I’m proud to announce that Joseph Magero will officially serve as GINN’s Focal Point for Sub-Saharan Africa. Joseph is a long-standing leader in the tobacco harm reduction (THR) movement—someone whose passion for public health and policy innovation has made a profound impact across Africa. His work spans public education, grassroots advocacy, and regional policy engagement,…
On Friday, GINN brought together leading voices from across the nicotine pouch industry for a high-impact networking event in Dubai—marking another key milestone in our global engagement efforts. Held one year after GINN’s inaugural launch in the same city, the Get Together welcomed GINN members, partners, and stakeholders for a dynamic day of collaboration, commercial…
On World No Tobacco Day 2025, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the UN Chronicle issued a strong call for governments to ban all flavours in tobacco and nicotine products, including cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and oral nicotine pouches. Their rationale is clear: flavours like bubblegum, cotton candy, and menthol are being used to attract youth and…
By Rohan Pike, GINN Focal Point on Anti-Illicit Trade As the UK’s Tobacco and Vapes Bill moves toward implementation, independent retailers are bracing for the fallout—not from enforcement, but from the lack of it. The Federation of Independent Retailers (The Fed) has sounded the alarm: small stores are already struggling to survive, and without proper…
Across Europe, the idea of a “smoke-free generation” is gaining traction among lawmakers. Proposed policies seek to ban the sale of tobacco products to anyone born after a certain year—effectively making smoking illegal for future generations. While these proposals may appear to be a bold public health move, they are increasingly coming under scrutiny for…
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is emerging as a pivotal region in the global harm reduction conversation, with momentum growing around novel nicotine products like oral pouches. At the recent Tobacco and Nicotine-Free Summit (TNFS), Dr. Christopher Russell, a behavioral scientist and harm reduction expert, outlined critical next steps for advancing nicotine policy in the…
The European Union stands at a crossroads. As lawmakers work to balance public health priorities with fiscal responsibilities, nicotine pouches have become a fascinating test case that could reshape how we think about harm reduction policy. Recent leaked documents from the European Commission reveal three distinct taxation approaches under consideration—each with profound implications for public…
The recent French ban on nicotine pouches has triggered a wave of backlash from harm reduction advocates, public health experts, and industry stakeholders. With punitive penalties and sweeping restrictions, the law represents one of the most stringent measures on nicotine alternatives seen in Europe. However, the story is still unfolding—and resistance is mounting. Industry Backlash…
By Robert Sidebottom, Chair of Regulatory & Compliance Committee, GINN & Managing Director, Arcus Compliance As regulators across Europe increase scrutiny of novel nicotine products, the need for clear, enforceable, and science-based packaging standards has never been greater. That’s why the Global Institute for Novel Nicotine (GINN) is endorsing the work of their member Arcus…
At the Global Institute for Novel Nicotine (GINN), we are committed to promoting science-based harm reduction, product responsibility, and ethical standards across the nicotine sector. While innovation and consumer choice are vital, they must always be balanced with a duty of care to public health, especially where youth appeal, misinformation, or excessive product strength are…