Press Release

Media Contact: media@buysafeamerica.org
 
Alliance for Automotive Innovation, Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association, National Electrical Manufacturers Association and Lutron Electronics Join Coalition to Combat the Sale of Fraudulent Goods Online
 
Leading Associations and Manufacturers Continue to Join the Buy Safe America Coalition in Effort to Bring Transparency and Accountability to Largest Online Marketplaces
 
Washington, DC – Today, the Buy Safe America Coalition, a diverse group of retailers, consumer groups, wholesaler-distributors, and manufacturers who support efforts to combat organized retail crime and protect consumers and communities from the sale of counterfeit and stolen goods, announced new members – the Alliance for Automotive Innovation (Auto Innovators), the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA), the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), and lighting control manufacturer Lutron Electronics. 
 
Auto Innovators, MEMA, NEMA and Lutron join the coalition amid growing support across industry, consumer groups, and policymakers to stop the sale of stolen and counterfeit goods and products online. Last month, the INFORM Consumers Act was introduced by Senators Durbin (D-IL), Cassidy (R-LA), Hirono (D-HI), Grassley (R-IA), Coons (D-DE), and Tillis (R-NC). The bill would modernize consumer protection laws and require online marketplaces to collect and verify basic business information from sellers, in addition to requiring high-volume sellers to provide contact information to consumers.
 
“The proliferation of counterfeit auto parts sold online is alarming and gives rise to serious public safety concerns with potentially fatal consequences,” said Auto Innovators President and CEO John Bozzella. “Auto Innovators joins the Buy Safe America Coalition in support of the INFORM Consumers Act, which is a much-needed, common sense solution to combatting the growing online sales of counterfeit goods and protecting consumers.”   
 
Last year, the Automotive Anti-Counterfeiting Council (A2C2) released a white paper that detailed how online marketplace practices allow counterfeiters to put unsafe products in American consumers’ cars highlighting the “hands-off approach to the third-party products sold through their platforms that have created a system with little-to-no verifications of sellers” as a main factor. 
 
“Counterfeit motor vehicle parts sold online is a growing threat that can end in catastrophic consequences for consumers. Illegitimate parts are not assured to meet federal motor vehicle safety standards, potentially resulting in decreased performance or even failure,” said Bill Long, President & CEO, MEMA. “Addressing the online sale of counterfeit vehicle parts has been an ongoing focus for MEMA, which is why we are proud to join the Buy Safe America Coalition’s efforts to protect consumers through the INFORM Consumers Act.”
 
The National Electrical Manufacturers Association, the largest trade association of electrical equipment manufacturers in the United States and Lutron Electronics, a leading manufacturer of energy-saving light, shade, and temperature controls, join the Buy Safe America Coalition as well. 
 
“Counterfeiting of electrical products is a costly and dangerous crime that affects everyone,” said NEMA President and CEO Kevin Cosgriff. “When electrical products fail to perform properly, they can cause significant public health and safety issues. We are eager to join the Buy Safe America Coalition and bring transparency and accountability to online marketplaces. We also commend the policymakers who prioritize consumer safety.”
 
“Taking care of customers is Lutron’s founding company principle, which includes the design and manufacture of high-quality products that meet rigorous testing standards,” said Ramin Mehrganpour, Co-President at Lutron. “Lutron is pleased to join the Buy Safe America Coalition in support of the INFORM Consumers Act, which will give customers confidence they are buying the robust, high-quality products they’ve come to expect from Lutron and others.”

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

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The Buy Safe America Coalition represents a diverse group of responsible retailers, consumer groups, manufacturers, intellectual property advocates and law enforcement officials who support efforts at all levels of government to protect consumers and communities from the sale of counterfeit and stolen goods.