Commencement:22 September 2008

REPUBLIC OF VANUATU

KAVA ACT
NO 7 OF 2002

Arrangement of Sections

PART 1 - INTERPRETATION

1	Definitions

PART 2 – PROTECTION OF KAVA IN VANUATU

2	Organic cultivation 
3	Varieties of kava and kava products for sale on local market
4	Labeling for local market
5	Who can sell kava or kava products on the local market?

PART 3 – PROTECTION OF KAVA FOR EXPORT

6	Varieties of kava and kava products for export
7	Labeling for export
8	Who can export kava or kava products?
9	Additional export protections

PART 4 - MISCELLANEOUS

10	Offence
11	Inspection powers etc
12	Regulations and orders
13	Commencement

Schedule

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REPUBLIC OF VANUATU

Assent: 31/12/2002
Commencement: 22/09/2008

KAVA ACT
NO 7 OF 2002

An Act to regulate the cultivation, sale and export of kava and kava products

Be it enacted by the President and Parliament as follows-

PART 1 - INTERPRETATION

1	Definitions

In this Act unless the contrary intention appears:

kava means:

(a)	plants of the species, Piper methysticum; or

(b)	the traditional beverage obtained by cold water extraction of the plant’s underground organs.

kava products include dried kava, bark, peelings and makas of kava.

makas means the residues remaining after the cold water extraction of the kava plant’s underground organs to obtain the traditional beverage. 

medicinal kava means a variety of kava listed in Table 2 of the Schedule and includes their synonyms on other islands.

Minister means the Minister responsible for agriculture.

nobles kava means a variety of kava listed in Table 1 of the Schedule and includes their synonyms on other islands.

organic means free of artificial fertilizers, pesticides and other residues.

person includes any statutory body, company or association of persons corporate or unincorporate.

two days kava means a variety of kava listed in Table 3 of the Schedule and includes their synonyms on other islands.

wichmannii kava means a variety of kava listed in Table 4 of the Schedule and includes their synonyms on other islands.

PART 2 – PROTECTION OF KAVA IN VANUATU

2	Organic cultivation

A person is to cultivate kava in Vanuatu using only organic methods of cultivation.

3	Varieties of kava and kava products for sale on local market

(1)	A person must not sell kava, or offer kava for sale, in Vanuatu unless it is nobles kava or medicinal kava that:

(a)	was planted at least 3 years before it was harvested; and 

(b)	was cultivated using organic methods of cultivation.

(2)	A person must not sell kava products, or offer kava products for sale, in Vanuatu unless they have been produced from nobles kava or medicinal kava that:

(a)	was planted at least 3 years before it was harvested; and 

(b)	was cultivated using organic methods of cultivation.

(3)	To avoid doubt, a person must not sell or offer for sale in Vanuatu any of the following:

(a)	wichmannii kava;

(b)	two days kava;

(c)	kava products produced from wichmannii kava or two days kava, whether or not in combination with any other variety of kava.

(4)	Nothing in this Act is to be taken to prevent a person from cultivating any variety of kava for personal use. 

4	Labelling for local market 

A person must not sell or offer for sale in Vanuatu any bag, container or other receptacle containing kava or kava products unless the name of the variety and the island of origin of the kava is clearly marked on it.

5	Who can sell kava or kava products on the local market?

A person must not sell or offer for sale in Vanuatu kava or kava products unless the person is:

(a)	an indigenous ni-Vanuatu; or

(b)	a local company within the meaning of the Companies Act [CAP 191] that has at least 51% of its shares (voting or otherwise) owned or controlled by persons who are indigenous ni-Vanuatu.

PART 3 – PROTECTION OF KAVA FOR EXPORT

6	Varieties of kava and kava products for export

(1)	A person must not export kava from Vanuatu unless it is nobles kava that:

(a)	was planted at least 5 years before it was harvested; and 

(b)	was cultivated using organic methods of cultivation.

(2)	A person must not export kava products from Vanuatu unless they have been produced from nobles kava that:

(a)	was planted at least 5 years before it was harvested; and 

(b)	was cultivated using organic methods of cultivation. 

