Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has reassured the public that the Kava Bill 2026 is still subject to further consultation and parliamentary review before it can become law.

The Prime Minister made the clarification amid concerns raised publicly over proposed registration requirements and penalties contained in the Bill.

He said the legislation was developed following consultations with people across the country, with their views and concerns taken into account in drafting measures aimed at protecting the kava industry and preventing its exploitation.

The Prime Minister stressed that the legislation remains a Bill and has not yet become law.

He said the Bill has been introduced in Parliament and will be referred by the Speaker to the relevant Parliamentary Committee.

The Committee will then conduct its own public consultations, allowing members of the public and stakeholders to give their views and raise concerns. It will also have the authority to recommend amendments to the Bill.

Following the Committee’s report, the Bill will return to Parliament for its third reading, where it will be debated before members decide whether to pass it in its final form.

The Prime Minister has encouraged those who have concerns about the current provisions to make submissions during the Parliamentary Committee’s consultation process.

He said the process reflects Fiji’s democratic system and stressed that Parliament must consider the views of the majority before legislation governing the kava industry is finalised.

The Office of the Prime Minister says the Government remains committed to open and inclusive law-making, with the interests of ordinary Fijians at the centre of the legislative process.