The federal government today released two calls for public input on how the U.S. can support biotech innovation to help strengthen the industry while also serving social objectives.
As part of the Biden Administration’s National Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing Initiative, the U.S. Office of Science and Technology Policy published two requests for information (RFIs) in the form of questionnaires that “interested individuals and organizations” can fill out to have an impact on federal biotech policy.
The two RFIs focus on:
- Efforts to clarify and streamline regulation of biotechnology by the FDA, EPA, and USDA; this is managed by USDA, but all three agencies will consider comments.
- Support for the bioeconomy, including how biotech can help society, how to ensure appropriate data and metrics for the bioeconomy, domestic biomanufacturing and its workforce, bio-product procurement, safety and security, and international engagement.
The second RFI covers issues that the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) mentioned when they urged the Biden administration to take additional action on climate provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act, including procurement, quantification of the bioeconomy, and revisions to official industry and product classification systems.
This is an opportunity to improve the policy environment for biotech and help the industry grow. Visit the following pages to help shape policy that impacts the biotech industry: