Kava officially adopted by CODEX

[verticity]

Good news for the legal status of kavahttp://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=411336

Fiji Times: CODEX adopts kava beverage

'THE development of regional standard for kava as a beverage when mixed with water has been adopted by the CODEX Alimentarius Commission (CAC), at its 40th Session in Geneva, Switzerland.
...
Ministry of Agriculture permanent secretary Mr Jitendra Singh who is also Fiji's National Focal Point for CODEX said that this is a major milestone for Fiji and other kava-producing Pacific Island countries (PICs).
"The development of a regional standard for kava will improve the credibility and safety of the product, thus ensuring improved international market access for kava," Mr Singh said.'​

"Tabled" in the British parliamentary procedure sense.

What is the "CODEX Alimentarius"?

"Abstract: The Codex Alimentarius is a collection of international food standards that have been adopted by the Codex Alimentarius Commission. Such standards cover all the main foods and also material used in the further processing of food. Codex provisions concern the hygienic and nutritional; quality of food, including microbiological norms, food additives, pesticides and veterinary drug residues, contaminants, labelling and presentation, and methods of sampling and risk analysis. The Codex Alimentarius can safely claim to be the most important international reference point in matters concerning food quality. Its creation, moreover, has generated food-related scientific research and greatly increase the world community’s awareness of the vital issues at stake food quality, safety and public health."

"Simply stated, the Codex alimentarius is a collection of standards, codes of practice, guidelines and other recommendations relative to food.
...
Codex standards and related texts are voluntary in nature. They need to be translated into national legislation or regulations in order to be enforceable."
Understanding Codex​

 

[verticity]

Interestingly, the article notes that this is a "regional" standard. As opposed to worldwide, I guess. It says that the committee that adopted it was the "North American and South West Pacific" committee. Does that imply that this applies to the US? Probably not, actually, since it is a voluntary standard, so there would need to be US legislation or regulatory approval for it to be officially adopted here I think. I'm not clear what the precise boundaries of the "region" of the standard are...

 

[Odourman]

If it ever gets legal to sell here in Sweden I'll do it.

 

[Alia]

Interestingly, the article notes that this is a "regional" standard. As opposed to worldwide, I guess. It says that the committee that adopted it was the "North American and South West Pacific" committee. Does that imply that this applies to the US? Probably not, actually, since it is a voluntary standard, so there would need to be US legislation or regulatory approval for it to be officially adopted here I think. I'm not clear what the precise boundaries of the "region" of the standard are...

We worked with the US, Codex Office Rep. out of Washington DC. Right after the Geneva meeting she emailed me and updated us. The Hawai'i cultivars of 'Awa will be added to the final draft. That is what she reported to us here in Hawai'i. Since we have been back and forth in communication with the US Office for over a year now, I tend to believe her. If you want more details feel free to email me direct.