Which Countries BAN Pepper Spray? Check YOUR Country (2026 Map)

Описание: Where is pepper spray banned? Every country that bans pepper spray in 2026.

11 countries ban pepper spray outright: Malta, Luxembourg, Belgium, Netherlands, Norway, Denmark, Ireland, Singapore, Vietnam, United Kingdom and Canada.

Some of them:
• Netherlands: Wet wapens en munitie art 2 cat II 6 deg (objects for hitting people with toxic, asphyxiating, tear-producing or similar substances) + art 26(1) ban on possessing category II (version in force from 1 Jul 2026). Justice ministry note 29 May 2026 weighed legalising, cited risks; no change.
• Denmark: Act 1546/2018 let adults keep pepper spray at home from 1 Jan 2019; Act 123 of 30 Jan 2021 rolled it back from 1 Feb 2021. Possession now needs a police permit, not issued to the public (Vaabenloven history, retsinformation). No re-legalisation found 2025-26.
• Singapore: Guns, Explosives and Weapons Control Act 2021: pepper spray is a 'noxious substance'; possession, sale or supply without a licence is an offence and Police Licensing does not issue licences to members of the public (SPF GEWCA FAQ, read Oct 2026).
• Vietnam: Law on Management and Use of Weapons, Explosives and Support Tools 42/2024/QH15, in force 1 Jan 2025 (Can Tho justice dept intro, 2025): pepper sprays are 'support tools' licensed only to agencies, organisations and firms; art 5 bans individuals owning support tools.
• United Kingdom: Firearms Act 1968 s5(1)(b): 'any weapon ... designed or adapted for the discharge of any noxious liquid, gas or other thing' is a prohibited weapon (legislation.gov.uk, up to date to 14 Oct 2026). Possession needs Secretary of State authority.
• Canada: SOR/98-462 Part 3 item 1 (current to 21 Sep 2026): any device designed to incapacitate a PERSON by discharging gas, liquid or spray is a prohibited weapon (Criminal Code s84, s91). Bear spray labelled for animals is outside. Ontario asked Ottawa to legalise it, Mar 2026; no change.

Partly restricted (shown in amber):
• Australia: Per state/territory. VIC: prohibited weapon under Control of Weapons Act 1990, self-defence not a ground for exemption (Attorney-General reply to petition 674, 2 Mar 2026). NSW: prohibited weapon, Weapons Prohibition Act 1998 s7 (permit only). WA: controlled weapon, lawful excuse. NT: 12-month public OC spray trial from 1 Sep 2025 (NT Govt). Not nationwide → amber.
• New Zealand: OC spray is a restricted weapon under para 8 of the Arms (Restricted Weapons and Specially Dangerous Airguns) Order 1984 (NZ Police OC policy); possession needs a Police permit (NZ Customs). 2026 OIA request on civilian legalisation, no change found. Permit route → amber.
• Greece: Classed as a weapon under Law 2168/1993 (as amended by 4678/2020); possession, use and sale without a licence illegal; licences for proven threat, risky jobs or sport (Parapolitika, 25 Sep 2025). Licence route → amber.
• Sweden: Pepper spray is equated with a firearm under Vapenlagen (1996:67) 1 kap 3 s; possession needs a police licence (2 kap 1 s); unlicensed possession is a weapons offence (9 kap 1 s). Licence route, restrictive → amber.
• Finland: Gas sprays (kaasusumutin) need a police permit under the Firearms Act; granted to private persons only case by case (Yle; PHS EU table cites KKO:2010:7). Permit route → amber.
• Hungary: Govt Decree 175/2003 s3(1) bans gas sprays in public places; the s3(2)(e) exemption covers only sprays up to 20 g WITHOUT oleoresin capsicum or PAVA. So OC/pepper spray may not be carried in public; CS-type sprays up to 20 g may (njt.jog.gov.hu, read Oct 2026).
• Brazil: Pepper spray is an Army-controlled product (security forces only). Federal law sanctioned with vetoes, published DOU 24 Jul 2026 (reported as Lei 15.474/2026), allows women 18+ to buy and carry it for self-defence; sales await federal regulation (Jornal de Brasilia 24 Jul 2026). Men: still restricted → amber.
• Uzbekistan: Irritant gas canisters are civilian self-defence weapons; purchase only with a special permit from the district police, and a separate permit to carry (Tashkent city police via Podrobno.uz, 14 Jul 2021). Permit route → amber.
• Thailand: A Thai university study (STOU) states capsaicin in pepper spray is a Type 4 hazardous substance under the Hazardous Substance Act B.E. 2535 (possession banned); no 2025-26 primary list entry located → amber, not red. Recheck.

What counts: Red means civilians cannot legally own or carry pepper spray anywhere in the country (it is classed as a prohibited weapon, or no licences are issued to the public). Amber means it needs a licence or permit, or the ban covers only some states, some people or public places. The map rates the world's 195 countries (the 193 UN members plus Palestine and the Vatican); territories such as Greenland or Hong Kong are left grey.

Sources
• National weapons statutes (UK Firearms Act 1968 s5(1)(b); Canada SOR/98-462 Pt 3; Ireland Firearms Act 1925 s1; NL

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