Kratom legal in Germany

The short answer

In 2026, kratom is not banned in Germany. The plant and its main alkaloids appear neither in the Narcotics Act (BtMG) nor in the New Psychoactive Substances Act (NpSG), so buying, possessing and selling it are not criminal offences. However: kratom is unregulated, the BfArM has issued a warning since 2025, and it may not be sold as food or medicine. It is therefore traded as a botanical collector's and research specimen – not for human consumption.

Why kratom is not banned

German narcotics law works like a guest list: only what is on the list is forbidden. The BtMG relies on concrete substance schedules, and anything not named there falls outside classic narcotics law. Mitragyna speciosa and the alkaloids mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine are not listed.

The NpSG – created to catch so-called "legal highs" – does not name kratom either. So as of 2026 there is simply no law that criminalises possession or trade of the pure plant.

The 2015 Cologne court ruling – the legal pivot point

The reference point everyone cites is a ruling by the Higher Regional Court of Cologne dated 11 September 2015. In short, the court found that a kratom seller could be convicted neither under the Medicines Act (AMG) nor under food law (LFGB). The reasoning is almost beautifully bureaucratic: there was a "lack of robust scientific evidence" of any health-promoting effect – so kratom was not a medicine under the AMG. Kratom slipped through the net precisely because nobody could officially claim it worked like a drug. A grey zone was born.

The 2025 BfArM warning – a warning is not a ban

In 2025 the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM) issued an explicit warning about kratom products. That is an important signal – but, and this is the part people confuse: a warning is not a ban. Until a listing in the BtMG/NpSG or a mandatory medicine approval is actually decided and enters into force, the legal status quo stands. The BfArM keeps revisiting a possible classification, but a binding decision has not been made – as with every earlier attempt. In short: the status can change, and serious sellers watch it closely.

Neither food nor medicine – the real grey zone

This is where it gets serious for sellers. The moment a kratom product is marketed as food or a supplement, strict food law (LFGB) applies. Advertise an effect, and it risks being classed as an unapproved medicine (AMG). Health claims are forbidden anyway under the Medicinal Products Advertising Act (HWG).

That is why – not as a marketing trick but as a legal necessity – reputable sellers offer kratom explicitly as a botanical collector's and research specimen, not for human consumption. Anyone selling you a "dosage" or a "cure" online is on thin legal ice – and usually not a seller worth trusting.

Kratom across the EU – a patchwork

What is allowed in Munich can be banned across the border. Europe is anything but uniform on kratom:

Rule of thumb for travellers: always check local law before carrying kratom into another country. Incidentally, the WHO recommended in its 44th ECDD review not to schedule kratom internationally – while stressing the need for further research.

What this means for you as a collector

You may legally buy Kratom and possess it in Germany. To keep it that way – and to end up with a serious seller – look for three things:

• Correct labelling: as a botanical specimen / not for consumption – no health claims, no dosage figures.
• Lab analysis (COA): a serious seller tests batches for alkaloid content and contaminants, and is open about it.
• Transparent origin: traceable growing regions (e.g. Borneo, Sumatra) rather than anonymous bulk goods.

These are exactly the standards by which we curate our deliberately small, high-quality range at Kratoman. Order Premium Kratom with us and you get a few strains we truly know, rather than a catalogue without a story.

Frequently asked questions

Is kratom legal in Germany in 2026?

Yes. Kratom is listed in neither the BtMG nor the NpSG, so buying and possessing it are not criminal. It is, however, not approved as food or medicine.

Does the BfArM warning make kratom illegal?

No. An official warning is not a legal ban. Until a listing or approval requirement enters into force, selling kratom as a botanical specimen remains permitted.

Can I order kratom to Germany?

Shipping within Germany is permitted. For cross-border orders, the law of the origin and destination country applies – kratom is banned in several EU states.

Can the legal situation change?

Yes. The BfArM keeps reviewing a classification. We update this article whenever the status changes.

Sources & further reading

• Federal Ministry of Justice – Narcotics Act (BtMG), current version (gesetze-im-internet.de)
• Federal Ministry of Justice – New Psychoactive Substances Act (NpSG)
• Federal Ministry of Justice – Medicines Act (AMG), § 2
• BfArM – notice/warning on kratom products (bfarm.de)
• Higher Regional Court of Cologne, ruling of 11 Sept 2015
• European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA) – Kratom in Europe (euda.europa.eu)
• WHO Expert Committee on Drug Dependence (ECDD), 44th report

Important notice: All products on Kratoman.eu are offered exclusively as botanical specimens for collection, research and incense purposes. They are not intended for human consumption. This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. The legal situation may change; please always check the rules currently in force before buying, possessing or shipping.