NACDS is applauding the inclusion of the Integrity, Notification, and Fairness in Online Retail Marketplaces for Consumers (INFORM Consumers) Act in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 omnibus appropriations bill. President Biden signed the omnibus package into law on Thursday, December 29.
Inclusion of the INFORM Consumers Act marks a major bipartisan step toward curbing the organized retail crime networks jeopardizing Americans’ safety.
Importantly, the legislation establishes a national standard, enforced by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and State Attorneys General, that will help safeguard online consumers from illicit products and fraud by promoting the transparency and accountability of “high-volume third-party” sellers in online marketplaces.
It will also help protect in-store consumers and store teams from criminal activity.
NACDS President and CEO Steven C. Anderson said of the news:
“We salute Congress for their active role in prioritizing consumer health and safety. Organized retail crime is a serious problem for NACDS members and their team members, for customers and for communities nationwide. Inclusion of this bipartisan legislation in the omnibus bill is important progress toward a solution. NACDS looks forward to continuing work with the 118th Congress on this issue, as well as on other key priorities that directly impact patients and consumers and the pharmacies that serve them.”
The Buy Safe America Coalition — of which NACDS is a member — has advocated proactively for the INFORM Consumers Act. The Coalition is a diverse group of retailers, consumer groups, manufacturers, law enforcement officials, e-commerce platforms and more.
NACDS has long supported the bipartisan legislation:
In March 2021, the INFORM Consumers Act was among the legislative priorities advanced by NACDS during its virtual NACDS RxIMPACT Day on Capitol Hill advocacy event. Shortly thereafter, Morning Consult published a NACDS opinion piece urging the introduction of the legislation.
In June 2022, Drug Store News published a NACDS opinion piece calling on Congress to help stamp out organized retail crime before year’s end.
