Papua New Guinea
Last reviewed: 2026-06
Travelling to Papua New Guinea with snus or nicotine pouches? Both are unclear in Papua New Guinea. This page covers the legal status of snus, nicotine pouches, cigarettes, vaping, and heated tobacco in Papua New Guinea as of 2026-06, with official sources where available.
Snus
UnclearLegal basis: Tobacco Control Act 2016
No snus-specific provision was found in Papua New Guinea's tobacco law. Note that nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) is reported as banned, but smokeless oral tobacco such as snus is not specifically addressed.
Nicotine Pouches
UnclearNo specific regulation for tobacco-free nicotine pouches was found in Papua New Guinea. NRT is reported as banned, which may extend to some oral nicotine products, but pouches are not specifically addressed.
Cigarettes
LegalLegal basis: Tobacco Control Act 2016
Combustible cigarettes are legal and widely used (roughly 40% adult prevalence), regulated under the Tobacco Control Act 2016 with advertising and public-place restrictions.
Vape / E-cigarettes
BannedLegal basis: Tobacco Control Act 2016 (regulation gazetted May 2025)
In May 2025 Papua New Guinea announced a total ban on the sale, import and use of e-cigarettes/vapes, gazetted under the Tobacco Control Act 2016. Penalties reach up to 10,000 kina for individuals and 200,000 kina for businesses.
Heated Tobacco (IQOS)
UnclearLegal basis: Tobacco Control Act 2016
There is no clear specific law on heated tobacco products in Papua New Guinea; advertising of HTPs is reported as prohibited, but sale status is not clearly defined. Given the 2025 e-cigarette ban, status is uncertain.
Personal Import
Sources
- AGGGSTHR — Papua New Guinea country profileAccessed 2026-06
- AGGTobacco Control Laws — Papua New Guinea: LawsAccessed 2026-06
- AGGTobacco Reporter — Papua New Guinea Bans Vapes (May 2025)Accessed 2026-06
- AGGGSTHR — Papua New Guinea e-cigarette profileAccessed 2026-06
Disclaimer: The information on this site is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws and regulations regarding snus, nicotine pouches, cigarettes, vaping and heated tobacco change frequently. Always verify the current legal status with official government sources before travelling. NicotineAtlas assumes no liability for actions taken based on information presented here.