Attention

Importers and brokers acting on behalf of importers.

Purpose

To provide importers and brokers with further information about the conditions for import, labelling requirements for kava and advice on the updated definition of permitted kava products.

Key points

The department has updated the definition of permitted kava products consistent with urgent amendments？ to the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code notified on 23 March 2022.

Kava products permitted by Standard 2.6.3 of the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code are
•a beverage obtained by the aqueous suspension of kava (Piper methysticum) root using cold water only, and not using any organic solvent
•dried or raw kava (Piper methysticum) root, including kava root chips, kava root powder and whole kava root

and must
•not contain as an ingredient or a component any substance used as either a food additive or a processing aid
•be derived from the peeled root or peeled rootstock of a Noble variety of kava, no other forms of kava are permitted as food for sale.

Conditions for importing kava
•Before importing kava, you must get an import permit granted by the Department of Health？ (Office of Drug Control).
•You must ensure labelling requirements in Part 1.2 and Standard 2.6.3 of the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code？ and country of origin food labelling requirements？ are met.

Labelling of retail ready packs

We will check the label of retail ready packaging contains:
•Mandatory warning statements as required under Standard 2.6.3 of the Code. These are Use in moderation; May cause drowsiness.
•Country of Origin in a clearly defined box.
•An Australian or New Zealand supplier/importer name and street address.
•Lot identification.
•Date marking (for example a best-before date).

We will also check that the label does not contain any nutrition content or health claims.

Read our kava fact sheet to learn more about labelling requirements.

Labelling for bulk imported kava not for immediate retail sale

Bulk imports of kava to be re-packaged for retail sale in Australia must include on the outer carton:
•The name of the food.
•Lot identification.
•The name and street address of the overseas supplier (unless included in import documentation)