The European Commission has opened a public consultation on its proposed Biotech Act II, seeking feedback from companies in the alternative protein and industrial biotech sectors. The regulation aims to extend the EU's biotech framework to cover industrial biotechnology and biomanufacturing, addressing regulatory fragmentation, weak competitiveness, and pressure from other countries. Companies in the fermentation and novel protein sectors are calling for clearer regulatory pathways for fermentation-derived ingredients, cultivated biomass, and precision fermentation, ahead of the June 10 deadline. They are urging for microbial advanced fermentation technologies to be included in the scope and treated as a strategic priority, while also highlighting specific barriers such as labeling requirements and safety assessment frameworks that may hinder innovation in these sectors.

Companies like ÄIO and Bene Meat Technologies are pushing for clear and harmonized frameworks to support the transition to high-value, circular bio-based production and to address regulatory grey zones for non-microbial biomanufacturing applications. There are concerns that without an enabling framework, Europe could lag behind in innovation and value creation, with large-scale deployment of biotech solutions taking place in other regions. The responses from companies emphasize the need for consistent and supportive regulations to foster growth and competitiveness in the alternative protein and industrial biotech sectors.