近日，美国直销协会（DSA）在华盛顿主持召开了年度法律及规管研讨会。

　　此次研讨会邀请了行业领袖共同讨论影响直销事业的相关法律和监督管理事项，以及企业和组织机构的最佳应对措施。

　　直销协会与处在这些重要问题前沿的政府官员和代理机构建立起合作关系，同时也乐于引领他们分享意见并提供最新的信息动态。

　　在会议现场，参会者听取了联邦贸易委员会(FTC)消费者保护局主管Andrew Smith的发言，Smith在发言中重申了联邦贸易委员会对于直销行业的支持。

　　“对于联邦贸易委员会是否改变了对于多层次营销的立场，其答案是否定的——多层次营销将继续维持其合法的地位，对于直销模式而言并不存在所谓固有的非法因素在其中，”Smith主管表示，“我个人认为，多层次营销对于传统零售而言在多方面都具有其优势，前者通过直接连接商家和消费者使得企业能直面消费者，并为其提供更好的服务。这一点对于传统零售模式而言，可能很难达到。”

　　在会议上，多个与直销有着重要关联领域的政府机构官员，在130多名参会者前发表了多项演讲。食品和药物管理局食品政策办公室高级顾问Sharon Lindan Mayl、美国商务部国际贸易管理局工业和分析局助理秘书长Nazak Nikahtar、美国劳工部政策局副助理部长Alison Kilmartin等都发表了主题演讲。

　　此外，研讨会就直销行业劳动力创新、完善法律监督、改善经销商工作状态等方面进行了讨论，直销行业自律委员会(DSSRC)也发布了委员会成立首年的工作报告以及来年的工作计划。

　　美国直销协会总裁兼首席执行官约瑟夫·马里亚诺（Joseph N.Mariano）对于直销行业当前状态发表了评论，同时他也对行业未来的发展趋势进行了分享。

　　“我们目前正处在一个充满机遇和生机的时代。同时，毫无疑问的是法律和市场监管是直销行业未来发展中最重要的要素之一，并且一直贯穿于未来的发展之中。”约瑟夫·马里亚诺如是说。

　　在接下来的时间里，美国直销协会将继续联合政府相关官员与行业领袖积极沟通，共同为直销创建一个清晰和繁荣的发展环境。

　　DSA Brings Together Government Officials,Industry Leaders to Discuss Vital Issues for Direct Selling

　　On October 7–8,the Direct Selling Association(DSA)hosted its annual Legal and Regulatory Seminar in Washington,D.C.

　　The seminar brought together industry leaders to discuss legal and regulatory issues impacting the direct selling business and how companies and the Association are best positioned to respond.

　　The Association builds relationships with government officials and agencies who are at the forefront of these important issues and is always pleased to host them to share their opinions and updates directly.

　　Participants heard from Andrew Smith,director of the Bureau of Consumer Protection at the Federal Trade Commission(FTC).Mr.Smith provided an essential reaffirmation of the FTC’s support of direct selling.

　　“Whether the FTC has changed its position on multilevel marketing and the answer is an emphatic no:that multilevel marketing continues to be legal,that there’s nothing inherently unlawful about the direct selling model,”Smith said.“I personally think that multilevel marketing can be superior in many ways to traditional retailing in that it depends on a direct relationship between sellers and consumers and allows companies to reach consumers that they wouldn’t necessarily otherwise reach and it allows for sales to consumers and communities that might be underserved by traditional retail.”

　　A wide range of other government officials from departments and agencies with jurisdiction over issues important to direct selling addressed the more than 130 attendees.Sharon Lindan Mayl,senior advisor for Policy,Office of Food Policy from the Food and Drug Administration,presented the current legal status and the agency’s path forward on use and consumption of CBD;Nazak Nikahtar,assistant secretary for Industry and Analysis,United States Department of Commerce,International Trade Administration,updated attendees on trade agreements and the administration’s trade policy;and Alison Kilmartin,deputy assistant secretary for Policy,United States Department of Labor,listed the impressive accomplishments of the department on independent work and upcoming actions.

　　The seminar also had a discussion of independent work from founding members of the Coalition for Workforce Innovation;legal thought leaders discussed recent FTC enforcement actions;direct selling-focused attorneys discussed pressing legal issues;independent work professionals discussed updates on independent contractor status;and the Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council(DSSRC)examined the first year of the program and next steps.In addition to the content-rich program,industry general counsels and company compliance leads were able to participate in roundtable discussions discussing what’s keeping them up at night and how they are addressing these issues.

　　Joseph N.Mariano,president and chief executive officer for the DSA,commented on the state of direct selling and shared his thoughts for the industry going forward.

　　“What we are experiencing today are indeed interesting times,and it is clear that legal and regulatory matters are among the most important considerations that direct selling must consider as the industry envisions its course into the future,”Mariano said.

　　DSA will continue engaging with government officials and speaking with industry leaders throughout the year to create a clear and prosperous environment for direct selling.