Promoting Cross-Border Shea Trade

Global Shea Alliance

The Global Shea Alliance (GSA) is a nonprofit association spanning 919 members across 39 countries, including brands, suppliers, retailers, and women’s groups, which aims to promote industry sustainability, quality control, and demand for shea, primarily in food and cosmetics production. The GSA is a longstanding pro bono client, and in 2023, Sidley helped the GSA promote cross-border shea trade inter alia by creating a manual on trading under the African Continental Free Trade Area.

“Since 2016, Sidley has been instrumental in supporting the GSA’s efforts. Sidley has contributed to over 10 important policy documents and offered guidance on strategic initiatives to increase exports of shea and shea derivatives worldwide. A significant achievement in this partnership was the strategic use of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) “Generally Recognized as Safe” (GRAS) designation to expand the applications of shea in the U.S. food market. Sidley’s support was crucial in addressing the major obstacle that U.S. food safety regulations posed to shea trade with West African countries. Consequently, two GSA members independently submitted FDA GRAS notifications, enabling the introduction of various shea products, including shea olein and whole shea butter, into the U.S. food market. As a result of these efforts, direct shea exports from West Africa to the U.S. have doubled, and shea is now featured in a variety of packaged goods.”
– Olawunmi Osholake, Deputy Managing Director, Global Shea Alliance