2345 Crystal Drive · Suite 800 · Arlington, VA 22202-4801 ·
Tel: 202-452-8444 · Fax: 202-429-4519
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2345 Crystal Drive · Suite 800 · Arlington, VA 22202-4801 ·
Tel: 202-452-8444 · Fax: 202-429-4519
|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FMI Applauds House Judiciary Subcommittee Hearing on Legislation to Combat Organized Retail Crime
ARLINGTON, VA — September 22, 2008 — The Food Marketing Institute (FMI) praised U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA), chairman of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security, for holding a hearing on legislative solutions to the burgeoning problem of organized retail crime (ORC).Scott introduced the E-Fencing Enforcement Act of 2008 last month (H.R. 6713), which addresses e-fencing or reselling stolen goods over the Internet. A measure sponsored by U.S. Reps. Brad Ellsworth (D-IN) and Jim Jordan (R-OH), the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2008” (H.R. 6491), calls for a comprehensive solution to ORC and the resale of stolen or fraudulently obtained merchandise through internet auction sites, flea markets, pawn shops, swap meets and shady retail storefronts. Richard Durbin (IL), the second-ranking Democrat in the Senate, introduced a companion measure to the Ellsworth-Jordan bill (S. 3434).
“The growing congressional support for legislation to combat organized retail crime and e-fencing is critical to ensure these criminals face stiff penalties. ORC rings sweep shelves clean of infant formula, over-the-counter medicines, razors and many other products. They cross states lines and increasingly resell these products on internet auction sites that shield their identities. We need a federal law to expose and severely punish these criminals,” said John J. Motley III, FMI senior vice president of government and public affairs.
“The most serious victims are consumers. They pay higher prices for stolen products as retailers try to recover their losses. Consumer health and safety are at risk when ORC gangs store stolen infant formula and medicines in unsafe conditions and repackage them to falsely extend expiration dates,” he said.
Organized crime gangs steal and resell as much as $30 billion in retail products each year, according to federal authorities.
These crimes drain state budgets as well. ORC losses cost the 46 states that have a sales tax approximately $1.6 billion each year in lost tax revenue, according to the Coalition Against Organized Retail Crime.
For more information, visit the coalition website at http://www.stopretailcrime.com.
FOR MORE INFO:
Food Marketing Institute (FMI) conducts programs in public affairs, food safety, research, education and industry relations on behalf of its 1,500 member companies - food retailers and wholesalers - in the United States and around the world. FMI's U.S. members operate approximately 26,000 retail food stores and 14,000 pharmacies. Their combined annual sales volume of $680 billion represents three-quarters of all retail food store sales in the United States. FMI's retail membership is composed of large multi-store chains, regional firms and independent supermarkets. Its international membership includes 200 companies from more than 50 countries. FMI's associate members include the supplier partners of its retail and wholesale members.
