Cyprus wants to limit nicotine in sachets. Maximum 16 mg per sachet

Nicotine sachets in Cyprus are to be subject to detailed regulations regarding composition, labeling, and packaging safety. The Ministry of Health proposes that one sachet contain a maximum of 16 mg of nicotine.

The new requirements are not yet in force. The draft regulation has been submitted for public consultation, which will last until October 15, 2026. Only after the procedure is completed and the regulations are adopted will it be possible to discuss the final rules.

Nicotine sachets in Cyprus with a limit of 16 mg

The most important change proposed by the Ministry of Health is the introduction of a maximum permissible nicotine content.

The 16 mg limit applies to each sachet individually, not to the entire pack. If a box contains 20 sachets, each sachet will have to meet this requirement.

The draft also provides for a ban on the use of additives which, according to available scientific data, significantly and measurably increase the toxicity of the product or its addictive properties.

Each product will need to be registered in advance.

The manufacturer or importer will have to electronically notify the product to the competent authority before it is first placed on the market in the Republic of Cyprus.

The application must include, among other things:

• trade name, brand and type of product;
• full list of ingredients and their quantities;
• nicotine content in one sachet;
• information about the dose and method of nicotine absorption;
• available toxicological data;
• a brief description of the production process;
• statement of responsibility for product quality and safety.

Changes to the composition, nicotine content, or trade name will require re-notification. The manufacturer or importer will also be required to notify the office if they discontinue the sale of a specific product.

Child-resistant packaging

The project stipulates that nicotine pouch packaging will be child-resistant. These requirements are to be consistent with the international ISO 8317 standard.

The packaging must also include instructions for safe use and storage of the product. The manufacturer should explain how to reduce the risk of children swallowing the sachet and what to do if swallowing occurs.

If the packaging lacks sufficient space to clearly display all the information, the instructions may be included in a separate leaflet. The batch number or other marking should allow for precise identification of the product.

The warning will take up a large part of the packaging

The mandatory health warning will appear on the two largest surfaces of the packaging. Each surface should occupy at least 32% of the available space.

The text will be printed in black letters on a white background. It will not be obscured by other elements or become illegible once the box is opened.

The warning in the Polish translation will say:

"This product contains nicotine, which is a highly addictive substance. Its use is not recommended for non-smokers."

The project envisages posting warnings in Greek and Turkish.

Nicotine pouches are not snus

Nicotine pouches contain no tobacco. They are placed under the lip, where the nicotine is absorbed through the oral mucosa.

They are therefore not the same product as snus, which contains tobacco. The two terms are sometimes used interchangeably in everyday conversation, but legally and in terms of their composition, they refer to different products.

The Cyprus Law of 2026 defines a nicotine pouch as an industrially manufactured, tobacco-free product intended for oral ingestion without combustion, heating or inhalation.

Companies will also be liable after sales start

Manufacturers' and importers' obligations will not end after a product is notified. Companies will still need to collect information about potential harmful health effects.

If a product proves to be unsafe, defective, or non-compliant, the company will be required to take corrective action. In more serious cases, the sachets may have to be withdrawn from sale or subject to a recall procedure.

The consultation will last until October 15th.

The Ministry of Health launched consultations on September 17. Comments on the bill can be submitted until October 15, 2026, via the state consultation platform.

Individual provisions may still be subject to change until the consultation period ends. There is also no confirmed date for when the 16 mg limit and the new packaging requirements will come into effect.

Sources: Ministry of Health of the Republic of Cyprus, e-Consultation public consultation platform, Cypriot legal acts database Cylaw, StockWatch