FTC, DOL, and USDA Drive Federal Regulatory Activity Across Pharma, Labor, and Agriculture

FTC Proposes Consent Order in Aurobindo-Lannett Matter

The Federal Trade Commission has placed a proposed consent agreement on the public record for 30 days, settling alleged violations of federal law prohibiting unfair methods of competition involving Aurobindo Pharma and Lannett. The consent agreement, filed under File No. 251 0096, contains a consent order to cease and desist and has been accepted by the Commission subject to final approval. The notice was published pursuant to section 6(f) of the Federal Trade Commission Act and FTC Rule 2.34. The public comment period closes on July 23, 2026, and comments may be submitted online at regulations.gov or by paper mail to the FTC's Office of the Secretary. The full text of the consent agreement package is available at the FTC's website.

DOL Seeks Input on Hearing-Loss Testing Standards Under LHWCA

The Department of Labor's Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP) has issued a request for information as it considers updating quality standards for hearing-loss testing under the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act (LHWCA), 33 U.S.C. 901-950. The agency explains that hearing loss claims represent a substantial portion of claims filed under the LHWCA, and that medical testing evidence is essential to evaluating benefits entitlement in virtually every hearing loss claim.

Under the current statutory framework, Section 8(c)(13) of the LHWCA establishes that audiograms meeting certain criteria provide presumptive evidence of the amount of hearing loss sustained. The document notes that qualifying audiograms constitute presumptive evidence only if administered by a licensed or certified audiologist or a physician certified in otolaryngology, provided to the employee at the time of administration, and not contradicted by a contrary audiogram made at the same time. The Department's implementing regulations are codified at 20 CFR 702.441, which requires evaluators to use criteria for measuring and calculating hearing impairment as published by the American Medical Association in the Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment, using the most currently revised edition.

OWCP states that since the current regulations were established, medical technology and practice have evolved significantly. Objective testing methods — including Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR), Auditory Steady State Response (ASSR), and Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE) — have become more widely available and are used in clinical settings. The agency notes these objective tests measure physiological responses to sound stimuli and do not rely on subjective patient responses, unlike traditional pure-tone audiometry. According to the notice, stakeholders have expressed interest in having the regulations updated to consider whether objective testing methods should be used in addition to traditional audiograms. OWCP states its goal is to adopt regulations that reflect current medical technology and practice while ensuring accurate, reliable, and fair determinations of hearing loss, and is seeking input on how objective testing methods may be used within the existing statutory framework — including to resolve discrepancies between multiple audiogram tests or as supporting or rebuttal evidence. The request for information targets audiologists, otolaryngologists, medical professionals, medical associations, employees, employers, insurance carriers, and trade associations. The affected regulation is 20 CFR 702. Written comments must be received by October 22, 2026.

USDA-NIFA Moves to Extend SBIR/STTR Certification Forms

The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), within the U.S. Department of Agriculture, has announced its intention to extend and revise a previously approved information collection covering Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Funding Agreement Certifications, under OMB Control Number 0524-0052. The current approval expires on September 30, 2026, and NIFA is requesting a three-year extension and revision.

The notice explains that the collection includes two forms: an "SBIR/STTR Funding Agreement Certification" and a "Certification for SBIR Applicants that are Majority-Owned by Multiple Venture Capital Operating Companies, Hedge Fund or Private Equity Firms." NIFA asks all recipients of SBIR and STTR grants to submit the funding agreement certification form after receiving award notification, and at any other time specified in the funding agreement. The agency also asks applicants that are majority-owned by multiple venture capital operating companies, hedge funds, or private equity firms to submit the additional certification form prior to submitting an application. According to the notice, the purpose of these certification statements is determining the eligibility of the small business concern (SBC) for SBIR and STTR awards.

The document explains that the USDA SBIR/STTR programs are carried out in three phases: Phase I awards assess scientific and technical merit and feasibility of ideas with commercial potential; Phase II awards further develop Phase I work exhibiting potential for commercial application; and Phase III awards involve commercial applications funded by non-Federal sources or products and services intended for Federal use funded by non-SBIR/STTR Federal funding agreements. The notice states that in 2026, the Small Business Innovation and Economic Security Act reauthorized the SBIR and STTR programs through September 30, 2031. NIFA states it is proposing revisions to these forms to match guidance provided in the SBA SBIR/STTR Policy Directive effective May 3, 2023. The certification form asks applicants to certify a series of ten statements to ensure compliance during the life of the funding agreement; SBCs majority-owned by venture capital companies, hedge funds, or private equity firms must also complete an eight-question form. Written comments on the notice must be received by August 24, 2026.

NIH Center for Scientific Review: Closed Peer-Review Panels

The National Institutes of Health's Center for Scientific Review has scheduled multiple Special Emphasis Panel meetings for July 16, 2026, all to be held as virtual meetings. Panels convening that day include: Health Promotion and Interventions at the Individual Level; Fellowships: Endocrine and Metabolic Systems; Brain Injury and Neurological Impairment; RFA/PAR Panel: Discovery and Development of Drugs and Biomarkers for Vision and Neurological Disorders; and RFA Panel: Outcomes of Electronic Medical Records and Genomics (eMERGE) Coordinating Center. The meetings are closed to the public pursuant to sections 552b(c)(4) and 552b(c)(6) of Title 5 U.S.C., on the grounds that grant application discussions could disclose confidential trade secrets, commercial property such as patentable material, or personal information whose disclosure would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy.

What to Watch

• July 23, 2026 — Deadline for public comments on the FTC's proposed Aurobindo-Lannett consent order (File No. 251 0096).
• August 24, 2026 — Deadline for written comments on USDA-NIFA's intention to extend and revise the SBIR/STTR Funding Agreement Certifications collection (OMB Control No. 0524-0052).
• September 30, 2026 — Expiration date of the current OMB approval for the NIFA SBIR/STTR certification collection.
• October 22, 2026 — Deadline for written comments on DOL-OWCP's request for information on LHWCA hearing-loss testing standards (20 CFR 702).