Blogs

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced on January 29, 2026, that its Agile BioFoundry (ABF) is hosting its 2026 Industry Day on February 17, 2026, from 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. (PST) in Emeryville, California. Virtual participation will be available via Zoom. DOE invites stakeholders to join ABF to discover partnering opportunities and provide perspective on how DOE national laboratories can best support the biomanufacturing industry. The ABF Industry Day will include: Lightning talks on...

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) website, EPA received a petition on January 6, 2026, under Section 21 of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) regarding certain chemicals in consumer laundry detergents. The petition requests that EPA initiate a TSCA Section 6(a) rulemaking regarding the following chemical substances that are “widely used in consumer liquid laundry detergents”: Sodium C10-16 alkylbenzenesulfonate; Sodium laureth sulfate (SLES); and 1,4-Dioxane...

The National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology (NSCEB) has published a January 2026 discussion paper entitled “Creating Clear Regulatory Pathways for Biotechnology.” According to the paper, biotechnology regulations in the United States are complex, resulting in a slow process, while regulations in China and other countries allow developers to move ahead more quickly. The paper notes that the regulatory system in the United States is “built on laws that predate biotechnology,...

Current gyrations in foreign policy under the Trump Administration raise potential unintended impacts on the U.S. chemical industry, particularly at the intersection of international regulatory cooperation, global toxics governance, and trade policy. While chemical regulation is often viewed as a domestic exercise, it is shaped materially by international alignment, mutual recognition, and trade-related obligations. Fractures in U.S. relationships with allies and multilateral institutions could...

On January 14, 2026, Senators Pete Ricketts (R-NE) and Chris Coons (D-DE) introduced the Renewable Chemicals Act (S. 3632). According to Ricketts’s January 14, 2026, press release, the bipartisan legislation “would provide a targeted, short-term tax credit for qualifying renewable chemicals or an investment tax credit for renewable chemical production facilities.” The press release notes that renewable chemicals are produced from biomass such as corn and soybeans and states that this...

The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) published a final rule on January 15, 2026, extending the compliance dates in its Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) (29 C.F.R. Section 1910.1200), published in the Federal Register on May 20, 2024 (89 Fed. Reg. 44144), by four months. 91 Fed. Reg. 1695. The May 2024 final rule adopts a tiered approach to compliance and includes two sets of compliance dates for chemical manufacturers, importers, and distributors evaluating substances...

Do you know of a company that is innovating in ways that make chemistry safer, cleaner, and more sustainable? The American Chemical Society (ACS) is now accepting nominations for the 2026 Green Chemistry Challenge Awards. Winning a Green Chemistry Challenge Award is not just an honor; it is a catalyst for visibility, credibility, and environmental impact. Since 1996, 155 organizations and individuals have been recognized for innovations that reduce hazardous substances, conserve resources,...

On January 16, 2026, the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) posted docket materials related to the New Mexico Environmental Improvement Board’s (NMEIB) February 23, 2026, rulemaking hearing on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in consumer products. The materials include clean and redline versions of a revised proposed rule. The revisions would: Exempt pesticides regulated under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) from the reporting and prohibition...

Bergeson & Campbell, P.C.’s (B&C®) recently published Forecast 2026 includes a deep dive into what stakeholders can expect this year regarding the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), excerpts of which are shared here. Policy shifts and uncertainties are expected under FIFRA and the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in the agricultural and biocidal area. ESA has been, and will continue to be, the most important issue affecting pesticide use and regulation in the...

The House Committee on Energy and Commerce posted a Hearing Memorandum on January 20, 2026, for the January 22, 2026, hearing entitled “Chemicals in Commerce: Legislative Proposal to Modernize America’s Chemical Safety Law, Strengthen Critical Supply Chains, and Grow Domestic Manufacturing.” According to the Hearing Memorandum, the Subcommittee on Environment will hear from the following witnesses: Dimitrios Karakitsos, Holland & Knight; Kimberly Wise White, Ph.D., American Chemistry...