Dr. Mathias Schmidt, a kava expert from Germany, has stated that the ban on kava in Germany is driven by political reasons rather than scientific evidence. Speaking to The Fiji Times, Dr. Schmidt discussed the 24-year-old prohibition enforced by Germany’s Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM). He urged kava-producing nations, including Fiji, to seek diplomatic support from Germany’s Foreign Affairs Minister and the European Union, asserting that many in the scientific community are unaware of the ban’s political roots.
Dr. Schmidt explained that the ban originated after reports of eight liver toxicity cases in Switzerland in February 2000, which were linked to imported kava-containing medication from Germany. He noted that the EU adopted Germany’s ban in 2001, trusting the thoroughness of German regulations. However, he argued that this decision was arbitrary and not based on a solid scientific understanding.
Throughout his interactions with scientists across Europe, Dr. Schmidt found that many were unaware of the political context surrounding the kava ban. He believes that kava has fallen victim to the precautionary principle, which prioritizes consumer protection and often leads to excessive caution by authorities.
He added that the decision to ban kava was partly influenced by media scrutiny following the Lipobay disaster, prompting BfArM to overreact to avoid criticism. Once the ban was enacted, they appeared reluctant to reverse their decision due to concerns over reputational damage. Despite Germany’s administrative court overturning the ban in 2014, BfArM has continued to impose restrictions on kava.