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Gina Tumbarello Who We Are Leadership Trade Data Contact Us Executive Director Mail Gina Tumbarello serves as the Executive Director of FAEA, where she provides strategic leadership and oversees all day-to-day operations. She is responsible for shaping FAEA's global programs, directing advocacy efforts, and ensuring alignment with international food and feed safety standards. Under her guidance, FAEA plays a critical role in advancing science-based international regulations and addressing non-tariff barriers to trade. Gina works collaboratively with FAEA’s diverse membership to identify challenges, develop effective strategies, and foster partnerships that strengthen global food systems. Gina brings extensive experience in international trade to her role. Prior to joining FAEA, she spent 14 years at the American Feed Industry Association (AFIA), where she spearheaded global initiatives and formulated and executed the U.S. animal food industry's international priorities. Previously, she served as Manager of International Operations at the U.S. Grains Council (USGC), managing market development and access programs in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America. Earlier in her career, she excelled as a Project Manager at J.E. Austin Associates, focusing on economic development projects under the World Bank and the U.S. Agency for International Development. Gina holds a master’s degree in International Trade Policy from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey and a bachelor’s degree in Diplomacy and Foreign Affairs and German from Miami University.

FAEA Products FAEA members represent U.S. meat, poultry, dairy, feed grains, feed ingredients, soybean and rendered products. Tariff Codes

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ACTIVITY REPORTS Back to "Members Only" Executive Director Trip Report and Workshop in Nigeria, Nov 2023 Executive Director Trip Report Cambodian Food and Feed Safety Delegation to Washington, DC, Dec 2023 Executive Director Trip Report to Kenya, Nov 2023 FAEA staff trip report to Washington, DC, July 2023 FAEA Strategic Planning Report - Final, July 2023 Executive Director Trip Report to Cambodia, Feb 2023 FAEA staff trip report to Washington, DC, July 2022 Executive Director Bangladesh Trip Report, May 2022 Executive Director Kenya Trip Report, December 2021 Meeting Report on the County consultations on Kenya’s Draft Food Safety Policy and Bill, September, 2021. Meeting Report on the Third FAEA-supported Government of Kenya task force meeting on the food safety policy review and legislation drafting, Sep/Oct, 2021. Meeting Report for the Kenya Ministerial Task force Retreat to incorporate comments by the health team into the draft Food Safety Bill, July, 2021. Training Report on Good Hygienic Practices and Food Safety in Hotels and Restaurants in Dhaka, Bangladesh, April, 2021. Meeting Report on the Second FAEA-supported Government of Kenya task force meeting on the food safety policy review and legislation drafting, March, 2021. Meeting Report on the exercise of improving the Kenya Food Safety Policy and Legislation Draft, as a preparation for the Second meeting, February, 2021. Meeting Report on the First FAEA-supported Government of Kenya Task Force Meeting on the Food Safety Policy and Legislation, December, 2020. Myanmar Ministry of Ag Acceptance of FAEA Offer of Assistance, October 2020 FAEA Offer of Assistance to Myanmar Min of Ag, September, 2020. Myanmar Ministry of Agriculture Request for FAEA Assistance - August, 2020. Kenya Ministry of Agriculture Response to FAEA Letter - July, 2020. FAEA Letter to Kenya Ministry of Agriculture - May, 2020. Trip Report Bangladesh - Jan/Feb, 2020. FAS Meeting - Jan, 2020. Trip Report Kenya - Nov, 2019.

