EXPORT AND IMPORT OF KAVA (PIPER METHYSTICUM) FROM FIJI.

EXPORT AND IMPORT OF KAVA (PIPER METHYSTICUM) FROM FIJI.

EXPORTS

Personal Export

Passengers travelling from Fiji who wish to take pounded Kava (Grog) with them in their luggage have to meet the destination country importing requirements. Some countries may have the restrictions on the weight that will be accepted by the Border Agency.

The following need to be ensured by the travelers.

1. All pounded Kava is properly packed with the proper label. There are many outlets around the country who supply commercially packed packages with declared weight.
2. Passengers can take carry on when departing Fiji internationally via air-flight or sea. The maximum limit is 15kg per person per three months.
3. Persons above the age of 18 years old only can send unaccompanied kava via airfreight and/or sea freight. The maximum limit is 15kg per three months.
4. Biosecurity officers at the border will check and confirm traveler information by sighting a valid travel ticket and passport for hand carried (self-Pax)
5. For unaccompanied kava, the package must be addressed to a person (individual) and not a company or an organisation. Each individual is only allowed to send and receive only up to 15kg per quarter of the year (every three months) which will be monitored by Biosecurity Authority of Fiji. Anything extra will be treated as commercial shipments.
6. The cost of phytosanitary certificate is determined by the volume of kava one is accompanying via flight and unaccompanied. Kava up to 5kg and below, a personal phytosanitary is required with a gazette fee of $21.26, above 5kg, a commercial phytosanitary certificate is required wit gazette fee of $42.51, a one-off license fee of $5.45 and $0.03 per kg.
7. It is responsibility of the traveler to ensure that he declares the Kava to Boarder Agencies at the airport and meets their quarantine requirements.

Commercial Export:

For commercial export of Kava, the exporter has to meet the following requirements.

1. Export Facility approved by BAF as “Biosecurity Approved Premises – BAP” with yearly license.
2. Exporter to apply for Export License with BAF with appropriate fees and charges.
3. All export will be inspected by BAF before Phytosanitary certificate is being released.
4. Exporter must submit an Export Declaration to declare:
   1. Country of origin of Kava processed for export.
   2. Quantity of kava in the consignment sourced from each country of origin.

Kava powder and kava roots

Requirements for Australia:

The current personal allowance remains in place for Australia, permitting a maximum quantity of 4kg powered Kava per person (18 years and above) travelling into Australia. Unaccompanied Kava consignments via parcel post and courier are not permitted under the personal allowance category.

And for commercial, existing exporters are required to request for an amendment of the Fruit Exporters License issued by BAF and surrender the original license. BAF will then re-issue the export license that will include Australia as a destination country for commercial kava exports.

Only Kava powder and commercially prepared Kava beverage is permitted for exports to Australia and not any other parts of Kava like roots, stems and chips.

All Exports must liaise with their respective interested Australia importers, to obtain an Import Permit issued directly by the Australian Governments: The Office of Drug Control and please do refer to the below web link for more information: https://www.odc.gov.au/import-requirements-kava

Requirements for PNG:

Passengers are only allowed to take 1-kilogram (or less) kava to PNG provided it is inspected by BAF and a phytosanitary certificate is issued. Any person wanting to take or export more than 1 kilogram of kava to PNG must obtain an import permit from PNG’s national plant protection organization and arrange for inspection and clearance from BAF.

Requirements for New Zealand, USA, Japan, China, France, Korea, Middle East and other Pacific Island Countries:

Personal export of kava to any of the above countries requires biosecurity inspection and clearance including the issuance of a phytosanitary certificate.

Please note BAF will not be responsible nor liable for any inconvenience caused due to visitors/passengers bypassing or avoiding Biosecurity Authority of Fiji (BAF) procedures (such as inspection and certification) of their handicrafts or artefacts. Uncertified handicrafts may get held up at border clearance abroad.