A proposal for a Regional Kava Standard supported by all kava producing countries in the Pacific including Fiji will be tabled at the Codex Alimentarius Commission’s 40th Session in Geneva, Switzerland this week.
Codex Alimentarius is a world governing body that looks after international food standards.
The German Government stopped the export of kava in 2009 which affected farmers in the region who supplied to this market.
The regional countries then agreed to work together and develop a standard for all kava producing countries.
Ministry of Agriculture Permanent Secretary, Jitendra Singh says the Codex Kava Standard will ensure fair trade in quality kava products and also protect the health of consumers.
The Ministry’s plan is to develop kava as a commodity to industry level where it can be processed as raw material for other products for high end market.
The CAC Meeting will conclude on 21 July, 2017.