(3)	Subject to subsection (4), a person must not export any of the following from Vanuatu:

(a)	two days kava;

(b)	medicinal kava;

(c)	wichmannii kava; 

(d)	kava products produced from two days kava, medicinal kava or wichmannii kava, whether or not in combination with any other variety of kava. 

(4)	A person may export from Vanuatu:

(a)	two days kava or medicinal kava; or

(b)	kava products made from either of both of these varieties of kava;

only if the person has been requested to do so by a person outside Vanuatu and the proposed export complies with the requirements of the Plant Protection Act No. 14 of 1997 and any other relevant Act.

7	Labelling for export

A person must not export from Vanuatu any bag, container or other receptacle containing kava or kava products unless each of the following is clearly marked on it:

(a)	the name of the variety of the kava;

(b)	the island of origin of the kava;

(c)	the distinct organs of the kava;

(d)	the words “Original Vanuatu Kava”.

8	Who can export kava or kava products?

(1)	A person must not export kava or kava products from Vanuatu unless the person is:

(a)	a citizen of Vanuatu; or

(b)	a local company within the meaning of the Companies Act [CAP 191] that has at least 51% of its shares (voting or otherwise) owned or controlled by persons who are citizens of Vanuatu.

(2)	This section does not apply to an individual or company if immediately before the commencement of this section that individual or company was legally entitled under or by any Act or subordinate legislation to export from Vanuatu kava or kava products.

9	Additional export protections

A person must not export from Vanuatu or exchange with a person outside Vanuatu any of the following:

(a)	stumps, shoots, growing buds, lateral branches and other planting materials of kava;

(b)	fresh organs of kava (eg roots or stumps) that could be used for propagation;

(c)	other propagating materials of kava.

PART 4 - MISCELLANEOUS

10	Offence

A person who contravenes a provision of this Act is guilty of an offence punishable on conviction by a fine not exceeding VT 500,000 or imprisonment for a period not exceeding 3 months, or both. 

11	Inspection powers etc

For the purposes of ensuring compliance with this Act, an officer appointed under section 9 of the Plant Protection Act No. 14 of 1997 may exercise any of the powers set out in section 14 of that Act in relation to kava or kava products (eg an officer can inspect a local farmer’s kava crop and test for pesticides).

12	Regulations and orders

(1)	The Minister may make regulations prescribing all matters:

(a)	required or permitted by this Act to be prescribed; or

(b)	necessary or convenient to be prescribed for carrying out or giving effect to this Act.

(2)	The Minister may by order amend the Schedule.

13	Commencement

This Act commences on the day on which it is published in the Gazette.

SCHEDULE
Section 1

Table 1
Nobles kava

Item	Variety
	Origin	
1	Melomelo
	Ambae	
2	Asiyai
Biyaj
	Aneityum	
3	Palimet
Miela
Olitao
	Emae	
4	Kelai
	Epi	
5	Ge wiswisket
Ge gusug
	Gaua	
6	Borogoru
	Maewo	
7	Silese
	Malekula	
8	Melmel
Borogu
Sese
	Pentecost	
9	Urukara
Bir Sul
Bir Kar
Palarasul
Palasa
Poivota
	Santo	
10	Pia
Ahouia
Leay
Amon
	Tanna	
11	Puariki
Pualiu
	Tongoa	
12	Naga miwok
Ge vemea
	Vanua Lava	

