Effective: 13 October 2026
Supersedes: IFN 02-22 – Labelling requirements for imported kava (updated)
Attention
Importers and brokers acting on behalf of importers.
Purpose
This notice details the import requirements for kava including the labelling restrictions on nutrition content claims and health claims.
Key points
Kava products allowed for sale are limited to:
- Kava beverages made by mixing kava root (Piper methysticum) with cold water only (no organic solvents), or
- raw or dried kava root, including:
- whole root
- root chips
- root powder.
These products must:
- be derived from the peeled root or peeled rootstock of a Noble variety of kava
- not contain any food additives or processing aids.
No other forms of kava are permitted as food for sale.
Import requirements
Before importing kava, you must:
- obtain an import permit from the Department of Health (Office of Drug Control).
- check all labelling complies with:
- Part 1.2 (Labelling) and Standard 2.6.3 (Kava) of the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (the Code)
- Country of Origin food labelling requirements.
Labelling requirements (retail-ready products)
We will check that the label of retail-ready packaging contains:
- mandatory warning statements (Standard 2.6.3) of the Code:
- Use in moderation
- May cause drowsiness.
- Country of Origin (displayed clearly in a box)
- name and street address of an Australian or New Zealand supplier/importer
- lot identification
- date marking (for example; a best-before date).
Labels must not include any nutrition content claims or health claims.
Nutrition content claims include statements about any of the following:
- biologically active substance
- dietary fibre
- energy
- minerals
- potassium
- protein
- carbohydrate
- fat
- salt
- sodium
- vitamins, or
- glycaemic index or glycaemic load.
Health claims mean any statement suggesting a health benefit or effect on the body, including physical or mental performance or disease-related outcomes.
For example, a label cannot include statements like ‘reduces anxiety or stress’ or ‘improves sleep’.
Labelling (bulk imports)
For kava not intended for immediate retail sale, the outer packaging must include:
- name of the food
- lot identification
- name and street address of the overseas supplier (if not in import documents).
Noncompliant food
If the kava product does not meet requirements, importers must either:
- relabel the food, if it can be made compliant, and arrange reinspection; or
- re-export or destroy the food under department supervision.
Key reminder
Importers should ensure the labelling of retail-ready packaging for kava products is fully compliant including checking that it does not contain any nutrition content or health claims.
Background
Refer to the kava fact sheet to learn more about kava and the labelling requirements.
Following the decision by the Australian government to allow the commercial importation of kava into Australia, FSANZ conducted a review of Standard 2.6.3 (Kava) of the Code to ensure it continued to protect public health and safety. As a result of this review, the Kava Standard was updated to:
- ensure kava beverage is prepared and consumed in line with historically-safe practices
- expressly prohibit the use of processing aids and food additives
- require that kava is sourced from Noble varieties of the kava plant.
Subscribe for updates
Stay updated on changes to the requirements for imported food. Subscribe to the Imported Food Inspection Scheme imported food notices.