Dr. Mathias Schmidt, a German scientist specializing in kava, claims that the ongoing ban on kava in Germany is driven by political motives rather than scientific evidence. Discussing the 24-year-old ban imposed by Germany’s Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM), Dr. Schmidt urged kava-producing nations, including Fiji, to seek diplomatic assistance from Germany’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and the European Union, as the broader scientific community remains largely unaware of the ban’s political underpinnings.
Dr. Schmidt noted that the EU initially enforced the ban in 2001, following a report of liver toxicity associated with kava extract-containing drugs imported from Germany. He emphasized that the EU believed in Germany’s thoroughness, however, he argues that the decision regarding kava was arbitrary and poorly informed.
In a previous presentation, Dr. Schmidt indicated that kava fell victim to the precautionary principle, a policy that prioritizes consumer protection by authorities. He criticized the authorities for their tendency to overreact and stated that the ban was accompanied by extensive media coverage. He suggested that BfArM was influenced by past criticisms regarding its handling of the Lipobay disaster, which led them to exercise excessive caution in their decision-making regarding kava.
The scientist also remarked that the decision to ban kava was positioned as being in the best interest of consumers, yet BfArM appears unwilling to reverse its actions to avoid losing credibility. Although an administrative court in Germany lifted the ban in 2014, BfArM continues to enforce it.