AAFA Applauds Congressional Resolution for Awareness of Counterfeiting Dangers and Calls for Action on SHOP SAFE
July 9, 2024 | WASHINGTON, D.C.
The American Apparel & Footwear Association commends the Senate for the passage of
S.Res.736 on July 8, designating July as National Anti-Counterfeiting and Consumer Education and Awareness Month. AAFA thanks Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) for the continued leadership in again leading this bipartisan resolution with cosponsors, U.S. Senators Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) and Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) in 2024.
"Raising awareness of the dangers that counterfeits pose to Americans – be they American business, innovators, consumers, and workers – is only a first step. Congress now needs to actually stop these dangerous counterfeits by passing the SHOP SAFE Act, sorely needed legislation with proactive measures to keep counterfeits from being listed for sale online in the first place,” said
AAFA president and CEO Steve Lamar. “Consumer safety is a bipartisan issue. Sadly, every Member of Congress represents constituents who have unknowingly purchased - and face harm from - counterfeits. Every day that passes while this important measure remains stalled is another day when counterfeiters pocket the profits from the ill-gotten gains and another day when American consumers are intolerably exposed to unsafe products, often unknowingly.”
The SHOP SAFE Act will require online platforms to engage in best practices for screening and vetting third-party sellers and goods, stop repeat counterfeiter sellers, and ensure accountability when counterfeit goods are sold. The law will safeguard consumers from the
alarming dangers of counterfeits across industries.
Access more information on the
Digital Devalue Chain of Counterfeits, the role of '
Dupe Influencers,' and AAFA's annual comments to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) for its
Notorious Markets reports (
2023 comments).