Registration Rules

Part 500. Proceedings to Deny, Condition, Suspend and Revoke Registration

RULE 502. GENERAL PROVISIONS.

[Adopted effective April 4, 1988. Effective dates of amendments: December 10, 1993; August 1, 1994; July 1, 2001; June 8, 2007; December 10, 2007; September 30, 2010; September 15, 2017 and June 30, 2020.]

(a) For purposes of any proceeding to deny, condition, suspend, or revoke registration, service upon an applicant or registrant will be sufficient if mailed by certified mail return receipt requested, delivered to a generally recognized overnight courier service or delivered to a messenger service, properly addressed to the applicant or registrant at the address shown on his most recent registration application or any amendment thereto. Service will be complete upon mailing, delivery to a generally recognized overnight courier service or delivery to a messenger service. Where a party effects service by mail, the time within which the person served may respond thereto shall be increased by three days.

(b) A copy of any notice served in accordance with paragraph (a) of this Rule shall also be served upon:

(1) any sponsor of the applicant or registrant, if the applicant or registrant is an individual registered as or applying for registration as an AP and such sponsor's guarantor, if any; or

(2) any FCM which has entered into a guarantee agreement pursuant to CFTC Regulation 1.10(j) with an applicant or registrant applying for registration as or registered as an IB; or

(3) any RFED which has entered into a guarantee agreement pursuant to CFTC Regulation 1.10(j) with an applicant or registrant applying for registration as, or registered as, an IB; or

(4) any contract market or SEF that has granted or is reviewing an application for trading privileges if the applicant or registrant is an FTF, FB or FT.

(c) Documents served by an applicant or registrant upon NFA under this Part 500 shall be considered served or filed only upon actual receipt by the Legal Docketing Department of National Futures Association, 320 South Canal, Suite 2400, Chicago, Illinois 60606.

(d) Documents may also be served by facsimile to the attention of the Legal Docketing Department or by email to Docketing@nfa.futures.org. Parties who file documents by electronic means thereby consent to accept service of pleadings in the proceedings by the same method and waive any objection based on authenticity and genuineness to the use and admissibility into evidence in the proceeding of any document that they file by electronic means. The first document that a party files by electronic means must identify that party's e-mail address or facsimile number at which NFA may serve pleadings in the proceeding. Parties who provide an e-mail address or facsimile number must advise Legal Docketing of any change to the e-mail address or facsimile number.

(e) Except as otherwise provided by law or these Rules, for good cause shown, the Membership Committee or a designated Subcommittee before whom a proceeding brought under these Part 500 Rules is then pending, on their own motion or motion of a party, may at any time extend or shorten the time limit prescribed by such Rules for filing any document. In any instance in which a time limit is not prescribed for an action to be taken concerning any matter, the Membership Committee or a designated Subcommittee may set a time limit for that action.