On Wednesday 13 May, the European Commission launched a call for evidence until 10 June to gather opinions on the potential of industrial biotechnologies and bioproduction in the EU, according to a press release issued on Monday 18 May.
The Biotech Act II proposal aims to create a favourable environment for industrial biotechnology and biomanufacturing in the EU.
The untapped potential of industrial biotechnology and biomanufacturing can foster a transition from virgin fossil feedstock, on which the EU is heavily dependent, to more sustainable inputs, thereby strengthening the EU’s resilience and self-sufficiency, explains the Commission.
The impact assessment will explore, among other things, options in intervention areas such as the introducing lead markets or supply-side measures, a possible requirement to manufacture in Europe and the use of regulatory sandboxes. A first lead market could be the chemicals sector as a high-impact area that relies heavily on virgin fossil feedstock.
Other potential lead markets include plastics and polymers, fibres, fabrics and textiles, construction products, fertilisers and plant protection products.
Link to the consultation: https://aeur.eu/f/ly0 (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)