Feds seize 93 sinks over unauthorized certification marks

One small step against counterfeiting, one giant leap for the plumbing industry. 

What’s happening: On April 27, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Area Port of Norfolk – Newport News, Virginia, inspected a shipment of 93 sinks that came from China and were destined for Colorado. 

• They were unable to locate the sink’s model number in a product directory owned by the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO), so they detained the goods. 
• CBP’s Intellectual Property Enforcement Branch determined that a mark on the sinks — an IAPMO shield indicating that a plumbing product has been certified to meet the safety and performance standards of the Uniform Plumbing Code — was unauthorized. 

What they’re saying: “Unscrupulous vendors victimize consumers by selling inferior products, like these sinks with unauthorized UPC Shield marks,” said Area Port Director Keri Brady, “and then leave the consumer hanging when the consumer quickly learns that the counterfeit sink’s failure is not covered by warranty.”

• “Intercepting counterfeit goods is a Customs and Border Protection trade enforcement priority and a mission that we take very seriously,” she added. 

The big picture: Plumbing manufacturers have urged the federal government to crack down on counterfeit and knockoff products in the marketplace, as Homepros previously reported. 

• In fiscal 2025, U.S. authorities seized roughly $20 million worth of counterfeit goods every day.