(July 13, 2026) – Today, SFIA led an industry coalition letter to Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-ID), Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-OR), and U.S. Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) in support of the passage of the Counterfeit Notification Act, federal legislation that streamlines and strengthens intellectual property (IP) enforcement by enhancing the ability of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to work directly with private sector partners to identify and stop counterfeit imports more effectively. The letter can be found here.
The letter highlights the importance of addressing challenges that CBP faces in effectively tracking and deterring counterfeit goods from entering the United States. While CBP has taken steps to address some of these challenges, streamlined approaches are needed to improve CBP enforcement and efficiency. The Counterfeit Notification Act (H.R. 4930), which passed in the U.S. House of Representatives in April 2026, fills this gap by strengthening IP enforcement and equipping CBP with the authority to share with private sector partners both information derived from products and their packaging, as well as information from packing materials associated with a shipment of suspected counterfeit goods.
“Counterfeit goods hurt American businesses, threaten jobs, and pose potential risks and harms to public health and safety. With the United States in the midst of hosting a historic decade of global sporting events, we must prioritize protecting consumers of the sports and fitness industry and upholding public safety and public health,” said Todd Smith, President & CEO of the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA). “SFIA applauds Congressman Blake Moore and Congressman Brad Schneider for their leadership in passing this legislation in the U.S. House and thanks Senator Grassley and Senator Hassan for their leadership of this bill in the U.S. Senate. We believe the Counterfeit Notification Act is a crucial step forward to strengthen IP protection and put consumers first. SFIA is excited to continue working alongside our industry leaders and collaborators in the U.S. Congress to boost sports and fitness participation and improve the accessibility and affordability of sports and fitness across the country.”
The need for consumer protection is at an all-time high. SFIA’s 2034WARD Initiative highlights the kickoff of a decade-long opportunity during which American innovation and leadership across the sports and fitness industry is being showcased on the global stage. The sports and fitness industry aims to seize this once-in-a-generation opportunity to demonstrate the transformative power of sports and fitness and boost the affordability and accessibility of these activities across the United States. However, the innovators, entrepreneurs, community leaders, and small businesses at the forefront of this opportunity continue to be burdened by the economic and social harm resulting from counterfeit goods. As digitization improves the ease with which counterfeiters and bad actors can replicate authentic goods and deceive consumers, the public and private sectors must be emboldened to work together to uphold consumer protection. SFIA and our collaborators across the industry encourage the U.S. Senate to pass the Counterfeit Notification Act so that it may be signed into law. We look forward to the opportunity to work with our partners in the U.S. Congress to ensure that IP, public trust, and consumer health and safety are protected and upheld ahead of these global sporting events.
SFIA serves as the voice of the sports and fitness industry, advocating for increased sports and fitness participation, improving affordability and accessibility of sports and fitness for all, and working closely with legislators and public policy stakeholders to represent and advance the industry’s voice. Learn more about SFIA’s Policy & Advocacy priorities here.
For more information, please contact Aneysha Bhat, SFIA Director for Government Affairs & Strategic Advocacy, at [email protected].
###
ABOUT SFIA: The Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) is the leading trade association for the sports and fitness industry, representing over 700 brands, manufacturers, retailers, and governing bodies who collectively employ more than 375,000 people and generate $150 billion in domestic sales. With a mission of increasing sports and fitness participation and promoting industry vitality, SFIA provides thought leadership, advocacy, research, and membership services that empower its members and drive industry growth. SFIA’s leading research and comprehensive insights help members make informed decisions, while its advocacy efforts champion physical health and economic impact. To learn more about joining SFIA’s network dedicated to advancing the sports and fitness industry, please visit sfia.org.