Washington, D.C. (May 14, 2024): On May 14, Bill Sells, SFIA SVP of Government & Public Affairs, joined the SHOP SAFE coalition on Capitol Hill to promote legislation requiring online sellers to follow the same rules as brick-and-mortar retailers before listing products for sale. The growth of the online marketplace has led to a significant increase in counterfeit sales of sports equipment & fitness products. The National Association of Manufacturers puts the total revenue lost due to counterfeits at $130 billion annually and is still growing as more consumers make online purchases.
The SHOP SAFE Act is bipartisan legislation to reduce online counterfeit sales by requiring e-commerce websites to follow the same requirements as brick-and-mortar retailers in determining the authenticity of a product sold on their platform. Under the legislation, an online seller would be held liable for any harm caused by a fake product sold on their site. The SHOP SAFE Act is supported by a broad coalition of interests. The National Association of Manufacturers, Online Pharmacies, Home Appliances, Toys, Auto-Parts, Childrenswear, and Apparel & Footwear industries joined SFIA in SHOP SAFE meetings with Congress on May 14.
For more information or for questions, please contact Bill Sells, SVP, Government & Public Affairs, at [email protected].
