Registration Rules

Part 700. Procedures Governing Access to and Certification of Registration Records Maintained by NFA

RULE 701. DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION FROM REGISTRATION RECORDS MAINTAINED BY NFA.

[Adopted effective April 4, 1988. Effective dates of amendments: June 8, 1988; July 29, 1988; September 21, 1993; May 31, 2002; September 9, 2002; September 30, 2010; July 18, 2012 and September 15, 2017.]

(a) Definitions.

(1) Registration Records. For purposes of Rules 701 and 702, the term registration records shall be defined to include only the following types of records which are in the custody of or maintained by NFA because such records were transferred from the Commission to NFA or because such records have been received, generated, or compiled by NFA in performance of registration functions which NFA is authorized or required by the Commission to perform pursuant to Sections 8a(10) or 17(o) of the Act:

(A) any application forms required to be filed to obtain registration, including any Form 8-R with respect to FTOEs or with respect to principals of an applicant or registrant, any schedules or supplements related to such forms, any fingerprint cards, any financial reports, statements and agreements required to be filed in connection with initial applications for registration;

(B) any supplemental statement or filings to correct or update any registration information submitted in a previous filing or to give notice of termination of association of an AP or affiliation of a principal;

(C) any written or electronic correspondence relating to registration between the Commission or NFA and an applicant or registrant;

(D) reports reflecting information developed from sources outside the Commission or NFA compiled or generated in connection with determining fitness for registration or affiliation as a principal; and

(E) reports from foreign governments and self-regulatory organizations and agreements appointing an agent for service of process if such reports and agreements are filed with NFA for the purpose of obtaining an exemption from registration, and any transmittal forms, cover letters or supplemental materials relating to such filings.

(2) Registration Information. For purposes of Rules 701 and 702, the term registration information shall be defined as any information contained in, compiled from or related to registration records.

(b) Disclosure of Public Information.

(1) If any member of the public requests access to registration records, or portions thereof, and the requested record, or portion, is "public" or "publicly available" under CFTC Regulations 1.10(g), 145.0(c) or 145.6(b), then NFA will release that record or portion to the requester.

(2) NFA may charge any member of the public a copying fee, not to exceed the fee charged by the Commission, for any copies of registration records provided by NFA directly to the requester.

(c) Disclosure of Non-Public Information. Requests for access to registration records, or portions thereof, not subject to disclosure as public or publicly available under paragraph (b)(1) of this Rule shall be referred or transmitted to the Commission for response; except that, NFA will disclose such records or portion thereof:

(1) to any person with whom an applicant or registrant is or plans to be associated as an AP or affiliated as a principal or with whom an individual is or plans on being associated as a Swap AP: Provided, however, that the person requesting the information makes an appropriate showing to NFA that the requester is the employer or prospective employer of the particular applicant, registrant, or principal;

(2) to any FCM or RFED with whom an IB, whether an applicant or registrant, has or plans to enter into a guarantee agreement under CFTC Regulation 1.10: Provided, however, that the FCM or RFED makes an appropriate showing as to its status as the IB's guarantor or proposed guarantor;

(3) to boards of trade designated as contract markets or registered as SEFs to any other futures associations registered with the Commission to assist those organizations in carrying out their responsibilities under the Act, or to national securities exchanges or national securities associations registered with the SEC to assist those organizations in carrying out their responsibilities under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934: Provided, however, that if a request is made in connection with a formal or apparent investigation or proceeding, NFA will notify the Commission of the request;

(4) to federal, state or local law enforcement or regulatory agencies acting within the scope of their jurisdiction or for their use in meeting responsibilities assigned to them under law (to the same extent that the Commission may disclose such registration information under Sections 8(e) and 8(g) of the Act): Provided, however, that if a request is made in connection with a formal or apparent investigation or proceeding, NFA will notify the Commission of the request;

(5) pursuant to an order of a court of competent jurisdiction; except that, subpoenas and summonses covering non-public portions of registration records and copies of the non-public records shall be promptly forwarded to the Commission to enable the Commission to consult with NFA on how to proceed;

(6) otherwise with the authorization of the Assistant Secretary of the Commission for FOI, Privacy and Sunshine Act Compliance or his or her designee, or the General Counsel of the Commission or his or her designee, in accordance with CFTC Regulations 145.7(b), (h) and (i); the Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. § 552; and the Privacy Act, 5 U.S.C. § 552a; and

(7) to any individual or firm, or person acting on behalf of the individual or firm, who seeks access to registration records, excluding any records defined under Section (a)(1)(D) above, in connection with that individual's or firm's application for registration: Provided, however, that NFA receives proper verification of the identity and authority of the party requesting the records.