News&ViewsPodcast | Tobacco Asia - InterTabac

Glenn Anthony John | InterTabac - Messe Dortmund

The series "Tobacco & Vape, News & Views, presented by Business Insights of InterTabac/ InterSupply and Tobacco Asia magazine" is a podcast series with host Thomas Schmid, contributing editor of Tobacco Asia magazine.

  1. 3. Juli

    TobaccoAsia/ InterTabac Podcast #56

    Host Thomas Schmid interviews Paul Varakas, Director-General of ECMA, the Brussels-based trade association representing over 30 European cigar and cigarillo manufacturers, most of them family-owned MSEs. Paul argues that cigars are artisanal, occasionally consumed products — primarily by adults over 35 — and should not face the same regulations as cigarettes. He pushes back against one-size-fits-all tobacco policies, citing Eurobarometer data showing negligible youth consumption. He welcomes the European Parliament's recent rejection of a Commission proposal to raise cigar taxes by up to 1,000%, and encourages listeners to submit evidence to the EU's ongoing tobacco regulation consultation at ecma.eu.

    TobaccoAsia/ InterTabac Podcast #56

  2. 5. Juni

    TobaccoAsia/ InterTabac Podcast #55

    Tobacco Asia’s Thomas Schmid interviews Hugo Azinheira, Executive Director for Global Research and Innovation at Filtrona, discussing the company's ESG and SBTi commitments. Hugo marks 2025 as a turning point, with Filtrona transitioning from setting sustainability goals to executing them at scale. Key achievements include a 51% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions, zero waste to landfill, 37% renewable electricity use, and EcoVadis Gold status. Hugo stresses that sustainability is embedded in daily operations across the company’s nine global manufacturing sites — not just annual reporting. Looking ahead, Filtrona plans to expand renewable energy, grow its plastic-free filter solutions portfolio, and also enter reduced-risk product categories.

    TobaccoAsia/ InterTabac Podcast #55

  3. 11. Mai

    TobaccoAsia/ InterTabac Podcast #54

    Thomas Schmid interviews Mark McQuillan, the managing director of Nicobrand, one of the world's largest pharmaceutical-grade nicotine suppliers. McQuillan explains what truly qualifies nicotine as "pharmaceutical grade." For instance, beyond basic monographs, it requires regulatory audits, drug master files, and strict impurity controls. McQuillan argues that all next-generation products like pouches and e-liquids should use pharma-grade nicotine to ensure consumer safety. The global nicotine market is roughly 1,000–1,500 metric tons annually, with nicotine pouches growing fastest. McQuillan also stresses the importance of supply chain transparency and correcting the widespread misconception that nicotine itself causes cancer.

    TobaccoAsia/ InterTabac Podcast #54

  4. 2. Apr.

    TobaccoAsia/ InterTabac Podcast #53

    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 schizophrenia, improving focus, and decreasing anxiety. To shift public perception, he advocates amplifying voices of older ex-smokers who quit cigarettes by using reduced risk products, echoing strategies from cannabis activism. His core message: nicotine is not the enemy — preventable deaths from combustible cigarettes are. Policy should prioritize harm reduction over demonizing a molecule.

    TobaccoAsia/ InterTabac Podcast #53

  5. 2. März

    TobaccoAsia/ InterTabac Podcast #52

    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 directly with regulators and demonstrating FDA authorization. The conversation also covers recent expansions into Colombia, Sweden, Morocco, and the Philippines, plus insights on navigating complex regulatory environments in markets like Japan and China's evolving nicotine regulations.

    TobaccoAsia/ InterTabac Podcast #52

  6. 29. Jan.

    TobaccoAsia/ InterTabac Podcast #51

    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. The bulk of suppliers and manufacturers will see this as an opportunity in a standardized, fully regulated market.

    TobaccoAsia/ InterTabac Podcast #51

  7. 12. Jan.

    TobaccoAsia/ InterTabac Podcast #50

    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 industry leaders to anchor decisions in comparative risk and consumer behavior data to build trust and credibility in the emerging nicotine sector.

    TobaccoAsia/ InterTabac Podcast #50

  8. 17.12.2025

    TobaccoAsia/ InterTabac Podcast #49

    Thomas Schmid interviews Marcelo Marques, General Manager of B2B Tobacco Processing in Brazil. The discussion covers the current state and outlook of the Brazilian tobacco industry, focusing on expected crop shortages, especially in Burley tobacco, due to climate and market factors. Marcelo explains that while Burley will be in shorter supply, Virginia tobacco quality and volume should remain stable. The conversation also addresses price fluctuations, the impact of previous climate disasters, and the dynamics of stock and demand in the market. Marcelo introduces his company, B2B Tobacco Processing, highlighting its rapid growth and its focus on quality and expansion in both domestic and export markets. He highlights challenges such as currency instability, competition, and the importance of reputation in the industry. The company’s export markets include the United States, Indonesia, South America, and parts of Europe. Marcelo emphasizes the company’s strategy of reinvesting profits, building customer trust, and sourcing tobacco directly from farmers to meet specific quality requirements. The interview concludes with optimism about the future of B2B Tobacco Processing and the Brazilian tobacco market, despite ongoing challenges.

    TobaccoAsia/ InterTabac Podcast #49
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The series "Tobacco & Vape, News & Views, presented by Business Insights of InterTabac/ InterSupply and Tobacco Asia magazine" is a podcast series with host Thomas Schmid, contributing editor of Tobacco Asia magazine.

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