Press Release

Coalition Calls on Congress to Include the INFORM Consumers Act as an Amendment to 2023 Defense Bill

Counterfeit and Stolen Goods have flooded online marketplaces, putting consumers, hospitals, schools, and businesses at risk

 
Washington, DC – Today, the Buy Safe America Coalition issued the following statement after Congressional champions introduced the INFORM Consumers Act as amendment number 5511 to the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act:
 
“We are pleased that Senators Bill Cassidy and Dick Durbin introduced the INFORM Consumers Act as an amendment to the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act to address the alarming effects of organized retail crime and the sale of stolen and counterfeit goods on common online marketplaces,” said Michael Hanson, Buy Safe America Coalition spokesperson. “The 2023 fiscal year’s NDAA presents an excellent opportunity to pass INFORM before the November elections, and we thank the Senators for spearheading this effort.”
 
The Buy Safe America Coalition remains deeply concerned about the growing problem of organized retail crime—which impacts legitimate American businesses and puts consumers and employees in harm’s way when violent retail crime rings use dangerous tactics to steal goods in mass quantities. Widespread retail crime has cost retailers over $69 billion annually and is responsible for the loss of thousands of American jobs. Meanwhile, counterfeit goods sold on third-party marketplaces have also put consumers in harm’s way when fake products pose a safety risk.  Even more alarming are recent cases pursued by the Justice Department that show billions in illicit products sold to American hospitals, schools, and government agencies.
 
The INFORM Consumers Act is a bipartisan piece of federal legislation that would require online marketplaces to verify the identities of high-volume third-party sellers and disclose basic information to shoppers and law enforcement. The bill has attracted broad support from retailers, e-commerce platforms, law enforcement officials, manufacturers, and consumers, and is the only piece of legislation that addresses both stolen and counterfeit merchandise being sold online.
 
Visit BuySafeAmerica.org for more information about the growing threat of stolen and counterfeit goods and solutions to better protect consumers and businesses. 
 

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The Buy Safe America Coalition represents a diverse group of responsible retailers, consumer groups, manufacturers, intellectual property advocates and law enforcement officials who support efforts at all levels of government to protect consumers and communities from the sale of counterfeit and stolen goods. The coalition is urging Congress to pass the INFORM Consumers Act — legislation that has multi-industry and bipartisan support to combat counterfeit and stolen products sold online.