Kava Act (No. 7 of 2002)

Vanuatu - Legislation - Kava Act 2002 file:///D/HTML/van38473.htm[16.01.2025 12:14:43] Commencement: (not yet commenced) 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 REPUBLIC OF VANUATU 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 Vanuatu - Legislation - Kava Act 2002 file:///D/HTML/van38473.htm[16.01.2025 12:14:43] (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; Vanuatu - Legislation - Kava Act 2002 file:///D/HTML/van38473.htm[16.01.2025 12:14:43] (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; Vanuatu - Legislation - Kava Act 2002 file:///D/HTML/van38473.htm[16.01.2025 12:14:43] 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 Vanuatu - Legislation - Kava Act 2002 file:///D/HTML/van38473.htm[16.01.2025 12:14:43] 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 Vanuatu - Legislation - Kava Act 2002 file:///D/HTML/van38473.htm[16.01.2025 12:14:43] 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 Vanuatu - Legislation - Kava Act 2002 file:///D/HTML/van38473.htm[16.01.2025 12:14:43] 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 Vanuatu - Legislation - Kava Act 2002 file:///D/HTML/van38473.htm[16.01.2025 12:14:43] 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 Vanuatu - Legislation - Kava Act 2002 file:///D/HTML/van38473.htm[16.01.2025 12:14:43] 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