B&C® Biobased and Sustainable Chemicals Blog

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a “Fact Check” on May 27, 2026, to “set the record straight” regarding recent claims circulating online that EPA has recently authorized the release of genetically engineered (GE) mosquitoes. EPA states that “[t]hese claims are false.” EPA provides the following facts: A previously issued Experimental Use Permit (EUP) expired in 2024; No releases are currently authorized in the United States; and EPA is not aware of any releases...

On May 21, 2026, Representatives April McClain Delaney (D-MD) and Jay Obernolte (R-CA) introduced the Standards and Calibration for American Leadership in Engineering Biology (SCALE Biology) Act (H.R. 8981). According to McClain Delaney’s May 22, 2026, press release, the bipartisan legislation would establish a new federal program dedicated to biometrology, “an advanced science critical to U.S. leadership in emerging biotechnology, including healthcare innovation, agricultural research,...

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced on May 19, 2026, that it is extending deregulation to a corn variety, designated as DP51291, developed using genetic engineering for insect-resistance and glufosinate-ammonium tolerance by Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. (Pioneer). APHIS notes that it previously deregulated these traits in another Pioneer corn variety, DP23211 corn. APHIS prepared a Plant Pest Risk Similarity Assessment...

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) published a Request for Information (RFI) on May 15, 2026, to solicit input on regulatory considerations related to the review of modified organisms subject to the Plant Protection Act (PPA). 91 Fed. Reg. 27868. According to the notice, USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) wishes to explore alternative frameworks to regulate genetically engineered (GE) organisms under the plant pest provisions of the PPA, “to ensure that...

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) will hold a webinar on May 27, 2026, on a November 2025 policy paper, “Synthetic biology, AI and automation: A forward-looking technology assessment,” that lays out a series of concrete cases where these technologies are coming together and how they could develop in the future. According to OECD, the convergence of synthetic biology with artificial intelligence (AI) and automation is accelerating the pace of innovation,...

As reported in our March 5, 2026, blog item, the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) is undertaking a factfinding investigation to examine Chinese state support and pricing practices in the biotechnology sector and assess how these practices may be affecting the market share and competitiveness of the U.S. industry. USITC is instituting its investigation, “Impact on U.S. Industry of China’s State Support and Pricing Practices in the Biotechnology Sector” (Inv. No. 332-610),...

On May 5, 2025, a coalition of U.S. biotechnology companies announced the launch of the American Biotech Innovation Alliance (ABIA). ABIA states that it will “focus on a shared objective: to sustain and strengthen America’s leadership in biotech innovation.” ABIA will work to develop a new roadmap to support the biotech ecosystem. According to ABIA, leaders from across the U.S. biotech industry and research sectors will develop a national innovation strategy outlining the policy,...

On April 27, 2026, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) published a blog item entitled “Biotech start-ups in Europe: Why does the EU lag behind competitors and what can policymakers do about it? ” According to the item, evidence shows that Europe still lags competitors in biotech start-up creation, patenting, and venture capital funding. OECD’s blog item “unpacks the gap and explores how agile regulation and smarter financing tools” can help European Union...

On April 22, 2026, Change Chemistry and the Sustainable Chemistry Catalyst at the University of Massachusetts Lowell published a report entitled Incentivizing Sustainable Chemicals: A Policy Framework for Innovation, Manufacturing, and Market Transformation, outlining why government incentives are critical to helping businesses scale more sustainable chemicals and how those incentives can reduce risk, unlock investment, and enable real market adoption. More than 50 U.S. and European companies...

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced on April 7, 2026, the creation of the USDA Guidance Portal, an online searchable, indexed database that contains guidance documents issued by USDA and its agencies that are currently in effect. Users can search all guidance documents in the library, or filter documents by date, agency (such as the Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)), or topic (including biotechnology). USDA notes that the guidance documents lack the force and effect...