Is Nicotine legal in Uzbekistan?

Legal status

Nicotine vapes, nicotine liquids and nicotine pouches are banned outright in Uzbekistan, including import and possession, although nicotine itself is not a controlled drug. Nicotine is not named in Lists I to IV of Resolution 330 or in the potent substance list of Resolution No. 818, read on 3 October 2026, and that does not rule out a later amendment [Certain]. Since 1 March 2026 article 37 of Law ZRU-844 of 24 May 2023 on restricting alcohol and tobacco, as amended by Law ZRU-1098 of 27 November 2025, prohibits making, acquiring, keeping, carrying, selling, importing and exporting non smoked nicotine products, nicotine liquids, nicotine free liquids for vapes, and «никотин етказиб беришнинг электрон тизимларини, шу жумладан электрон сигареталарни» (electronic nicotine delivery systems, including e-cigarettes) [Certain].

Consequences if caught

Capital exposure: none. Article 25 of the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan of 30 April 2023 provides «Ўзбекистон Республикасида ўлим жазоси тақиқланади», in the Russian text «В Республике Узбекистан смертная казнь запрещается» (the death penalty is prohibited in the Republic of Uzbekistan), read in both texts on lex.uz on 3 October 2026 [Certain]. Administrative Code article 186-1, in the wording in force from 1 March 2026, punishes making, acquiring, keeping, carrying, selling, importing or exporting banned tobacco products or electronic nicotine delivery systems with confiscation and a fine of one hundred to two hundred times the base calculation amount, and acquiring or keeping such items worth no more than one base calculation amount with confiscation and a fine of one base calculation amount, rising to two to five times for a repeat within a year [Certain]. Criminal Code article 186-1 part three makes the same conduct a crime «анча миқдорда» (in a considerable amount) or after an administrative penalty, with a fine of three hundred to five hundred times the base calculation amount, two to three years of correctional labour, or three to five years of restricted liberty or deprivation of liberty, and parts four and five raise it to five to seven years for a large amount, a group or a repeat offender, and seven to twelve years for a very large amount or an organised group [Certain]. Article 37 part three exempts nasvay from the ban for making, holding and selling inside Uzbekistan and for export; importing it stays banned [Certain].

If prescribed or medical

Nicotine replacement medicines registered under the law are outside the definition of products containing nicotine in article 3 of Law ZRU-844 [Certain].

Documentation

A traveller should not bring a vape, a disposable e-cigarette, nicotine liquid or nicotine pouches into Uzbekistan; import is one of the acts article 37 bans [Certain]. Cigarettes and heated tobacco sticks remain lawful for adults of twenty one and over under article 21 [Certain].

Drug laws and enforcement change and vary within a country. This is not legal advice. Always confirm with Uzbekistan’s embassy or official drug authority before traveling; penalties can be severe, including imprisonment.