ASOP Global Encouraged by Inclusion of Consumer Health and Safety Protections in America COMPETES Act
House Bill Provisions Safeguard Americans Against Illegal Online Sales of Dangerous Fake Drugs
WASHINGTON, D.C. – January 28, 2022 – The Alliance for Safe Online Pharmacies (ASOP Global) is encouraged to see the inclusion of critical consumer health and safety protections in the America Competes in Manufacturing, Pre-Eminence in Technology, and Economic Strength Act (America COMPETES Act) introduced in the House this week.
The America COMPETES Act, which aims to strengthen the economy, will also protect the national supply chain by integrating provisions of two bills introduced last year and endorsed by ASOP Global – the INFORM Consumers Act and SHOP Safe Act. By including the INFORM Consumers and SHOP Safe Acts, the America COMPETES Act brings transparency and accountability to online marketplace platforms and stops the sale of dangerous counterfeit products on e-commerce platforms.
The SHOP Safe Act protects U.S. consumers and legitimate businesses by requiring the removal of listings of counterfeit and stolen products, including drugs, and banning repeat offenders from continuing to sell on e-commerce platforms. INFORM Consumers requires marketplaces to collect and vet seller information so consumers are no longer left in the dark on who they are buying products from. Both bills are crucial in creating a safe internet to purchase goods.
For more than a decade, ASOP Global has led the charge to protect patients from digital drug dealers who exploit an anonymous internet for profit, and we are pleased to see Congress hold online marketplaces accountable for doing the same. Establishing liability for online marketplace platforms, verifying online sellers, and providing consumers and law enforcement with seller contact information are vital steps toward making the internet a safer, more transparent place for Americans to shop.
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The Alliance for Safe Online Pharmacies (ASOP Global), a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization headquartered in Washington, D.C. with activities in the U.S., Canada, Europe, Latin America, and Asia, is dedicated to protecting consumers around the world, ensuring safe access to medications, and combating illegal online drug sellers.