Toy Association Lauds Senate Resolution Designating July as ‘National Anti-Counterfeiting Month’

July 10, 2024 | The Toy Association™ commends the U.S. Senate for passing S.Res.736, which designates the month of July as “National Anti-Counterfeiting and Consumer Education and Awareness Month.”

The Toy Association has been a vocal advocate against counterfeit and illicit goods and continues to work tirelessly to educate the public on the dangers of fake toys through initiatives like Toy Safety Awareness Month in November, in addition to highlighting the responsible toy businesses that adhere to more than 100 strict safety standards and tests required by federal law.

“The Toy Association thanks Senators Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), and Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) for their leadership in recognizing the importance of protecting consumers from the dangers of counterfeit goods and for their commitment to promoting education and awareness on this issue,” said Ed Desmond, executive vice president of global government and regulatory affairs at The Toy Association. “While this topic remains a main year-round focus for The Toy Association and the toy industry, dedicating this month to anti-counterfeiting awareness is raising the profile of the ongoing threats that illicit products pose and will help further educate consumers on how they can protect themselves, especially as we inch closer to the holiday shopping season.”

Desmond continued: "One of The Toy Association’s top legislative priorities is the passage of the SHOP SAFE Act, which holds online marketplaces accountable for selling potentially dangerous products to consumers. We have been proactively working with congressional offices and sharing our white paper about reducing illicit products on the marketplace with other industries to spread awareness. Now, we urge Congress to advance this critical legislation to ensure that all American consumers are protected while shopping online.”

The SHOP SAFE Act emphasizes the need for online platforms to meet the same requirements and liabilities for unsafe counterfeit goods as traditional brick-and-mortar businesses. The bill incentivizes online platforms to engage in best practices for vetting sellers and goods, addressing repeat counterfeiter sellers, and ensuring consumers have access to relevant information at the time of purchase.

The bill was reintroduced in the Senate by the Committee on the Judiciary Subcommittee on Intellectual Property last October and awaits a vote out of the committee. Similarly, the House version of the bill was introduced last month and now awaits a vote out of committee before legislators in both chambers vote to pass the bill into law.

For more information on The Toy Association’s advocacy work on counterfeits and IP protection, visit thetoyassociation.org/advocacy. Members may contact Owen Caine, vice president of government affairs at The Toy Association, with any questions.