Direct Selling Self-Regulation Council

DSSRC Case Decisions and Administrative Closures

Case Decisions

DSSRC Administrative Closure #83

The Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council (DSSRC) contacted a direct selling company (“Company”) regarding three Facebook posts disseminated by the Company’s salesforce members that expressly associated the immune system support benefits provided by its products to the treatment of and/or protection against the coronavirus. One post, for example, claimed that the Company’s products helped him “overcome the coronavirus.” As DSSRC has stated in previous inquiries pertaining to coronavirus product performance claims,  the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization and the Food Drug Administration have all stated that there are no approved vaccines, drugs or investigational products currently available to treat or prevent COVID-19. 

Shortly after receipt of the inquiry, the Company informed DSSRC that it contacted the salesforce members responsible for the posts and had the Facebook posts disabled. In addition, the Company provided DSSRC with copies of the letters sent to salesforce members indicating that the posts contained statements that were in violation of Company Policy. 

DSSRC expressed its appreciation to the Company for its voluntary efforts and good faith actions to address DSSRC’s concerns.

Based upon the Company’s immediate remedial actions to address DSSRC’s concerns, the inquiry was administratively closed pursuant to section 2(II)(6) of the DSSRC Procedures. 

(closed on 10/21/2020)
 

 

 

 

Administrative Closure Summaries

 

DSSRC Administrative Closure #83

The Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council (DSSRC) contacted a direct selling company (“Company”) regarding three Facebook posts disseminated by the Company’s salesforce members that expressly associated the immune system support benefits provided by its products to the treatment of and/or protection against the coronavirus. One post, for example, claimed that the Company’s products helped him “overcome the coronavirus.” As DSSRC has stated in previous inquiries pertaining to coronavirus product performance claims,  the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization and the Food Drug Administration have all stated that there are no approved vaccines, drugs or investigational products currently available to treat or prevent COVID-19. 

Shortly after receipt of the inquiry, the Company informed DSSRC that it contacted the salesforce members responsible for the posts and had the Facebook posts disabled. In addition, the Company provided DSSRC with copies of the letters sent to salesforce members indicating that the posts contained statements that were in violation of Company Policy. 

DSSRC expressed its appreciation to the Company for its voluntary efforts and good faith actions to address DSSRC’s concerns.

Based upon the Company’s immediate remedial actions to address DSSRC’s concerns, the inquiry was administratively closed pursuant to section 2(II)(6) of the DSSRC Procedures. 

(closed on 10/21/2020)

DSSRC Administrative Closure #83

The Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council (DSSRC) contacted a direct selling company (“Company”) regarding three Facebook posts disseminated by the Company’s salesforce members that expressly associated the immune system support benefits provided by its products to the treatment of and/or protection against the coronavirus. One post, for example, claimed that the Company’s products helped him “overcome the coronavirus.” As DSSRC has stated in previous inquiries pertaining to coronavirus product performance claims,  the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization and the Food Drug Administration have all stated that there are no approved vaccines, drugs or investigational products currently available to treat or prevent COVID-19. 

Shortly after receipt of the inquiry, the Company informed DSSRC that it contacted the salesforce members responsible for the posts and had the Facebook posts disabled. In addition, the Company provided DSSRC with copies of the letters sent to salesforce members indicating that the posts contained statements that were in violation of Company Policy. 

DSSRC expressed its appreciation to the Company for its voluntary efforts and good faith actions to address DSSRC’s concerns.

Based upon the Company’s immediate remedial actions to address DSSRC’s concerns, the inquiry was administratively closed pursuant to section 2(II)(6) of the DSSRC Procedures. 

(closed on 10/21/2020)