THE government has relaxed a ban on kava to be served to Pacific islanders at the National Multicultural Festival in Canberra. 

Chief health officer Paul Kelly says chief minister Katy Gallagher agreed to an exemption for cultural kava use at the festival from this year onwards, after a successful trial exemption last year.

“Since that time, the Health Directorate has undertaken a consultation process with ACT Pacific
Island community regarding details of the proposed exemption, particularly in seeking to define
‘cultural use,’” says Dr Kelly.

Kava is listed as a prescription only medicine in the ACT, which means that traditional forms of kava
are not legally permitted.  Kava may only be used in preparations prescribed by a doctor.

Dr Kelly says the cultural use of traditional kava preparations poses a low health risk and clear limits have been
placed on the exemption.

“Kava may only be legally prepared, possessed or consumed in accordance with the customs of the Pacific Islands, such as serving from a traditional kava bowl as part of a traditional kava ceremony or kava circle.”