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),...
Regulatory, legal, policy, and business developments in renewable chemicals, biofuels, and other biobased products
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...
May 4, 2026
Report Outlines Government Incentives Critical to Helping Businesses Scale Sustainable Chemicals
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...
April 30, 2026
USDA’s New Guidance Portal Includes Biotechnology Guidance
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...
April 6, 2026
EPA’s Final RFS Set 2 Will “Strengthen American Energy Security, Support Rural Economies”
On April 1, 2026, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a final rule establishing the applicable volumes and percentage standards for 2026 and 2027 for cellulosic biofuel, biomass-based diesel (BBD), advanced biofuel, and total renewable fuel. 91 Fed. Reg. 16388. The Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) “Set 2” final rule also partially waives the 2025 cellulosic biofuel volume requirement and revises the associated percentage standard due to a shortfall in cellulosic biofuel...
April 3, 2026
Senate Committee Will Hold Hearing on Fueling Innovation: The Role of Small Businesses in America’s Bioeconomy
The Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship will hold a hearing on April 7, 2026, on “Fueling Innovation: The Role of Small Businesses in America’s Bioeconomy.” The Committee will hear from two panels of witnesses: Panel 1 Dr. Alina Alexeenko-Peroulis, Co-Founder and President, LyoWave, Inc.; Reilly Professor, Aeronautics and Astronautics and Chemical Engineering, Purdue University; Aaron Schacht, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Board Director, BiomEdit, Inc.; Derek...
April 3, 2026
APHIS Seeks Public Comment on Petition to Deregulate Corn Variety Developed Using Genetic Engineering
On March 6, 2026, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced that it received a request to extend its determination of nonregulated status of Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc.’s DP23211 insect-resistant and glufosinate-ammonium-tolerant maize (corn) to DP51291 maize (corn). 91 Fed. Reg. 11028. APHIS states that similar to DP23211 corn, “DP51291 corn was genetically engineered to express the IPD072Aa protein for control of...
April 1, 2026
USDA Deregulates Corn Engineered for Insect Resistance
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced on March 27, 2026, that it determined that MON 95275 maize (corn), developed using genetic engineering to produce two insecticidal proteins and a double-stranded Ribonucleic Acid (RNA) transcript to provide protection from feeding damage caused by targeted coleopteran (corn rootworm) insect pests, is no longer considered regulated. 91 Fed. Reg. 14805. APHIS states that its determination is...
The Council of the European Union (EU) announced on March 17, 2026, that it approved conclusions on the EU’s new bioeconomy strategy. As reported in our December 4, 2025, blog item, the European Commission (EC) announced on November 26, 2025, that it adopted a new Strategic Framework for a Competitive and Sustainable EU Bioeconomy, “charting a way forward to build a clean, competitive and resilient European economy.” In its conclusions, the Council welcomes the strategy proposed by the EC...