National Kava Forum Report: moving Kava Forward in Australia

Fair Canberra Inc applauds the Australian Government decision to lift the ban on the commercial importation of kava into Australia from early 2022. The term ‘kava’, as used in this report, “….is the traditional beverage prepared by cold water extraction of the ground organs of the plant Piper Methysticum, and nothing else”. This is consistent with the definition described in the Government of Vanuatu’s Kava Act and, importantly, the Australia New Zealand Food Standard Code. Therefore, kava as defined here excludes kava in tablet or capsule form as prescribed by medical practitioners or sold in pharmacies. Fair Canberra Inc organised and hosted the Forum after Pacific Islanders and interested stakeholders in the ACT expressed the need for community consultation regarding the Federal Government’s Kava Pilot Phase 2 (KPP2): Allowing the commercial importation of kava. For many Pacific societies throughout the region, kava is an important part of daily life. It is used both in formal ceremonial obligations and informally to maintain and strengthen social and cultural relationships. Kava is also a major source of income for an increasing number of farmers across the region. For example, in 2019 export earnings in Vanuatu alone reached almost $AUD 34million.