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Department of Agriculture

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Biosecurity and trade
  3. Import
  4. Importing goods
  5. Food
  6. Food type
  7. Kava

Sidebar first - Import

  • Import requirements by food type
    • Importing food from New Zealand
    • Arachnids
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Kava

Improving access to imported food safety requirements

From mid-2025 imported food safety requirements will be incorporated into the Biosecurity Import Conditions system (BICON).

See more about the Inclusion of food safety requirements in BICON.

All biosecurity requirements must be met before Imported Food Inspection Scheme requirements apply.

Check our Biosecurity Import Conditions system (BICON) for biosecurity import conditions.

An import permit issued by the Department of Health is required to import kava into Australia. Check guidance on completing applications for a permit.

Refer to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade for further information about Australia’s kava pilot and fact sheets on import requirements.

We classify imported food that presents a potential medium or high risk to public health as risk food. All risk food is listed in the Imported Food Control Order 2019.

Kava products are classified as risk food

Kava products permitted by Standard 2.6.3 of the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code as food for sale are either:

  • a beverage obtained by the aqueous suspension of kava (Piper methysticum) root using cold water only, and not using any organic solvent
  • dried or raw kava (Piper methysticum) root. This includes
    • kava root chips
    • kava root powder
    • whole kava root

and

  • must not contain as an ingredient or a component any substance used as either a food additive or a processing aid
  • must be derived from the peeled root or peeled rootstock of a Noble variety of kava.

Exclusions

  • Food from New Zealand.
  • Kava in any other form to that described and permitted by Standard 2.6.3 is not permitted to be imported as food for sale.

Community Protection (CP) question

You will need to answer this CP question when lodging your full import declaration:

IFIS: Are the goods, or do the goods contain, kava (Piper methysticum) for human consumption?

Inspection

We refer consignments of kava for inspection to conduct a visual and label assessment. Labelling must comply with Part 1.2 and Standard 2.6.3 of the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code and country of origin labelling requirements.

Kava must be labelled with the warning statements:

  • Use in moderation
  • May cause drowsiness.

Refer to our kava fact sheet for further information about import and labelling requirements.

Downloads

Kava—Import and labelling requirements (PDF 1MB)

If you have difficulty accessing this file, visit web accessibility for assistance.

Food safety risks

Food Standards Australia New Zealand has given us advice about the risk of kava. This food presents a potential medium or high risk to public health.

Version history

DateReference numberAmendment details
20/04/2022KAV 12/2021Added hyperlinks to Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Department of Health for more information on importing kava
31/03/2022KAV 12/2021Updated definition of permitted kava products consistent with amendments to the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code
18/02/2022KAV 12/2021Clarified inclusions and labelling requirements
25/01/2022KAV 12/2021Clarified inclusions and exclusions
01/12/2021KAV 12/2021First version of the webpage published on website

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Page last updated: 28 April 2025

We acknowledge the continuous connection of First Nations Traditional Owners and Custodians to the lands, seas and waters of Australia. We recognise their care for and cultivation of Country. We pay respect to Elders past and present, and recognise their knowledge and contribution to the productivity, innovation and sustainability of Australia’s agriculture, fisheries and forestry industries.

Artwork: Protecting our Country, Growing our Future
© Amy Allerton, contemporary Aboriginal Artist of the Gumbaynggirr, Bundjalung and Gamilaroi nations.

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