Bill · S. 294· Senate(119-S-294)
COOL Online Act
- Introduced
- 1/29/2025
- Last activity
- 1/29/2025 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- Sponsored by
- Tammy Baldwin
- Cosponsors
- - 0 - 1
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The "Country Of Origin Labeling Online Act" requires specific disclosures for new products of foreign origin sold on the internet. Under this bill, websites must conspicuously display the product's country of origin and the country where the seller's principal place of business is located. Certain items, such as specific agricultural products, food, drugs under FDA jurisdiction, and used articles, are excluded from these requirements. Small sellers with annual sales under $20,000 and fewer than 200 sales are also exempt. The Federal Trade Commission is tasked with enforcing these rules as unfair or deceptive acts or practices.
Yes· 3 of 4
Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices?+5
The bill requires conspicuous disclosure of country of origin and seller location to prevent consumer deception.
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?+3
The bill mandates public disclosure of product origins and business locations on digital platforms.
Does this make health care easier to get in general?+2
The bill enhances transparency regarding the manufacturer or distributor of certain drug products sold online.
The opposite
Would business owners be better off under this?-3
The bill imposes new mandatory disclosure and compliance burdens on manufacturers and sellers.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Increased Transparency for Consumers: The bill requires that the country of origin and the seller's principal place of business be displayed in a conspicuous place on internet websites (Section 2(a)(1)(A)). This ensures buyers know where their products come from and where the seller is located.
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Protection for Specific Drug Products: For certain drugs, the law requires the name and place of business of the manufacturer, packer, or distributor to be clearly shown (Section 2(a)(2)).
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Safe Harbor for Retailers: Retailers can meet their obligations by using information provided by third-party manufacturers, importers, or suppliers (Section 2(a)(4)).
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Liability Protections: Retailers and sellers are not held in violation if they rely in good faith on false or deceptive representations provided by a third party, provided they take immediate action to remove the false info upon notice (Section 2(c)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Compliance Burdens for Sellers: Manufacturers, importers, distributors, and sellers are obligated to provide the required origin and business location information to relevant retailers (Section 2(a)(3)).
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Regulatory Penalties: Violations of the disclosure requirements are treated as unfair or deceptive acts or practices, which are subject to the enforcement powers and penalties of the Federal Trade Commission (Section 2(b)(1)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Economy And Finance
- Improves Consumer Protection+5
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Business Owners-3
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Government Transparency+3
- Healthcare
- Improves Healthcare Access+2
- Education And Technology
- Improves Internet Access+1
- 1/29/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Rick ScottRepublican · Florida