Table 2
Medicinal kava

Item	Variety	Origin	
1	Mologugei	Ambae East	
2	Ngwangaru	Ambae East	
3	Bisuiboe	Ambae West	
4	Mavute	Ambae West	
5	Ketche	Aneityum	
6	Mokom	Aneityum	
7	Riki	Aneityum	
8	Oleikaro	Emae	
9	Pualapa	Emae	
10	Ulutao	Emae	
11	Bagavia 1	Epi	
12	Bagavia 2	Epi	
13	Meoler	Epi	
14	Pakaewa	Epi	
15	Purumbue	Epi	
16	Tinbokai	Epi	
17	Liki	Erromango	
18	Pic	Erromango	
19	Pore	Erromango	
20	Bumalotu	Maewo North	
21	Hawerara	Maewo North	
22	Malokai	Maewo North	
23	Raimelmelo	Maewo North	
24	Resres	Maewo North	
25	Maloglelab	Malekula North East	
26	Maloglaslas	Malekula North East	
27	Nemleu	Malekula North East	
28	Tafandai	Malekula North West	
29	Baan	Malekula North West	
30	Daou	Malekula North West	
31	Tapoka	Malo	
32	Hig	Mere Lava	
33	Lab	Mota Lava	
34	Nagame	Mota Lava	
35	Loa	Nguna	
36	Malakesa	Nguna	
37	Pilake	Nguna	
38	Meihang	Paama	
39	Teiha	Paama	
40	Toh	Paama	
41	Borogu tememe	Pentecost Central	
42	Bukulit	Pentecost Central	
43	Borogu temit	Pentecost Central	
44	Borogoru maita	Pentecost North 	
45	Borogoru memea	Pentecost North 	
46	Vabugai	Pentecost North 	
47	Bugolita	Pentecost North 	
48	Gorogoro entepal	Pentecost South 	
49	Gorogoro entemet	Pentecost South 	
50	Kerakra	Pentecost South	
51	Tamaevo	Pentecost South 	
52	Aigen	Tanna Central	
53	Mita	Tanna Central	
54	Saosao	Tanna Central	
55	Tuan	Tanna Central	
56	Kiskisnian	Tanna Central	
57	Yalon	Tanna Central	
58	Awor	Tanna Central	
59	Malamala	Tanna Central	
60	Paama	Tanna Central	
61	Wapil	Tanna Central	
62	Pusan	Tanna South East	
63	Marangmarang	Tanna South East	
64	Kokoffe	Tanna South East	
65	Kowariki	Tanna South East	
66	Malamala	Tanna South East	
67	Paama	Tanna South East	
68	Ewo	Tongoa	
69	Metolei	Tongoa	
70	Tau	Tongoa	
71	Nimau	Tongoa 	
72	Bualap	Tongoariki	
73	Buarik	Tongoariki	
74	Milake	Tongoariki	
75	Ngako	Ureparapara	
76	Ngasien	Ureparapara	
77	Nol	Ureparapara	
78	Gemime	Vanua Lava	
79	Ranranre	Vanua Lava	

