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Pacific Island countries have taken a major step towards securing the future of kava with the development of a Regional Pacific Kava Standard. This project is a partnership with the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat and supported by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
Project Purpose
The purposeof the Pacific Regional Kava Standard Project is to establish a harmonised quality and production standard for Kava across Pacific Island Countries (PICs). The project is designed to be delivered through the Pacific Quality Infrastructure framework, where the development of the standard is undertaken by the Pacific Islands Standards Committee (PISC).
Technical Committee 3 will be established under the PISC as part of this project. The Pacific Regional Kava Standards Project responds to a set of interlinked cultural, economic, quality and trade issues facing the Pacific kava sector. At its core, the issue is that rapidly growing domestic and international demand for kava is outpacing the region’s ability to ensure:
- Consistent quality and safety
- Protection of authentic Pacific kava
- Reliable market access for Pacific producers
The project benefits Pacific Island countries and communities involved in kava by providing a shared, Pacific‑led standard that protects quality, safety and authenticity. It supports farmers, processors and exporters by strengthening trust in Pacific kava and making it easier to access international markets. Governments gain a common technical reference to support regulation and trade, while importing markets and consumers benefit from clearer assurance about what they are buying.
Project Scope
This initiative will support the development of a Pacific regional kava quality and production process standards and a pilot conformity assessment scheme. The regional standardand associated pilot scheme will establish regionally agreed definitions and quality specifications for kava that will support quality credibility in export markets and will lay the groundwork for establishing a GI for Pacific kava.
To deliver the regional standard and establish a pilot conformity assessment scheme, this project comprises of three separate phases:
- Phase one will develop and drive supportin the region for a PISC standards development project proposal for a regionalkava standard
- Phase two will support the drafting and publication of a Pacific Regional kava Standard
- Phase three will support the implementation of the standard as well as engaging a conformity assessment specialist to develop a conformity assessment pilot scheme making use of regional standards
The inaugural meeting was held in Sydney in April 2026, and the project is now in the active drafting and consultation phase, with work continuing through staged committee meetings and reviews under PISC governance over the remaining project period.
Project Outcomes
This project will:
- Provide a research report that includes a review of Pacific kava legislation and relevant export market regulations to inform the development of regional standards
- Establish a technical committee made up of relevant experts from government, academia, consumer groups, and/or the private sector
- Deliver training workshops to upskill technical committee members and support the adoption and implementation of regional standards
- Develop Pacific regional standards for kava
- Implement a pilot conformity assessment program
Over the longer term, the project aims to strengthen regional governance, support sustainable livelihoods, improve export outcomes, and lay the technical foundations for future initiatives such as a Pacific kava geographical indication.
