Request for public comments on the inter-agency anti-counterfeiting working group

The Federal Government is currently undertaking a significant effort to eliminate counterfeit products from the U.S. Government supply chain. In June 2010, Vice President Biden and White House Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator, Victoria Espinel, announced the Joint Strategic Plan on Intellectual Property Enforcement, laying out a coordinated government-wide approach to strengthening intellectual property enforcement and directing the establishment of an inter-agency working group. Recent reports issued by the Department of Commerce and the Government Accountability Office have found that counterfeits have infiltrated many sectors of the U.S. Government supply chain and have the potential to cause serious disruptions in national defense, critical infrastructure and other vital applications. This working group will develop a framework for reducing vulnerability to counterfeits that is flexible enough to accommodate the wide variety of missions across Federal agencies. This cross-functional working group will identify any gaps in legal authority, regulation, policy and guidance that undermine the security of U.S. Government supply chain from counterfeit parts. The working group’s examination will include reviewing current industry standards, the ability of prime contractors and their suppliers to authenticate or trace at-risk items to the original manufacturer, government evaluation and detection capabilities and limitations, and contractual enforcement of authenticity.

The Executive Office of the President, Office of Management and Budget is requesting written submissions from the public with comments regarding the Inter-Agency Anti-Counterfeiting Working Group. Submissions must be received on or before September 16, 2011 at 5 p.m.  Public comment should be electronically submitted to http://www.regulations.gov, docket number OMB–2011–0003. The regulations.gov website is a Federal E–Government website that allows the public to find, review and submit comments on documents that agencies have published in the Federal Register and that are open for comment. If you are unable to provide submissions to http://www.regulations.gov, please contact James Schuelke at (202) 395–1808 to arrange for an alternate method of transmission. Submissions filed via the regulations.gov Web site will be available to the public for review and inspection. If you want to submit confidential business information that supports your comments, please contact Michael Lewis at intellectualproperty@omb.eop.gov.  For further information contact Michael Lewis, Office of the Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator, at (202) 395–1808.

For more information about the Inter-Agency Anti-Counterfeiting Working Group or to submit a comment, please follow the links below.
Inter-Agency Anti-Counterfeiting Working Group, Federal Register, Vol. 76, No. 153, p. 48905
Submit a comment at Regulations.gov.


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