News&ViewsPodcast | Tobacco Asia - InterTabac

In this episode, Thomas Schmid speaks with developmental neurobiologist Dr. Charles A. Gardner about the demonization of nicotine. Gardner explains that nicotine has been wrongly conflated with tobacco and smoking, leading to widespread misinformation — including 80% of US physicians falsely believing nicotine causes cancer.

Gardner argues that safer alternatives like vapes, pouches, and snus are vital harm reduction tools, yet prohibitionist policies often ban them while leaving deadly cigarettes legal. Prohibition, he notes, drives products underground and worsens outcomes.

Gardner also highlights nicotine's potential health benefits: helping prevent Parkinson's and Alzheimer's, reducing symptoms of ADHD, Tourette’s syndrome, BPD, and...

Thomas Schmid interviews Waqas Khan, global CEO of Clew, discussing how the nicotine pouch brand became the world's third-largest by distribution in just two and a half years. Khan attributes this rapid success to building a complete manufacturing ecosystem with pharma-grade facilities and prioritizing quality over cost. The brand has launched in 50 countries across five regional hubs, customizing products for local taste preferences.

A major achievement has been penetrating the travel retail sector, with Clew now present in over 15 duty-free locations worldwide. Khan explains how the brand pioneered nicotine pouch listings in challenging markets like Thailand by working...

In this episode, Thomas Schmid interviews Dr. Allen Liao, founder of Tobacco China Online, about China's groundbreaking regulations on oral nicotine products that took effect in January 2025. The new framework—covering everything from nicotine pouches to nicotine patches—came with no transition period, catching many smaller manufacturers off guard. Liao explains why the government moved so swiftly, how the rules will reshape the entire supply chain, and what it means for local companies. While some businesses may face closure or consider relocating their production overseas, Liao assures that this is not the end of China’s oral nicotine sector. Far from it....

Thomas Schmid interviews Shem Baldeosingh, the director of the Global Institute for Novel Nicotine (GINN). Shem discusses GINN’s foundation in 2024, its mission to promote safer nicotine products, and its evolution into a structured organization with global influence.

He highlights GINN’s advocacy for non-combustible and non-vaping products like oral nicotine pouches and mentions significant markets including Spain and Saudi Arabia. The discussion also covers regulatory challenges, regional dynamics, and future opportunities in Asia and indeed around the world, emphasizing the importance of standards, regulatory engagement, and consumer protection.

Shem addresses innovations in nicotine delivery formats and urges policy makers and...