PharmaceuticalsMarch 27, 2020 Public Health Crisis Opens Door for Counterfeiters As citizens are asked to stay home the rise of online platforms has seen unprecedented traffic and movement, leading to vulnerable shoppers that fall victim to counterfeits. Interpol released a statement warning that people are producing counterfeit COVID19 products including a “Corona Spray” and other COVID branded items. With a public health crisis counterfeiters are known to create false drugs, fake masks, and other medical equipment and attempt to sneak them into a legitimate supply chain. The United States along with other international organizations urge people to be especially alert in these times of hardship and should verify producers before purchasing supplies from e-Commerce sites. Learn More
March 21, 2020 Volvo Recalls Every 2019 and 2020 Car in America Volvo is one of the safest car manufacturers on the globe, however they are not immune to a recall. Volvo is recalling over 100,000 vehicles in the USA over braking concerns. The problem arises in their automatic breaking system, a glitch in the software causes the vehicle to fail to detect some obstacles. Volvo says it will update the software by May 1, 2020. Learn More
Premium BrandsMarch 16, 2020 COVID-19 Wreaks Havoc on Global Supply Chains Initially the supply chain fears were originating in China where production facilities were closing, but even with factories coming back online the rest of the world remains in distress. Roughly 20% of U.S. retailers’ supply chains are exposed to China, where companies like Steve Madden and Best buy have over 60% of goods sourced from China. There is an estimated loss of at least $700 million to U.S. retailers and companies like Gap that said its “Not Currently Possible” to quantify the hit companies will take in 2020 as a result of the Coronavirus. Learn More
governmentMarch 4, 2020 New Bill Could Make E-Commerce Companies Liable for Counterfeits The bipartisan act titled “Shop Safe Act of 2020” was revealed this week and it targets e-commerce companies like Amazon and eBay to keep counterfeits off their platforms. The act outlines a series of steps and guidelines that these online companies must conform to or otherwise be held liable for any knock-off items sold on their behalf. Proposed actions include government identification of third-party sellers along with proof of authenticity from these sellers. The act comes as a response to the rise of counterfeit goods, which has amounted to over 3% of all global trade. Learn More
Premium BrandsFebruary 24, 2020 Counterfeit Items Suspected in Over Half Purchased from Major Online Retailers Over 50% of items bought from AliExpress, Ebay, Amazon, and Walmart were suspected fakes in a recent online shopping experiment. In a study done by CBC it was found that after ordering dozens of name brand products that more than half were suspected to be counterfeit. Some items tested were Apple Airpods, Kylie Jenner Cosmetics, Crest Strips, Jerseys, Legos, and many more. The items were purchased from the various retailers and then brought to the respective manufacturer to verify authenticity, which were almost always shown to be fake. It is shown that the United states government had stopped over 99,500 shipments between 2015 and 2018 while Canada had searched 69. Learn More
AutomotiveFebruary 17, 2020 Over 8 Million Vehicles Recalled Over Two Years The VRSS system, the Vehicle Recall Search Service, has identified over 8 million vehicles with an open recall. Over 1.7 million from the Takata airbag recall alone. The service was a joint effort by Carfax and the Alliance for Automotive Innovation to allow both DMVs and commercial companies to communicate important recalls to Consumers. New York has become the first state to implement this program during your yearly car inspection. Learn More
governmentFebruary 10, 2020 Executive Order Targets Online Counterfeit Goods On January 31, 2020 President Trumped passed Executive Order 13904 which targets the online sale of Counterfeit goods and sets policies and procedures for United States Customs to effectively deter counterfeits from entering the Market. President Trump stated counterfeit goods “are threatening both the public health and safety as well as the national security.” The entire order spans across multiple industries from Intellectual property to pharmaceuticals but specifically targets the online availability and E-Commerce platforms. The government has 60 days to allocate resources to maintain implementation. Learn More
February 7, 2020 International Recall on Peanut Butter Over 4,000 jars of peanut butter brand Nuts ‘N More has been recalled due to the presence of Listeria. The recall affects jars labeled with “LOT PB91” that was distributed to eight states and two other countries including Canada and the United Kingdom. The contaminant was discovered after routine inspection, no illnesses have been reported. Learn More
CannabisJanuary 26, 2020 Cannabis Market Urges Cultivators to Plan for Recalls The black market is heavy with products that are contaminated or dangerous to consumers. The cannabis market is urging cultivators to be prepared for a product recall knowing that the federal government is unable to aid in efforts since cannabis is still a federally illegal substance. Learn More
AutomotiveJanuary 19, 2020 BMW Releases Three Recalls Linked to Ongoing Air Bag Recall BMW is the latest of 14 automakers issuing a recall due to the, now bankrupt, Takeda air bag inflator recall announced earlier this month. BMW’s recall covers 357,000 vehicles manufactured between 2000 through 2015. Included are various 3-Series, 1 Series, and SUV models. Learn More