Fiji Kava - General discussion, page-87

Could explain some of the selling since October 2022, as based on submission 1 it does not look promising.

1. Risk Assessment for Kava to continue in Australia not looking too good, lack of credible data, dosage regulation etc...
2. Social Science Evidence Study - Still some issues - Kava and Alcohol mix, Pacific Islander over-use
3. Labelling assessment - Manageable through additional warning signs

P1057 was an urgent proposal to amend the kava standard in the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (the Code).
In March 2022, the FSANZ Board agreed amendments to the Code to:
*ensure kava beverage is prepared and consumed in line with historically-safe practices
*make explicit the current prohibition on the use of processing aids and food additives in the manufacture or processing of dried or raw kava root and kava beverages, and
*require that kava is sourced from Noble varieties of the kava plant, which have a history of safe use.
The changes:
*allow for continued use of kava in historically-safe and culturally-appropriate ways and
*ensure that public health and safety will continue to be protected following commencement of commercial importation of kava into Australia under the Pacific Step-up kava pilot.

Proposal P1057 - Review of the kava standard

The above said, the existing controls do not seem to limit therapeutics which contain Kava and other products (there are a few products for an approved medicinal purpose). Could we do gummies through that piece of legislation, it would seem we can as the provision under 1.1.1 (5) does not apply, neither does the Regional Standard for Kava Products for use as a Beverage When Mixed with Water (CXS 336R-2020), and where under Section 2.6.3 would seem to allow various additives and processing aids to be used where the consumable product is not a beverage to be consumed by water or a dried or raw kava.