Can I carry pepper spray or a tear-gas canister to defend myself?
No — in Luxembourg, pepper spray and tear-gas canisters are prohibited weapons. The Grand-Ducal Police list them explicitly, alongside CS gas, tear gas and tasers, among the illegal "other weapons." Under the law of 2 February 2022 on weapons and ammunition, there is no authorisation to carry a prohibited weapon for personal defence: neither a feeling of insecurity, nor being a woman alone, nor a night-time journey lets you legally hold such a spray. The trap is cross-border: these products are sold freely in Germany and France for a few euros, and many bring them home believing it is allowed. Buying abroad changes nothing: the moment you cross the border with it, you are holding a prohibited weapon. The myth: "it's legal, it's sold everywhere next door" — false; in the Grand Duchy it is an offence, and although a political debate to allow it exists, it has never passed.
📋 The rules
- Prohibited weapon: pepper spray, CS gas, tear gas and tasers are classified by the Grand-Ducal Police among the illegal "other weapons."
- No carrying for defence: the law of 2 February 2022 provides no authorisation to carry a prohibited weapon for personal defence.
- Mere possession is enough: the offence does not require any use — simply holding or transporting the spray, even brand new and never used, is sufficient.
- Buying abroad legalises nothing: a spray lawfully bought in Germany or France becomes a prohibited weapon again the moment it enters Luxembourg.
- No reform yet: some politicians call for legalising the self-defence spray, but no text has been passed to date.
🔓 Exceptions
- Authorised state agents: the police and certain officers fall under a separate regime that allows them, in the course of their duties, means that are forbidden to private individuals.
- Defending your body, not the weapon: if you are attacked, the right to defend yourself exists, but it does not make it legal to have held a prohibited spray beforehand.
- Repellents and non-offensive uses: some technical or veterinary products exist, but a spray designed or used as a means of aggression or self-defence remains prohibited.
⚠️ Penalties & fines
You think you are protecting yourself, and you place yourself in breach of the law. Because pepper spray is a prohibited weapon, holding and carrying it fall under the penalties of the law of 2 February 2022, which can reach, in the most serious cases, 3 to 8 years in prison and a fine of EUR 25,001 to 500,000. The vast majority of cases are settled by fines and the confiscation of the product, but the offence is real and leaves a mark on the criminal record. There is another knock-on effect: if you use the spray, even believing yourself in danger, using a prohibited weapon can turn a self-defence situation into assault, turn the case against you and engage your civil liability for the harm caused to the attacker. The most routine police check — a simple traffic stop — is enough to reveal the object and trigger prosecution.
📎 Official sources
- Grand-Ducal Police · other weapons (legislation page) →
- Legilux · law of 2 February 2022 on weapons and ammunition (official journal) →
- Ministry of Justice · Weapons Service / prohibited weapons →
❓ Frequently asked
Is a spray bought in Germany illegal in Luxembourg?
Yes: even bought perfectly legally in Germany or France, a pepper spray becomes a prohibited weapon again the moment it enters Luxembourg. The place of purchase makes no difference, because it is possession on Luxembourg territory that constitutes the offence.
Can I keep a self-defence spray at home without carrying it?
No, the ban targets possession itself and not only carrying it in the street. Keeping a pepper spray at home or in your car is still the possession of a prohibited weapon, liable to prosecution if it is discovered during a search or a check.
Is there a legal way to defend myself in the street?
The law lets you repel an attack with a response proportionate to the threat under self-defence, but it does not let you carry a prohibited weapon for that. The safest reflexes remain prevention, a loud personal alarm and calling 113, rather than a banned object.
What is the risk if the police find a spray on me?
The spray is seized and confiscated, and you face criminal prosecution for possession of a prohibited weapon, most often punished by a fine. The conviction is entered on the criminal record, with possible repercussions for employment and for obtaining certain authorisations.
Is Luxembourg law about to change?
Some politicians have argued for legalising the self-defence spray, as in neighbouring countries, but no text has been adopted so far. Until any vote happens, the rule stays unchanged: pepper spray is a prohibited weapon in the Grand Duchy.
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