Major achievement in development of a regional standard for kava

A major achievement in terms of new work on developing a regional standard for kava as a beverage when mixed with water was finally adopted by the CODEX Alimentarius Commission, at its 40th Session in Geneva, Switzerland. 

Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Agriculture Jitendra Singh says that this is a major milestone for Fiji and other kava‑producing Pacific Island countries.

Singh adds the development of a regional standard for kava will improve the credibility and safety of the product, thus ensuring improved international market access for kava.

This culminates some 13 years of work by regional members to develop a standard for kava.

Kava is an important agricultural commodity for the Pacific Island countries that engage in its cultivation, forming an integral part of cultural, social and economic life.

While a number of the Pacific Island countries produce and trade in kava products, Vanuatu and Fiji are the major producers and exporters in the Pacific region.

The uniform standardisation of kava should eliminate the quality problems of the products considered as the concern for the safety of consumers.