Page 21 - IB April 2022

Kava

PHARMACEUTICAL MARKET NOW RISKY

“GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATORS TO BE DEVELOPED FOR KAVA”

By Dionisia Tabureguci relaxing beverage in the evenings. It is similar to coffee – with
the same powder you can prepare an “espresso” or a “long
A leading kava scientist in the Pacific has labelled as “risky” black”. We know that kava used as a “food” is a safe and
any kava comeback in the pharmaceutical market, stressing wonderful product. We need to convince the world that it is
that success of the crop as an export commodity will be in the an interesting product coming from the South Pacific, and that
“food” market. will be a huge, very lucrative market.”
In an interview with Islands Business, Dr Vincent Lebot said While the liver damage scare in Europe and subsequent
kava is now considered a “food” product internationally in the ban of the last decade had badly tainted kava’s reputation
WHO/FAO Codex Alimentarius and efforts should be put into internationally, it remained an integral part of cultures across
developing “Geographical Indicators” or GIs to help further its the Pacific, where it has been consumed for thousands of years
potentials in the export markets. and which, in a way, has helped it prove its innocence and al-
“GIs are used to designate a product originating from a par- lowed it to return to the export radar.
ticular geographic area, its quality or characteristics of which “For the last two decades, the PICs have made a lot of
are due exclusively to the geographical environment, includ- progress focusing on quality. They have also demonstrated that
ing natural and human factors,” Lebot said. what western, especially EU, countries were stating about
“GIs can contribute to a label, making it possible to identify kava, accusing it of being potentially hepatotoxic, was not
kava at all manufacturing stages (production and processing) scientifically correct. Kava has been used for millennia and we
and can be used in the same geographical area and accord- know that it is a safe product when used wisely and in mod-
ing to recognised know-how. GIs are therefore a tool for rural eration. The EU ban was not acceptable as a scientific basis
development capable of serving commercial and economic and decades after, the evidence is here. The PICs have annual
interests while preserving local cultural values and traditions. health statistics and kava is not more dangerous than sugar,”

We will use DNA fingerprints to identify clones, we will determine their
chemical signature just like for wine, and we will produce a catalogue

of the best varieties with their photographs, etc, to show the world
how unique they are and how good they are.

There are many examples in the world: Champagne, Scottish said Lebot.
whisky, Darjeeling tea, Blue Mountain coffee, Korean Ginseng With the inclusion now of kava in the Codex Alimentarius,
etc.” having Geographical Indicators in place is Lebot’s next big as-
Last December, Australia officially launched phase two of its signment.
Pilot Kava Export Program in recognition of the importance of “This is what I’m going to work on now – the development of
kava to its growing Pacific Island communities, opening up its geographical indicators for kava. We will use DNA fingerprints
market to Pacific kava exporters. to identify clones, we will determine their chemical signature
“The pharmaceutical market is a very risky market because just like for wine, and we will produce a catalogue of the best
kava is a natural product with no side effects nor addiction, varieties with their photographs, etc, to show the world how
which can be a substitute for synthetic molecules called ben- unique they are and how good they are,” he said.
zodiazepines (which present side effects and addiction) which The Codex Alimentarius is a collection of internationally
represent a huge market. Therefore, kava will be seen as a recognized standards, codes of practice, guidelines and other
threat to these molecules and to the big laboratories who are recommendations relating to foods, food production and food
producing them. These companies are very powerful and very safety.
influential and can convince Health Authorities,” Lebot said. Its texts are developed and maintained by the Codex Ali-
“I think that it would be more reasonable for the PICs to mentarius Commission, a body that was established in 1963 by
focus on the “food” market. Kava is a traditional beverage the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations
prepared by cold water extraction of a natural product. It is (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO).
diluted in water. It can be very diluted, and you can drink it as
a tea or it can be more concentrated and you can drink it as a editor@islandsbusiness.com

Islands Business, April 2022 21