Danger at the Tap: A Reckoning on Counterfeit Plumbing.
In May, Aaron Bores of Fortune Brands, parent company of Moen Inc., testified before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Intellectual Property, warning that counterfeit plumbing products are entering American homes and putting consumers at risk. Independent testing conducted by IAPMO on top selling off brand faucets and valves revealed widespread failures, including excessive lead leaching, hazardous chemical exposure, and shower valves that failed critical scald protection standards. Many of the products were sophisticated replicas, complete with counterfeit logos and fake certification marks.
The findings prompted swift action from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, including public warnings and a recall of more than 100,000 imported kitchen faucets sold online. The issue has sparked national media attention and renewed focus on the importance of third party certification and verified compliance. Read the full article to learn more about the testing results, federal response, and what this means for our industry.