ARLINGTON, Va. – April 29, 2025 – The American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) proudly supports the Safe American Food Exports (SAFE) Act (H.R. 3038/S. 1501), introduced by U.S. Representatives Randy Feenstra, R-Iowa-4, and Jimmy Panetta, D-Calif.-19, and Senators Roger Wicker, R-Miss., Katie Britt, R-Ala., Tina Smith, D-Minn., and Chris Coons, D-Del. This critical, bipartisan legislation ensures that American agricultural goods — including livestock, poultry, animal-based feed and pet food — can continue being safely and efficiently exported in the event of an animal disease outbreak on U.S. soil.
“We sincerely thank Representatives Randy Feenstra and Jimmy Panetta, and Senators Roger Wicker, Katie Britt, Tina Smith and Chris Coons for championing legislative efforts to secure U.S. export markets for animal-based feed and pet food products in the face of foreign animal disease threats,” said AFIA President and CEO Constance Cullman. “These products are a critical, yet often overlooked, component of the food supply chain. The AFIA strongly backs the SAFE Act, and our members are committed to working alongside the U.S. government to implement proactive measures to help shield our economy from future risks.”
The SAFE Act would formally codify the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s role in negotiating “regionalization agreements” with trading partners. These agreements enable products from disease-free regions to continue flowing to international markets even if another region of the country faces a disease outbreak. The legislation also establishes an early notification system through the USDA’s Import and Export Library to swiftly alert stakeholders to changes in trade status, minimizing disruptions across the agricultural supply chain.
