Contact: Paula Weis
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PLASTICS INDUSTRY PRAISES SENATE PASSAGE OF COUNTERFEITING LAW

WASHINGTON (November 14, 2005) - The Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc. (SPI) today thanked the Senate for passing the Stop Counterfeiting in Manufactured Goods Act (S.1699), which will toughen current anti-counterfeiting laws and help keep fake or shoddy merchandise - including plastic components and other products - off the streets and store shelves.

The legislation would prohibit the production of counterfeit labels, patches, stickers, hang tags, or medallions that are unattached to goods, and would require law enforcement to forfeit and destroy counterfeit goods and the assets used to produce, package and distribute them. The bill is nearly identical to H.R. 32, which was passed by the House of Representatives in May.

"We urge the House and Senate to reconcile their legislation and send it to President Bush for his signature as soon as possible," said Karen Tolliver, SPI's senior director for trade. "Counterfeiting is a huge issue in the plastics industry, for all segments of the industry, from machinery makers to processors of finished plastic products. It hurts our members, and ultimately it hurts consumers."

SPI is among the 105 trade associations and companies that supported this legislation through the Coalition Against Counterfeiting and Piracy (CACP), a group led jointly by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Manufacturers.

Founded in 1937, The Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc., is the trade association representing one of the largest manufacturing industries in the United States. SPI's members represent the entire plastics industry supply chain, including processors, machinery and equipment manufacturers and raw materials suppliers. The U.S. plastics industry employs 1.3 million workers and provides nearly $345 billion in annual shipments. For more information, visit SPI on the Web at www.plasticsindustry.org.

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