April 28, 2025
Mr. Feenstra (for himself and Mr. Panetta) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
To amend the Animal Health Protection Act to improve the prevention of the spread of animal diseases, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Safe American Food Exports Act of 2025
or the SAFE Act of 2025
.
Sec. 2. Engagement with key export markets
(a) In general
Section 10405 of the Animal Health Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 8304) is amended—
(1)
by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (e); and
(2)
by inserting after subsection (c) the following:
(d) Engagement with key export markets
(1) In general
To reduce the impact of animal disease outbreaks on United States exports, the Secretary, acting through the Administrator of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, the Under Secretary of Agriculture for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs, and the Administrator of the Food Safety and Inspection Service, in consultation with the United States Trade Representative, is authorized to negotiate in advance, to the extent practicable, regionalization, zoning, compartmentalization, and other agreements regarding outbreaks of known animal disease threats of trade significance with the governments of countries with export markets for livestock animals or animal products from the United States.
(2) Research
A negotiation carried out under paragraph (1) should seek to take into account accepted global research advances.
(b) Rule of construction
Nothing in this section shall be construed—
(1)
to limit the ability of the United States Trade Representative to negotiate trade agreements; or
(2)
to require the United States Trade Representative to condition other trade agreements on the inclusion of language relating to reducing the impact of animal disease outbreaks on United States exports, as described in subsection (d)(1) of section 10405 of the Animal Health Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 3804) (as inserted by subsection (a)(2)).