Standards Australia hosts milestone Pacific Kava Week

Standards Australia is proud to host Kava Standards Week from 20 to 23 April 2026, marking the inaugural meeting of the Pacific Islands Standards Committee Kava Technical Committee. This represents a significant milestone in the development of a Regional Pacific Kava Standard. The event is delivered in partnership with the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat and supported by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).

Kava, a plant native to the Pacific Islands, holds deep cultural, social and economic significance across the region and plays an important role in empowering local communities. Used for centuries in ceremonies and community gatherings, kava is also a vital agricultural product, supporting livelihoods and export income for many Pacific countries.

This first meeting brings Pacific leaders and technical experts together, with support from regional partners, to progress a Pacific-led, harmonised approach to kava quality and safety - designed by the Pacific, for the Pacific.

Rod Balding, CEO of Standards Australia, said: “our role is to support and enable Pacific leadership by providing trusted governance, internationally recognised standards processes and technical expertise. Through this work, we are helping create a standard that protects cultural integrity, strengthens product quality, and supports fair and sustainable access to global markets.”

Kava Standards Week reflects a long-term commitment to partnership, capability building and regional resilience. It is a milestone moment in a broader, ongoing effort to support Pacific communities and economies through effective, inclusive standardisation.

More details of the meeting will be shared in the coming days.

Learn more about the Pacific KAVA Development Initiative.