BBB National Programs’ Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council and Direct Selling Association Urge Caution Regarding Health-Related Product Claims
Contact: Jim Boyle, BBB National Programs, 571.213.3979 | jboyle@bbbnp.org
In Age of COVID-19, This Timely Effort Will Help “Maintain the Integrity of Direct Selling”
Arlington, VA — April 7, 2020 — As the United States deals with the unprecedented health crisis caused by the novel coronavirus, BBB National Programs’ Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council (DSSRC), and the Direct Selling Association (DSA) today urged all direct selling companies and their salesforces to ensure all claims made about health-related products are accurate.
- Treat, alleviate, or cure the symptoms of COVID-19
- Prevent symptoms of COVID-19
- Boost or improve immune function to prevent COVID-19
- Eliminate all traces of COVID-19
As the impact of the coronavirus spreads, BBB National Programs’ DSSRC has already reached out to several direct selling companies to address COVID-19 claims and other health-related representations and continues to be vigilant in its monitoring of the marketplace. DSSRC Vice President Peter Marinello recommends that if any direct selling company becomes aware of any COVID-19 or other problematic health-related claims, it should visit https://bbbprograms.org/docs/default-source/dssrc/filing-a-dssrc-challenge.pdf to bring these claims to the attention of DSSRC.
About BBB National Programs’ Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council (DSSRC)
In 2019, the Direct Selling Association (DSA) and BBB National Programs announced the creation of the Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council (DSSRC), a program designed to enhance consumer confidence in direct selling advertising and marketing practices, offer the direct selling industry an expeditious system for review of that advertising and marketing, and discourage advertising and marketing in the direct selling industry that communicates unsubstantiated claims. For more information about the Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council and its commitment to truthful and accurate advertising, please visit https://bbbprograms.org/dssrc
About BBB National Programs
BBB National Programs is a non-profit that fosters trust, innovation, and competition in the marketplace through the development and delivery of cost-effective, third-party self-regulation, dispute resolution and other programs. BBB National Programs is where businesses turn to enhance consumers’ trust and consumers are heard. BBB National Programs is the home of leading industry self-regulatory and dispute resolution programs that include the National Advertising Division (NAD), National Advertising Review Board (NARB), BBB EU Privacy Shield, BBB AUTO LINE, Children’s Advertising Review Unit (CARU), Children’s Food and Beverage Advertising Initiative (CFBAI), Children’s Confection Advertising Initiative (CCAI), Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council (DSSRC), Digital Advertising Accountability Program (Accountability Program), and the Coalition for Better Advertising Dispute Resolution Program (CBA DRM). The programs are designed to resolve business issues and advance shared objectives by responding to marketplace concerns to create a better customer experience. To learn more about industry self-regulation, please visit: BBBNP.org.
About the Direct Selling Association
The Direct Selling Association is the national trade association for companies that offer entrepreneurial opportunities to independent sellers to market and sell products and services, typically outside of a fixed retail establishment. In 2018, direct selling took place across the United States, generating $35.4 billion in retail sales. More than six million entrepreneurs in the U.S. are selling products or services through the direct selling channel, providing a personalized buying experience for more than 36.6 million customers. For more about the DSA visit www.dsa.org.
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