Plumbing Manufacturer International works with coalition lawmakers to advance INFORM Consumers Act

MCLEAN, Va .– (BUSINESS WIRE) – Plumbing Manufacturers International (PMI) has joined the Buy Safe America Coalition, a diverse group of retailers, consumer groups, wholesalers, and manufacturers to support and advance the INFORM Consumers Act. Legislation, introduced in the U.S. Senate on March 23, aims to protect consumers from counterfeit and stolen products sold online, which has become a growing problem.

During the pandemic, U.S. e-commerce grew 44% as more families shopped online, according to Digital Commerce 360, a news site for internet retailers. At the same time, criminal networks were directed against unsuspecting customers with the sale of stolen, counterfeit, expired, dangerous and faulty products.

The INFORM Consumers Act, introduced by Sens. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Chris Coons (D-Del. ). ) and Thom Tillis (RN.C.) would modernize consumer protection laws, requiring that online retail markets collect and review basic business information from sellers and that large volume sellers provide contact information to consumers. The legislation would help prevent counterfeit goods from being sold online by anonymous sellers and prevent organized retail crime rings from stealing items from stores in order to resell those items online in bulk.

“PMI members value the security and authenticity of their brands and products,” said Kerry Stackpole, CEO / Executive Director of PMI. “Our members invest millions of dollars in designing, testing, and manufacturing high-performance products that meet federal, state, and local health and safety standards. Unfortunately, current loopholes in the law that allow stolen and counterfeit sanitary ware to be sold on online marketplaces are undermining these efforts. ”

PMI looks forward to continuing its work with federal lawmakers and the coalition to advance the INFORM consumer law, which provides the transparency needed to make it harder and less profitable to market and sell illegal goods online, Stackpole added. PMI and its members of the plumbing industry want an end to the illegal sale of counterfeit plumbing products, as well as plumbing products stolen from large stores, retailers, hardware stores and others.

“Counterfeit plumbing equipment and components can pose a health and safety risk to consumers who unwittingly purchase them. Counterfeit products also undermine the North American system of codes, standards, tests and certifications that have been put in place to protect the health and safety of consumers, ”Stackpole said.

Visit BuySafeAmerica.org for more information on the growing problem of stolen and counterfeit goods and solutions to better protect consumers and businesses.

About sanitary manufacturers international

Plumbing Manufacturers International (PMI) is the trade association of sanitary ware manufacturers who manufacture more than 90 percent of the sanitary ware in the United States, represent more than 150 well-known brands, and develop safe, reliable, and innovative water-efficient sanitary technologies. PMI members contribute more than 464,000 jobs and an economic impact of $ 85.5 billion to the American economy.

With a vision of safe and responsible plumbing, PMI is always committed to the performance of plumbing products that contribute to water efficiency and savings, sustainability, public health and safety, and consumer satisfaction. PMI members manufacture and market water-efficient toilets, urinals, faucets, shower heads, and other products in more than 70 locations across the country and online and in more than 24,000 hardware stores, hardware stores, and showrooms in all 50 states. For more information on PMI, contact the organization at 1750 Tysons Blvd., Ste. 1500, McLean, Va., 22102; Tel .: 847-481-5500. www.safeplumbing.org.