Kent Swisher President and CEO The North American Renderers Association (NARA), headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia, was formed in 1933 as the professional organization of the rendering industry. NARA also has offices in Hong Kong and Mexico City. NARA is an alliance that speaks with a collective voice to represent the best interests of its members in public, government and regulatory affairs, and provides services, programs and technical support to the North American rendering industry: both in the national and international markets. Vision – To deliver sustainable solutions to food, feed, fuel, oleochemical, and other customers. Mission – NARA advocates for a sustainable food chain, public health and the environment through the production and marketing of our members’ products and services. Rendering is a process that repurposes by-products that would otherwise go to waste from the “meat we don’t eat.” By rendering specific materials that many North American consumers would consider inedible, such as certain fats, bones and proteins, renderers provide clean and safe rendered material used to develop sustainable new products while reducing overall food waste. Food waste is highly prevalent, and finding solutions is critical. That’s why the North American Renderers Association (NARA) prioritizes educating the public, advocating for the rendering industry, and providing support and resources for renderers. As an association with a wide range of offerings for members, we work hard to promote sustainable food use in North America and worldwide. https://www.nara.org

BANGLADESH CAMBODIA KENYA NIGERIA

Company name First name Last name Position Email Phone FAEA can contact for... Board communication/meetings Newsletter Bangladesh Cambodia Kenya Nigeria Codex Dues/Invoicing Submit

COUNTRY HIGHLIGHTS KEY DEVELOPMENTS Kenya Food Safety Success Story We will update this page periodically based on information that we receive and summarize from our network of FAEA contacts and sources in each of our program countries as well as from our Codex contacts.

The Food and Agriculture Export Alliance (FAEA) was created in May 2004 to achieve greater cooperation and effectiveness in market access among meat, poultry, dairy, feed grains and soybean organizations and private sector agriculture input providers. 01 Objective The primary objective of the Food and Agriculture Export Alliance (FAEA) is to proactively identify and comprehend the considerations of foreign nations and officials regarding the establishment, revision and enforcement of food/feed safety and animal health/production laws and regulations. The aim is to strategically intervene before any potential trade-restrictive barriers are enacted, ensuring smoother market access for U.S. agricultural products. 02 Strategy FAEA's strategy involves a meticulous process of identifying regions and nations where food/feed safety and animal health regulations are in the development or modification stages that impact the products represented by FAEA members. Priority is given to those markets that hold significant growth potential and where FAEA members have a vested interest in maintaining or expanding access. 03 Activities FAEA's approach includes four main categories of activities known as MICA: Management and Administration: FAEA Staff: Comprising three dedicated members who manage daily operations. Executive Director (ED): Leads the management and implementation of FAEA strategies and activities. Program Coordinator (PC): Assists in administrative and programmatic functions. Director of Codex and Global Affairs: Focuses on the execution of Codex-related strategies and initiatives. USGC Staff: Supports day-to-day administrative tasks and acts as a liaison with the Foreign Agricultural Service. FAEA Board Members: Ten board members and two U.S. Grains Council staff provide leadership, set priorities and evaluate organizational performance. Information Gathering, Analysis, and Intelligence Sharing: FAEA leverages its extensive network, including U.S. Government agencies, member staff and contractors, to collect, analyze and disseminate critical information. This process helps in influencing foreign legislation and ensuring that new regulations are science-based and do not constitute technical barriers to trade. Capacity Building Activities FAEA allocates resources to build technical capacity in target markets. This involves educating and training regulatory, health, and judicial decision-makers and staff in these countries through workshops and seminars. Local contractors are also engaged to facilitate these activities and provide timely updates on regulatory changes. Advocacy for Codex and Science-Based Standards FAEA conducts ongoing advocacy to support U.S. positions on international standards, such as those set by the Codex Alimentarius Commission, OIE and IPPC. The alliance sponsors officials to participate in critical Codex meetings and uses its networks to promote standards that facilitate fair trade. Continuum of FAEA Engagement Progress 04 Stage 01. Assess market needs & opportunities. Stage 02. Development of relationships through seminars/workshops. Stage 03. Engage SPS, TBT & Codex offices & policy developers, and those involved in legal & regulatory development. Stage 04. Comment on development of regulations. Stage 05. Transfer FAEA programs to FAEA members.

