White House OSTP Publishes New RFI’s

On December 20, the White House Office of Science and Policy (OSTP) published two requests for information (RFI) for public comment.

The National Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing Initiative requests information on how advanced technologies can further societal goals in health, climate and energy, food and agriculture, and supply chain resilience. Interested parties may submit responses to 17 questions by 5:00 p.m. ET on January 20, 2023.

The Request for Information: Identifying Ambiguities, Gaps, Inefficiencies, and Uncertainties in the Coordinated Framework for the Regulation of Biotechnology includes seven questions seeking information in support of streamlining and clarifying regulations. The comment period closes at 5:00 p.m. ET on February 3, 2023.

In addition, the RFIs announced two OSTP hosted listening sessions. The first session, held on January 9 at 2:00 p.m. ET, is on the biotech and biomanufacturing initiative. To register, click here. The second session, held on January 12 at 1:00 p.m. ET, is on regulations. To register, click here.

ASTA, along with other organizations, will be requesting an extension of the comment period and will update members on whether the extension is granted. In the meantime, ASTA will prepare its comments for the posted closing dates and will be reviewed in early January. ASTA also plans to comment at both listening sessions.

If your company plans to provide comments at the listening session or to the RFI, please let ASTA know.

Finally, OSTP is interested in an ASTA hosted listening session in conjunction with ASTA’s Vegetable & Flower Seed Conference on January 28, 2023 from 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. More information will be provided in early January.