Toy Association Joins Buy Safe America Coalition to Fight Unsafe Toys in Marketplace

August 14, 2020 | The Toy Association announced today that it has joined the Buy Safe America coalition, a diverse group of association advocates and law enforcement officials supporting efforts at all levels of government to protect consumers from the sale of counterfeit and stolen goods.

Organized by the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA), the coalition supports legislation that requires online marketplaces to collect and verify basic information of third parties who sell products on their platforms.

Joining the coalition is the latest step in The Toy Association’s ongoing fight against fake toys. Over the past few months, the Association has remained engaged on the issue by pushing for legislation that would ensure greater brand protection and toy safety, submitting comments for a House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing about counterfeit concerns in relation to online shopping during COVID-19, testifying before a House subcommittee on fake and unsafe products on online marketplaces, and expressing support for the INFORM Consumers Act, SHOP SAFE Act, and SANTA Act. Last week, The Toy Association also announced plans to host a Virtual IP Fly-In that invites manufacturer and licensor members to meet with policymakers to discuss the industry’s key concerns about the prevalence of unsafe, counterfeit toys.

“The Toy Association and toy manufacturers remain committed to ensuring all families can have confidence in their toy purchases and be well informed about who is actually selling the product,” said Steve Pasierb, president & CEO of The Toy Association. “Extending our advocacy and collaborations to include the new Buy Safe America coalition must result in ensuring third-party sellers are held to the same high standards as any reputable retailer. We will keep pushing for consumer protections in the e-commerce space at all levels of government.”

Members who would like to learn more or get involved with The Toy Association’s IP Committee can contact Rebecca Mond, vice president of federal government affairs, for more information.