The short answer
Vanuatu is one of the world’s leading kava producers and also exports coconut products and cocoa. For the U.S., how kava is sold decides whether it is allowed — and every processor needs FDA registration.
What Vanuatu exporters should watch for
🌿 Kava
Kava root sold on its own (powder, chips or root to steep in water) is treated as a single-ingredient food. FDA does not consider kava GRAS, so adding it to other foods or drinks makes it an unapproved food additive. Kava supplements are allowed, but FDA issued a 2002 consumer advisory about liver injury.
🏭 Processing and export
Facilities that dry, grind, pack or store kava for the U.S. must register with FDA and name a U.S. Agent; each shipment needs Prior Notice. Growers that only harvest and dry their own root are generally exempt as farms.
🥥 Coconut products
Virgin coconut oil and other coconut foods need a registered facility and U.S. labels. Coconut oil sold for skin is a cosmetic and needs MoCRA registration and listing.
🍫 Cocoa
Cocoa processors register with FDA; U.S. buyers increasingly ask for heavy metal results (cadmium and lead).
Common reasons Vanuatu shipments are stopped
- Kava added to foods or drinks (unapproved food additive)
- Drug-like claims on kava products
- Facility not registered or no Prior Notice
- Labeling — no Nutrition Facts, wrong net quantity
- Coconut cosmetics not registered under MoCRA
🏢 No U.S. company to act as FSVP importer? Orionex offers an FSVP importer service for food and dietary supplements — from $80 per shipment, with the program and Qualified Individual included.
What you need to register — and what it costs
| Product type | FDA requirement | Orionex price |
|---|---|---|
| Food, beverages, supplements | Food facility registration + U.S. Agent, renewed every 2 years; Prior Notice for each shipment | $300/year or $450 for 2 years |
| Cosmetics | MoCRA facility registration (every 2 years) + product listing + U.S. Agent | $300/year or $450 for 2 years; listing $150/product |
| Medical devices | Establishment registration (yearly, FDA fee paid separately) + device listing; 510(k) for many Class II devices | $550/year; listing $50/device |
| Drugs (incl. OTC) | Drug establishment registration (yearly) + NDC labeler code + drug listing | $550/year; listing $350/product |
Every Orionex registration includes the U.S. Agent service, D-U-N-S number set-up where needed and a Certificate of Registration. All prices →
Tell us your products — we’ll confirm what you need to register, in writing, by email.
Frequently asked questions
Can Vanuatu kava be sold in U.S. drinks and snacks?
Not as an added ingredient. FDA does not consider kava GRAS, so adding it to conventional foods or drinks makes it an unapproved food additive. Single-ingredient kava for steeping, or kava dietary supplements without disease claims, can be sold.
Do Vanuatu kava exporters need FDA registration?
Yes, if they process, pack or store kava for the U.S. Those facilities must register with FDA, name a U.S. Agent and file Prior Notice for each shipment. Farmers who only grow and dry their own root are generally exempt.
Sources
- California Department of Public Health — Kava consumer facts (FDA position summarized)
- NIH Office of Dietary Supplements — Kava
- eCFR — 21 CFR Part 1 Subpart H, Registration of Food Facilities
Checked against FDA and other official sources on November 11, 2026. This guide is general information, not legal advice.