Am I actually allowed to order this? Can chewing tobacco get me into trouble in Germany?
The answer is: if you buy the right thing, you will not run into any problems. But the difference between legal and illegal lies entirely in the details.
Chewing tobacco: legal, regulated, freely available
Classic chewing tobacco is entirely legal in Germany and the EU. There are no specific bans on its consumption or sale, as long as the generally applicable tobacco laws are observed. As a consumer of legal chewing tobacco, you can buy chewing tobacco without concern and have it delivered conveniently to your home, provided you are at least 18 years old. As a reputable shop, we of course carry out an online ID check.
Why is snus banned in Germany while chewing tobacco is legally available?
The decisive difference lies in the form of processing and in an EU law from 1992. Back then, the EU prohibited the placing on the market of “tobacco for oral use”, such as sucking tobacco or snus. The only exception to this ban remained Sweden, where the sale of snus is legal and permitted to this day.
The law was justified on grounds of cancer prevention, based on studies of American oral tobacco varieties. More on the Swedish chewing tobacco tradition in Scandinavia and on the differences from other nicotine products in the article Chewing tobacco vs. smoking.
Since then, “tobacco for oral use” has therefore been prohibited in Germany. The decisive difference between chewing tobacco and snus is simple: chewing tobacco is actively chewed, which releases the nicotine gradually. Snus is banned because the pouch is not chewed but simply placed under the lip. The nicotine is released directly through the oral mucosa without any mechanical action. That is precisely what defines the product as “tobacco for oral use” and therefore makes it prohibited.
Is snus legal in Germany for private consumers?
EU law prohibits commercial placing on the market, not private possession or consumption. However, anyone who wants to order snus in Germany is operating in a legal gray area. Anyone who wants to be on the safe side in any case should opt for legally available chewing tobacco.
→ To our legal chewing tobacco range
All products on siberia.de are checked and approved for the German market. Exclusively for adults aged 18 and over. This information does not replace legal advice.
Read more in the Chewing Tobacco Guide
- Snus tradition: from Sweden to Germany
- Chewing tobacco vs. cigarettes: risks compared
- Buying chewing tobacco legally: overview of varieties
- Using chewing tobacco: a guide for beginners
