Is Kratom Legal in Europe? Legal Status by Country 2026

Is kratom legal in Europe? The short answer is: it depends on the country. Europe does not have one single kratom law that applies everywhere. Instead, each country decides how kratom, Mitragyna speciosa, mitragynine and related alkaloids are handled under national law.

This makes the legal status of kratom in Europe confusing for customers, collectors, researchers and online buyers. In some European countries, kratom is controlled or banned. In others, it may exist in a grey area, often affected by food, medicine, customs or consumer-safety rules.

At Nordic Speciosa, we believe transparency matters. This guide explains the current European kratom legality landscape, why the rules differ from country to country, and what you should check before ordering.

Visit Nordic Speciosa or read our beginner-friendly guide: What is Kratom?

Is Kratom Legal in Europe?

Kratom is not uniformly legal or illegal across Europe. There is no single EU-wide kratom ban, but that does not mean kratom can be freely sold, imported or consumed in every European country.

The European Union Drugs Agency reports that Mitragyna speciosa, mitragynine and/or 7-hydroxymitragynine are controlled in several European countries, including Denmark, Estonia, France, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Finland, Sweden and Turkey.

This means that the answer to “is kratom legal in Europe?” depends on where you live, where the product is shipped from, how it is labelled, and what national authorities consider it to be.

Why Kratom Laws in Europe Are Complicated

Kratom sits between several legal categories. Depending on the country, authorities may look at kratom as:

a controlled substance,
a novel food,
a medicinal product,
a botanical specimen,
a research material,
or a non-consumable plant product.

At EU level, kratom is especially relevant under the Novel Food Regulation. The European Commission’s Novel Food Catalogue is a non-binding tool that lists substances discussed by EU Member States under novel food rules.

A Dutch legal analysis from Ploum notes that, under Regulation (EU) 2015/2283, kratom may not be present in foodstuffs without proper authorisation. The article discusses a 2025 Dutch case involving a detained shipment of Mitragyna speciosa dried leaf powder.

In simple terms: even in countries where kratom is not listed as a narcotic, selling it as food, tea, capsules or supplements may still create legal problems.

Kratom and the EU Novel Food Rules

One of the biggest reasons kratom legality in Europe is difficult is the EU’s novel food framework.

A “novel food” is generally a food that was not consumed to a significant degree in the EU before 15 May 1997. If a product is considered a novel food, it normally needs authorisation before it can be marketed for human consumption.

For kratom, this matters because many authorities do not treat it as an approved food ingredient. EU alert systems have described Mitragyna speciosa as a novel food unless evidence proves otherwise.

That is why serious vendors avoid making medical, health or consumption claims. Customers should always check local laws before purchasing or importing kratom products.

Why the Question “Is Kratom Legal in Europe?” Has No Simple Answer

Many people search for “is kratom legal in Europe?” expecting a yes-or-no answer. Unfortunately, Europe is a patchwork of national systems.

A product may be:

legal to possess in one country,
illegal to import in another,
restricted as a food ingredient,
blocked by customs,
or allowed only when not sold for human consumption.

For online buyers, the safest approach is to check three things before ordering:

Is kratom controlled under national drug law?
Is kratom allowed to be imported into your country?
Is the product being marketed in a way that complies with food, medicine and consumer-safety rules?

FAQ: Kratom Legality in Europe

Is kratom legal in Europe?

Kratom is not legal in every European country. Some countries control or ban kratom, while others may regulate it under food, customs or medicine laws.