Food Standards Australia and New Zealand are coming in for increased criticism from the Pacific diaspora over planned changes to Kava regulation in Australia.
The food and drink regulator is calling for public comment on proposed changes to the food standard regulating kava use.
However, the call for comment provides very little detail about what exactly the proposed changes are save for a very broad statement from the regulator's interim chief executive, Sandra Cuthbert, saying they would clarify the original intent of the kava standard to limit the preparation and consumption of kava beverage to traditional use.
A Kava health expert in New Zealand Apo Aporosa says the regulator's proposed changes are just the latest in a long list of questionable regulatory requirements for Kava.
Dr Aporosa is a research fellow at tui taki wai ora - school of health at - The University of Waikato.
Bula and welcome on Pacific Waves Dr Apo lets start with the call for comment on these proposed changes, how much do we know about them?
A kava bowl Photo: RNZ / Jamie Tahana
