- FijiKava (FIJ) to import its natural stress and anxiety-relieving kava drink to Australia following an announcement by the Australian Federal Minister Zed Seselja
- According to the company, the drink helps improve sleep, support exercise and recovery, and has properties to reduce stress and anxiety
- With the recent upgrade to its Levuka facility in Fiji the company claims it would cope with the potential bottleneck once import begins
- CEO Anthony Noble says there was a financial impact worth between $10 and $30 million per year on the Pacific after the ban was implemented
- Shares in FIJ are up 10 per cent and are trading at 8.8 cents a share
FijiKava (FIJ) will import its natural stress and anxiety-relieving kava drink to Australia following an announcement by the Australian Federal Minister Zed Seselja.
The company can import its medicinal kava drink from the 1st of December under the condition that only the most effective Noble Fijian Kava is used.
FIJ said it would have drinking kava available on its website later today, but would only be available in retail outlets by 2022.
In addition, all imported goods have to be processed in HACCP accredited facilities.
According to the company, the drink helps improve sleep, support exercise and recovery, and has properties to reduce stress and anxiety.
FIJ said the Pacific Island community both in Australia and as a nation faced negative cultural and economic impacts after the initial ban of its import in 2007.
With the recent upgrade to its Levuka facility in Fiji the company claims it would cope with the potential bottleneck once import begins.
CEO Anthony Noble said there was a financial impact worth between $10 and $30 million per year on the Pacific after the ban was implemented.
“The Morrison Government’s decision to reverse this ban will deliver immediate benefits to these economies that exceed those losses since the number of Fijian and Pacific Island diaspora in Australia has grown significantly since then,” he said.
“In the years since 2007 when the ban was put into place, there have been significant advances around the safe and responsible use of kava.
“Most notable is the Codex Alimentarius Commission approving a standard for kava products last year, specifying that only Noble Kava varieties be used, and mandating water-based processes for producing kava beverages.”
Shares in FIJ were up 10 per cent and were trading at 8.8 cents at 12:15 pm AEDT.