marketing. You can also find out more about the advertising revision in the article on the tobacco advertising ban in Switzerland.
Overview as a table
For a better overview, we have summarized the most important key data of the TabPG, which has been in force since October 2024, for the different product categories in Switzerland in a table.
| Product | Covered by the TabPG? | Available from | Special feature / Legal limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Snus (with tobacco) | Yes | 18 years | Regulated as an oral tobacco product |
| Nicotine pouches (without tobacco) | Yes | 18 years | Covered as an oral nicotine product |
| Snuff | Yes | 18 years | Classic nasal tobacco product |
| E-cigarettes & Liquids (without nicotine) | Yes | 18 years | Fully legally equivalent |
| Disposable vapes & disposable cartridges | Yes | 18 years | Max. tank capacity 2 ml (Art. 9 TabPG) |
What this means for buying in Switzerland
Adults who want to legally order vapes in Switzerland, as well as products like snus or nicotine pouches, can do so in a legally secure manner via Swiss online shops. The ban on sales to minors also applies to online retail. Schnupfhus.com only processes orders for persons aged 18 and over.
The following conditions apply to shipping at Schnupfhus.com: Shipping is exclusively via Swiss Post within Switzerland and to Liechtenstein, with every shipment equipped with a tracking link. Economy shipping (CHF 7.90) usually takes 2 to 4 working days. For those in a hurry, Priority shipping (CHF 9.00) is available: if ordered from Monday to Thursday by 4:30 pm, delivery is usually on the next working day. From an order value of CHF 50, customers in Switzerland and Liechtenstein benefit from free shipping.
Conclusion
The Tobacco Products Act, which has been in force since October 1, 2024, brings clarity to the Swiss market. Whether classic snuff, Scandinavian snus, tobacco-free nicotine pouches, or e-cigarettes with and without nicotine – all these products are now bindingly and nationally uniformly regulated under the umbrella of the TabPG. A central point of the law is the strict ban on sales to minors; sales are uniformly permitted throughout Switzerland only from the age of 18. In the area of e-cigarettes, the binding maximum amount of 2 ml tank capacity for disposable vapes and disposable cartridges stands out, which was reaffirmed by the Federal Supreme Court. While these rules currently form the foundation, the next legal adjustment is already pending with the advertising revision, which is expected to come into force in 2027. Anyone who knows the applicable rules can buy snus, nicotine pouches, snuff, and vapes in Switzerland with legal certainty. Finally, it must be emphasized that nicotine, regardless of its dosage form, is an addictive substance.
Frequently asked questions
Is snus legal in Switzerland?
Yes, snus is legal in Switzerland. The Federal Act on Tobacco Products and Electronic Cigarettes (TabPG) covers snus as an oral tobacco product and allows regular sales to adults via the Swiss retail sector and specialized online shops.
At what age can you buy snus and vapes?
Sales to minors are prohibited throughout Switzerland. Therefore, according to the TabPG in force since October 2024, snus, vapes, nicotine pouches, and snuff can only be purchased in Switzerland from the age of 18 without exception.
How much liquid can a disposable vape have in Switzerland?
Disposable e-cigarettes and disposable cartridges in Switzerland may have a tank capacity of no more than 2 ml. This technical limit is stipulated in Art. 9 TabPG and was confirmed by the Federal Supreme Court in a recent ruling.
Are nicotine pouches legal in Switzerland?
Yes, nicotine pouches, i.e., oral nicotine products without tobacco, are legal in Switzerland. They are fully covered by the Tobacco Products Act, which is why strict youth protection regulations and the age limit of 18 also apply to these tobacco-free variants.
Are nicotine-free vapes also subject to the law?
Yes. In its scope of application, the Tobacco Products Act makes no legal distinction between e-cigarettes with and without nicotine, including the corresponding liquids. They all fall under the same national regulations and age restrictions.
What will change in 2027 due to the revision of the Tobacco Products Act?
The parliamentary debate on a revision of the TabPG concluded on June 20, 2025. It implements the initiative "Children and young people without tobacco advertising" and concerns tobacco advertising. It is not yet in force; the FOPH estimates that it will come into force at the beginning of 2027.