< Back FAEA Hosts Kenyan Food and Feed Safety Delegation in Washington, D.C. November 2019 In November 2019, FAEA welcomed a high-level delegation of Kenyan government officials to Washington, D.C., marking a pivotal step in Kenya’s journey toward establishing a robust food and feed safety system. This initiative, aimed to offer the Kenyan delegation a comprehensive understanding of how the U.S. food and feed safety regulatory framework operates. As Kenya grapples with decisions on how best to regulate its food and feed supply, the visit provided valuable insights into the U.S. model, where various agencies coordinate to ensure safety and compliance. The delegation included a diverse mix of technical experts, senior ministry officials and parliamentary lawmakers—key decision-makers who are central to shaping Kenya’s future food safety landscape. Kenya is at a critical juncture in its food safety journey. The government has been considering whether to establish a Kenyan Food and Drug Administration (KFDA) as a centralized regulatory body. However, opinions are divided. Some stakeholders advocate for a unified agency, while others argue that an integrated system—where ministries like Agriculture, Health, and Trade work together, similar to the U.S. model—would better serve Kenya’s needs. Recognizing the significance of this decision, the FAEA-organized visit was designed to showcase how the U.S. system operates across multiple agencies, balancing the roles of regulatory bodies like the FDA, FSIS, EPA and APHIS. The overarching goal was to illustrate that a well-coordinated, multi-agency approach can be more effective than consolidating all food safety responsibilities under a single entity. The week-long visit kicked off with a series of meetings at the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), where officials briefed the Kenyan delegation on how U.S. regulatory agencies collaborate with industry stakeholders to ensure science-based food and feed safety laws. From understanding the rule-making process to the role of public consultations, the delegation gained first-hand knowledge of how regulatory frameworks are developed and implemented in the U.S. The delegation then engaged in in-depth discussions with representatives from the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), who explained the legal and constitutional foundations that guide U.S. trade and regulatory practices. The USTR team emphasized the importance of transparency, stakeholder engagement and evidence-based decision-making in developing effective food safety legislation. These sessions underscored that building a reliable food safety system involves more than just legislation; it requires a collaborative process that incorporates diverse voices, from government to industry. Midweek, the delegation met with leading U.S. industry associations, including the American Feed Industry Association (AFIA), the U.S. Grains Council and other FAEA members. These meetings highlighted how U.S. industry groups work hand-in-hand with regulatory agencies to maintain high safety standards while promoting trade. The Kenyan officials also had the opportunity to tour poultry farms, feed processing plants and dairy operations, providing them with a practical look at how regulations are applied at every stage of the production process. The visit concluded with a wrap-up meeting where Kenyan officials and FAEA representatives mapped out the next steps. The Kenyan team expressed their intention to refine the existing draft of their food safety legislation based on insights gained during the visit. With support from FAEA and U.S. regulatory experts, Kenya plans to finalize the draft and present it to Parliament in the coming months. FAEA has committed to providing ongoing technical and logistical support as Kenya moves toward enacting and implementing this legislation. The next phase involves hosting a workshop in Kenya, where local stakeholders will review the draft law and offer feedback before it is formally submitted. This collaborative approach aims to ensure that the final legislation is not only scientifically sound but also tailored to Kenya’s unique needs and challenges. The significance of this initiative extends beyond Kenya. As a leading economy in East Africa, Kenya’s success in building a robust food safety system has the potential to influence regional standards and practices. A well-functioning food safety framework could enhance Kenya’s trade opportunities, improve public health and position the country as a regional leader in food and feed safety. FAEA’s involvement underscores its commitment to supporting global food safety and regulatory harmonization. The alliance recognizes that building sustainable food systems is a shared responsibility that benefits all stakeholders, from local farmers to international markets. As Kenya continues its journey, FAEA looks forward to working closely with its partners to achieve lasting results that will not only benefit Kenya but also serve as a model for other countries in the region. Stay tuned for more updates on this critical work as the legislation moves closer to becoming a reality. Previous Next