How much nicotine pouches can I bring?

[u/MatejkoArtysta]

Hi, I live in Iceland but I'm going on vacation soon, and I want to buy some supply of Velo abroad where it's cheaper. I can find regulations for bringing tobbaco products (up to 250g), but nicotine pouches has no tobbaco in them ( it's just nicotine, cellulose and flavorants). Also I have no intention for selling them.

Can I technically buy and take like 300 packages with me from Slovenia? Did anybody try to do that before and can tell if there was any issue with that?

I was looking through Reddit but every question i found was either about just a few packages or a real tobbaco snus.

Thanks in advance

[u/PenguinChrist]

I am not sure if the 250g rule applies to nicotine pouches but we do have a tax on nicotine pouch products and if you are bringing in 300 packages, you will probably have to go through the red gate at the airport and declare it, and pay the fee (also VAT if the total buying cost exceeds 88000 ISK, i.e. if you bring in stuff you bought that cost lets say 100k, then you need to pay 24% VAT on 12000 ISK).

The fee is as follows for each gram of the product you are bringing in (excluding VAT):

1. Nicotine product with strength to up to and including 8 mg/​g: 8 ISK per gram of product.
2. Nicotine product with strength 8.1-12 mg/​g: 12 ISK per gram of product.
3. Nicotine product with strength 12.1-16 mg/​g: 15 ISK per gram of product.
4. Nicotine product with strength 16.1-20 mg/​g: 20 ISK per gram of product.

From https://veftollskra.skattur.is/ytarlegt/16562/18325

[u/MatejkoArtysta → u/PenguinChrist]

THANK YOU very much, that was exactly the info I was looking for.

From my calculations the tax will be 110-275 kr per package depends on strength. In Slovenia the cost of 1 pack is about 5 eur = 715 kr, so together it's about 1k for 1 strong package. Comparing to ~1300 in corner it is indeed much cheaper, but imo not as much to make such a big supply. I guess I'll just take like 10 of them and hope that'll be unnoticed 😅

Anyway, thanks again!

[u/PenguinChrist → u/MatejkoArtysta]

Like u/11MHz, I would suggest you going through the red gate if you wanna be extra safe. And bring your receipts too, it might speed up the process.

If we assume you bring 10 packages, each costing 715 ISK, then in total it would be 7150 which is below the 88000 ISK threshold, so no VAT required (assuming you are not bringing any other bought items which exceed the 88k threshold).

If we assume the pouch tax is 275 ISK per package (worst case), you would need to pay not more than 2750 ISK.

So you kinda have two options:

* Go through the red gate and pay up to 2750 ISK for the pouches, and guaranteed that the customs will not confiscate your pouches. Or pay nothing if there is already some threshold set for nicotine pouches that I am unaware of and that you are below it.

* Go through the green gate, which has the risk of customs stopping you, confiscating your pouches, and making you pay a fine.

Personally I would go with the first option, legal, and less uncertainty.

[u/MatejkoArtysta → u/PenguinChrist]

You're right, I'll do that, thanks for advice

[u/PenguinChrist → u/MatejkoArtysta]

No problem, hope all goes well :)

[u/11MHz → u/MatejkoArtysta]

I recommend declaring these if imported, it’s still cheaper than buying local (especially if under 88k ISK since it’s VAT exempt) and smuggling narcotics isn’t a good look, particularly when it’s permanent on your criminal record.

[u/castor_pollox → u/11MHz]

and smuggling narcotics isn’t a good look, particularly when it’s permanent on your criminal record

Give me a break you fucking troll.
Nobody gets charged with narcotics smuggling for 10x cans of nicotine pouches.
The absolute worst outcome is the pouches are taken off you and a smile from the customs officer.

[u/11MHz → u/castor_pollox]

Not sure if you have unrealistically high or low expectations of police/customs officers but good luck with that.

[u/castor_pollox → u/11MHz]

In what reality would someone be charged with narcotics smuggling for bringing in 10x cans of nicotine pouches?
It's like saying that someone trying to bring uncocked meat will be charged with attemted homicide.

[u/MatejkoArtysta → u/11MHz]

Can it actually turn into such a big deal? Dang.. it's not like i'm taking cocaine with me. Good to know, thanks for advice

[u/11MHz → u/MatejkoArtysta]

If hiring someone for a job and they have to explain the details of their recent narcotics smuggling charge, they better hope all the other candidates are terrible.

Sure, you won’t go to prison and the fine is pretty small, but the look is the real killer.

[u/MatejkoArtysta → u/11MHz]

Sounds reasonable, but why would it be classified as narcotics smuggling?

[u/11MHz → u/MatejkoArtysta]

Not declaring imports according to legal requirement = smuggling

Nicotine = a type of narcotic

Again, sure it’s not the same as importing cocaine for distribution but if you have to explain those details it might be too late, especially for things like job interviews or visa/residency applications.

It’s so easy to reject a candidate if they have that on their record.

[u/PenguinChrist → u/11MHz]

Legally if wouldn't be called narcotic smuggling I think. Would probably fall under a similar or same category as tobacco smuggling rather than narcotic smuggling. It would go on your record I imagine but only if it's a large amount and wilful infraction. Otherwise I imagine the customs officers are more likely to let you off with a warning, maybe a fine, and confiscate the product if it's a small amount and that it's apparent that the infraction was not wilful.