By JYOTI PRATIBHA Talks are in progress to lift the kava ban placed by the European market. Vanuatu’s director general of the Ministry of Trade, Commerce and Tourism Marokon Alilee

By JYOTI PRATIBHA

Talks are in progress to lift the kava ban placed by the European market.

Vanuatu’s director general of the Ministry of Trade, Commerce and Tourism Marokon Alilee said they presented the report prepared after the Kava symposium last week at the Senior Officials Meeting yesterday.

Mr Alilee said they had presented scientific reports stating there was no harm or side effects to kava.

“It showed that there was no reason to ban the kava in Europe at all.”

The delegation presented the dossier at the Trade and Economic Officials Meeting (TEOM) earlier this week.

“The meeting of the MSG saw the report and fully supported the way forward formulated at that time in Port Villa to use the scientific methods to put back kava in EU market,” Mr Alilee said. He stressed that a lot of work still needs to be done by Pacific island nations who cultivate kava.

“There are a lot of challenges in the way forward. Firstly, we have to tidy our backyards because of standard and quality issues which we should address.”

Mr Alilee confirmed that talks are in place to look at other international markets for kava like China and India. He said kava was an issue which affected all MSG member countries.

“This is a very unique issue for us in the MSG countries; it unites the MSG countries because we are common in kava. This issue will be taken through the SOM to the FMM and to the Leaders for endorsement and to endorse the way forward.”