ALEXANDRIA, VA, May 2, 2025 – The North American Renderers Association (NARA) applauds the bipartisan, bicameral reintroduction of the Safe American Food Exports (SAFE) Act, led by Representatives Randy Feenstra (R-IA) and Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), and Senators Roger Wicker (R-MS), Katie Britt (R-AL), Tina Smith (D-MN), and Chris Coons (D-DE). The legislation protects the continued export of safe, animal-based products—like those rendered from meat, poultry, and other byproducts.
Rendering is a vital but often overlooked component of the agricultural supply chain, contributing to sustainable food systems, biosecurity, and global food and feed markets. The SAFE Act would codify the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) authority to negotiate regionalization agreements, which allow animal products from unaffected areas of the country to continue to be safely exported during a localized animal disease outbreak.
“NARA has supported the SAFE Act since its original introduction in 2023 because it takes a smart, proactive approach to foreign animal disease preparedness,” said Kent Swisher, President and CEO of the North American Renderers Association. “Regionalization is a proven strategy that ensures science-based trade policies prevail over reactionary border closures. Codifying this authority helps maintain the stability of the rendering industry and its role in global trade while supporting animal health and food security.”
The SAFE Act would also establish a much-needed notification system within USDA’s Import and Export Library to alert industry stakeholders and regulatory agencies of any changes to trade status—helping renderers and other agricultural exporters respond quickly and maintain global market access.
Rendering products—used in animal feed, pet food, industrial goods, and renewable fuels—generate billions in export value annually and reduce waste and loss in the food production process. Ensuring continued access to foreign markets in times of crisis is essential for the economic and environmental resilience of the industry.
NARA urges swift congressional passage of the SAFE Act to protect American renderers, uphold strong biosecurity standards, and promote uninterrupted trade of safe, sustainable products worldwide.
