AAFA Applauds Senate Passage of Key Anti-Counterfeiting Customs Enforcement Measures

The American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) celebrates today's Senate passage of the Customs Notification Act (H.R. 4930), a key anti-counterfeiting measure, to strengthen U.S. Customs and Border Protection's (CBP) ability to share information with stakeholders. When enacted, this provision will enable brands to help CBP curb counterfeits before they enter American homes.

H.R. 4930 clarifies CBP's ability to share information with brands, during IP enforcement of American intellectual property (IP) rights at the border, not only from products and packaging, but also from packing materials connected to suspected counterfeit shipments. It also expands the definition of who qualifies as a "person" eligible to receive information from CBP, allowing the agency to address longstanding challenges to IP enforcement by strengthening information shared with stakeholders to better support CBP's efforts to identify and block counterfeits.

"Today's advancement of H.R. 4930 is a bipartisan victory for consumer protection, with Congress sending an important message at the peak of holiday shopping: counterfeits will not be tolerated nor allowed to enter the U.S.," said AAFA President and CEO, Steve Lamar. "We urge President Trump to swiftly sign the Customs Notification Act into law to help protect our national security and consumers from these dangerous and deceptive products. Thank you to Congressional Champions, Senators Chuck Grassley and Maggie Hassan and Representatives Brad Schneider and Blake Moore, for their collective leadership and vision."

H.R. 4930 is a companion bill to S. 2677 introduced by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.). The Counterfeit Notification Act reflects AAFA's ongoing commitment to reduce millions of counterfeit and pirated goods that enter the U.S. illegally.

AAFA is committed to strengthening IP enforcement and increasing awareness of the Digital Devalue Chain of Counterfeits® and related risks posed to businesses, consumers, workers, and the environment, while also working closely with the International AntiCounterfeiting Coalition (IACC) to advance broader anti-counterfeiting efforts.