WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., joined Congressman Randy Feenstra, R-Iowa, in introducing the Safe American Food Exports (SAFE) Act. This legislation would codify USDA’s role in negotiating regionalization agreements that allow livestock, poultry, and other animal products from unaffected areas of the country to be exported in the event of an animal disease outbreak. Although the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) already works with the United States Trade Representative to develop these agreements, this legislation would establish regionalization agreements and promoting robust agricultural trade policies before any animal disease impacts our nation.

This bill would also create a notification system within the Import and Export Library to prevent our producers from being impacted by changes in trade status of agricultural commodities and alert the proper agencies, organizations, and State Departments of Agriculture that there have been changes in import or export status.

“Mississippi’s poultry exporters and producers have suffered during the bird flu. Animal diseases often cause trade disruptions, and the government should help protect American agriculture exports in these situations,” said Senator Wicker. “The Safe American Food Exports Act would help do that. The bill would give the USDA authority to negotiate regionalization agreements to ensure America’s agricultural producers are not shut off from the global market.”

“Iowa farmers are the backbone of our economy and the breadbasket of our country and the world. However, an animal disease outbreak can be devastating for our producers, majorly disrupt trade with foreign countries, and close important export markets that our farmers depend on,” said Congressman Feenstra. “Understanding the dire financial and animal health consequences of a disease outbreak, I introduced the Safe American Food Exports Act so that we can negotiate comprehensive agreements with our trading partners and ensure that a disease outbreak in one part of the country does not impact Iowa’s ability to produce and export our agricultural goods. By working proactively on regionalization agreements and prioritizing farm biosecurity, we can safely ship our agricultural commodities around the globe, prevent massive trade disruptions, and mitigate the negative impacts of animal disease on our farmers, producers, and rural communities.”

Joining Senator Wicker and Congressman Feenstra in introducing the SAFE Act are Senators Katie Britt, R-Ala., Tina Smith, D-Minn., Chris Coons, D-Del., and Congressman Jimmy Panetta, D-Calif. 

Click HERE for bill text.