Table 3
Two days kava

Item	Variety	Origin	
1	Gawoboe	Ambae East	
2	Ronriki	Ambae East	
3	Tarivoravora	Ambae East	
4	Valeiboe	Ambae East	
5	Qoro	Ambae East	
6	Sulusulu	Ambae East	
7	Ganono	Ambae East	
8	Garaeto	Ambae East	
9	Makaru	Ambae East	
10	Mologomavute	Ambae East	
11	Tarimavute	Ambae East	
12	Taritamaewo	Ambae East	
13	Memea	Ambae West	
14	Mindo	Ambae West	
15	Rogorogopula	Ambae West	
16	Tolu	Ambae West	
17	Tari	Ambae West	
18	Tariporo	Ambae West	
19	Laklak	Ambrym North	
20	Apeg	Aneityum	
21	Nisginekrai	Aneityum	
22	Tchap	Aneityum	
23	Nidinolai	Aneityum	
24	Metche	Aneityum 	
25	Yag	Aneityum 	
26	Nakasara	Emae	
27	Meawmelo	Epi	
28	Lo	Epi	
29	Mage	Epi	
30	Kaviui	Epi	
31	Mitiptip	Epi	
32	Vila	Epi	
33	Wari	Epi	
34	Vip	Epi 	
35	Meawlake	Epi South 	
36	Meawmeia	Epi South 	
37	Avia	Erromango	
38	Vila	Erromango	
39	Gumaito	Maewo North 	
40	Daumangas	Maewo North 	
41	Rairairegi	Maewo North 	
42	Tariparaus	Maewo North	
43	Tufagi	Maewo North 	
44	Tumpuinakapmato	Maewo North 	
45	Tarihani	Maewo North 	
46	Rongrongvula	Maewo South 	
47	Tarivarusi	Maewo South 	
48	Vabu	Maewo South 	
49	Mologubanano	Maewo South and Pentecost North	
50	Mologubanga	Maewo South and Pentecost North 	
51	Malokrok	Malekula North East	
52	Pade	Malekula North West	
53	Malatuwas	Malekula North West	
54	Nalimliune	Malekula North West	
55	Poua	Malekula North West	
56	Vasa	Malo	
57	Roge	Malo	
58	Namtemlao	Mota Lava	
59	Nipunstaban	Mota Lava	
60	Tarivarus	Mota Lava	
61	Take	Pentecost Central	
62	Tabal	Pentecost Central	
63	Malmalbo	Pentecost Central	
64	Rongrongwul	Pentecost Central	
65	Abogae	Pentecost Central	
66	Fabulakalaka	Pentecost Central	
67	Lalahk	Pentecost Central	
68	Renkaru 	Pentecost Central	
69	Sese	Pentecost North 	
70	Vabulagaga	Pentecost North 	
71	Rara	Pentecost North 	
72	Baraeto	Pentecost North 	
73	Rabualeva	Pentecost North 	
74	Kavik	Pentecost North 	
75	Mangaru	Pentecost North 	
76	Rongrongvula	Pentecost North 	
77	Sese laralara	Pentecost North	
78	Tarivarusi	Pentecost North 	
79	Sese	Pentecost South 	
80	Takere	Pentecost South 	
81	Lalahk	Pentecost South 	
82	Tarivarusi	Pentecost South 	
83	Marino	Santo Central	
84	Merei	Santo Central	
85	Fock	Santo Central	
86	Malogro	Santo Central	
87	Thyei	Santo Central	
88	Tudey	Santo Central	
89	Yevoet	Santo Central	
90	Palavoke	Santo South West	
91	Pirimerei	Santo West	
92	Aheyoke	Santo South West	
93	Palisi	Santo West	
94	Woko	Santo West	
95	Awke	Tanna Central	
96	Fare	Tanna Central	
97	Kalawas	Tanna Central	
98	Tikisikis	Tanna Central	
99	Apin	Tanna Central	
100	Gnare	Tanna Central	
101	Fiji	Tanna Central	
102	Pentecost	Tanna Central	
103	Rhowen	Tanna Central	
104	Tudey	Tanna Central	
105	Vila	Tanna Central	
106	Apol	Tanna South East	
107	Kowarwar	Tanna South East	
108	Ring 	Tanna South East	
109	Tapuga	Tanna South East	
110	Pentecost	Tanna South East	
111	Tudey	Tanna South East	
112	Vila	Tanna South East	
113	Oleikaro	Tongoa	
114	Raro	Tongoa	
115	Nakasara	Tongoa	
116	Maet	Tongoariki	
117	Elot	Tongoariki	
118	Lulu	Tongoariki	
119	Hin	Torres	
120	Hinyanyie	Ureparapara	
121	Ngawo	Ureparapara	
122	Tarivarus	Ureparapara	
123	Gelava	Vanua Lava	
124	Nambalao	Vanua Lava	
125	Tarvarus	Vanua Lava	
126	Wisabana	Vanua Lava	

Table 4
Wichmannii kava 

Item	Variety	Origin	
1	Vambu	Ambae East	
2	Tchai	Aneityum	
3	Bamboo	Maewo North 	
4	Buara	Maewo North	
5	Tangurlava	Maewo North 	
6	Kau	Tongoa	
7	Vambu	Vanua Lava	
8	Giemonlagakris	Vanua Lava	
9	Bogong	Pentecost Central	
10	Mele liap	Pentecost Central	
11	Sini Bo	Pentecost Central	
12	Bogongo	Pentecost North	

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