In astatement from Amazon emailed to USA Today, a spokesperson said: “Amazon strictly prohibits the sale of counterfeit products. We invest heavily in prevention, take proactive steps to drive counterfeits to zero, and work with and empower brands through programs like Brand Registry, Transparency and Project Zero.” The Amazon spokesperson also toldUSA Today: “Counterfeit is an age-old problem, but one that we will continue to fight and innovate on to protect customers, brands and sellers."
NPA's Dr. Fabricant noted that the Association is still working to get information on the exact the problems Amazon is dealing with in regard to the counterfeit warnings, but added that there is "a much more systematic approach to protecting consumers from bad actors." Dr. Farbricant pointed to theSupplement Safety and Compliance Initiative(SSCI), which was founded by Wal-Mart, GNC, Vitamin Shoppe, and Whole Foods Market.
For more on SSCI: NPA Launches Game-Changing SSCI Initiative SSCI Praised Across Industry Summits
"We met with Amazon over a year ago to encourage their participation in the Supplement Safety and Compliance Initiative, to play a role, industry-wide to establish a system of continuous improvement, that manufacturers and distributors must meet or exceed to be accepted in major retailers," Dr. Fabricant explained. We’re confident that NPA membership and all of the benefits and information that comes with it could offer Amazon a more streamlined approach to handling bad actors.”Related: Tracking Transparency: The Amazon Effect on Dietary Supplements Amazon Supplement Buyer Beware: Natural Retail Knows Better
