Fiji kava industry review could lift profits

[Stacey King]

ABC RADIO AUSTRALIA Updated Fri Sep 11, 2009 6:47am AEST

Fiji is about to re-regulate its Kava industry in a bid to get a greater share of the export market. Poor quality Kava and lax regulations have seen Fiji lose much of its profits in a market which potentially could return multi-million dollar profits. A number of countries, including Australia, have banned kava for health reasons. Canada banned the herb in 2000, Germany in 2001 and several other European countries followed suit, although the evidence of actual harm to people's health has always been tenuous.

Presenter: Geraldine Coutts
Speaker: Ratu Joseteki Nawalowalo, acting chairman, Fiji Kava Council

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