The Vanuatu government wants to stop a local company from sending tainted kava to export markets.
A tanoa (kava bowls) with a bilo (kava cup). Normally the lowliest person would serve kava to the circle. Photo: RNZI/Daniela Maoate-Cox
The agriculture minister Matai Seremaiah has called for Sarami Plantation's export license to be terminated following concerns the firm was shipping so-called two day kava to the United States.
A German scientist, Mathias Schmidt, who helped Vanuatu lift a ten-year kava ban in Europe, has complained the company exported the tainted kava allegedly mixed with earth, kava leaves and stalks to the US via New Zealand.
Dr Schmidt said more than one person in Vanuatu must be turning a blind eye to the quality of kava exports to the US.
Vanuatu's Ambassador to the European Union Roy Mickey Joy also said drastic steps should be taken to penalise Sarami Plantation.
Its owner, Peter Colmar, lives in China and visits Vanuatu on a regular basis.
The company has not commented.