Vanuatu's kava council says it's unlikely the European Union will ever relax the kava ban, as its demands keep changing.
Kava was banned in 2001 over claims it was toxic.
The EU has told kava producing countries in the Pacific if there were quality control standards regionwide, the ban could be lifted.
John Aruhuri, who is a kava council member and the General Manager of Vanuatu's Chamber of Commerce and Industry, says that poses a challenge in itself.
And while having regional standards would be better for exports, he doubts the ban will ever be lifted.
"We've been battling this for many years up until now and it has cost us a lot of time, effort and resource to try and battle this ban in Europe. We have over the last few years, two to three years ago now, made a lot of efforts and attempts through to the German authorities. It looks to me like every now and again a requirement in Germany keeps changing."
A meeting has been scheduled in Germany with EU authorities and kava stakeholders for July, but it will depend on whether kava stakeholders can secure funding to travel there.