BY SAMIE WAIKORI
The Pacific Forum Trade Working Group through Pacific Kava Groups is working with European Union (EU) to lift a ban imposed on Pacific kava products in European markets.
The ban came after an incident in year 2000, where kava was allegedly blamed for the death of a couple in Europe.
The Technical Chair of Working Kava Group, who is also Chair of Kava Committee Tonga and Advisor Palace Officer Tonga, Mr Feiloakitau Tevi said they are trying to pull the restriction back.
He said the work of the Kava Working Group to re-access EU market with Pacific kava product is progressing well.
“Right now, the application is with the Pacific Forum Trade Working Group. And that application is being worked on. Hopefully, we should see it within the next 12 to 18 months in terms of access.
“But that’s where we are at right now with regards to kava and with regards to the market access working group,” Tevi said.
He said an individual from Vanuatu was the first to apply to EU to lift the ban. But it was unsuccessful – as the application didn’t convince the EU Director General on Trade.
“The Pacific Islands Forum agreed to take it up again and I guess EU is listening to PIF and the Kava Working Group.
“PIF through the Working Group is working on various requirements to get EU’s perspective and approval for the Kava product to access EU markets,” Tevi said.
He said this is the current work to lift the ban and re-access pacific Kava products into European Markets.
Tevi said similar work is also accorded to other markets across the global.
Tevi stated that at the moment, Pacific Kava products are sold in markets in Australia, US, Asia and other parts of the world.
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