All Knowledge & Insights By Date

On July 6, 2026, the American Chemical Society (ACS) announced the winners of the 2026 Green Chemistry Challenge Awards. According to ACS, the 2026 awards “recognize outstanding work in recyclable polyurethanes [PU], cleaner pharmaceutical manufacturing, sustainable crop protection, biodegradable polymers, [per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)]-free semiconductor cooling and biocide-free marine coatings.” ACS notes that these innovations “reduce or eliminate hazardous substances, cut...

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced on August 18, 2026, that it has received a petition from Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. seeking a determination of nonregulated status for COR-23134-4 soybean (Glycine max), referred to as COR23134, which has been developed using genetic engineering to express Cry1B.34.1, Cry1B.61.1, and IPD083Cb proteins to protect against certain susceptible lepidopteran pests, and the GM-HRA protein...

The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) held a High-Level Policy Dialogue on Agricultural Biotechnology in Dalian, People’s Republic of China, in August 2026. According to APEC’s August 20, 2026, press release, participants discussed new innovations and strengthened safety principles for genome technologies. Member countries demonstrated how precision breeding produces tangible results with adoption spreading across different fruits, vegetables, and meat. The press release notes that 75...

On August 27, 2026, Judge Michael H. Simon issued a Finding of Fact and Conclusions of Law (the Decision) in the bench trial for National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors v. Feldon, holding that the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality’s (DEQ) Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) program, run by the Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO) Circular Action Alliance (CAA), does not violate the Dormant Commerce Clause or the Due Process Clause of the U.S. Constitution. This...

The bipartisan 2016 Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act (Lautenberg) Amendments enacted extensive changes to the 1976 Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) that many hoped would set the law on a new course, address its widely recognized challenges, and accelerate U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) actions to address public health threats. Since then, four administrations have put their mark on implementation of the amended law. The past ten years have seemed like a...

Agricultural Research Service (ARS) has petitioned USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) seeking a determination of nonregulated status for two European plum (Prunus domestica) lines (34 plum and 157 plum) that have been developed using genetic engineering to promote early and near-continuous blooming. 91 Fed. Reg. 52663. According to APHIS, the petition states that the information provided indicates that 34 plum and 157 plum are unlikely to pose a plant pest...

On August 6, 2026, Senators Pete Ricketts (R-NE) and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) introduced the Biotech Investment National Security Act (BINSA) (S. 5316). According to Ricketts’s August 6, 2026, press release, the bill would ensure American investment in “adversary biotechnology” is subject to the review requirements of the Comprehensive Outbound Investment National Security (COINS) Act. Enacted in December 2025, the COINS Act directs the Secretary of the Treasury to issue regulations...

On August 14, 2026, Earthjustice announced that two non-governmental organizations (NGO) filed suit in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit challenging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) approval of two new chemicals for use in the manufacturing of semiconductors. CHIPS Communities United and Sierra Club seek review of two Consent Orders issued under Section 5 of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) authorizing the manufacture, processing, distribution in commerce,...

Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. is pleased to republish this timely item published in the August 24, 2026, issue of Owen’s “Around Latin America” newsletter. Mexico's Federal Commission for Protection against Sanitary Risks (COFEPRIS) published comprehensive new rules on food additives and processing aids on August 21, 2026, fully replacing the framework that had governed food additives, beverages, and food supplements since 2012. The new Agreement enters into force 60 business days after...