Title 17—Commodity and Securities Exchanges--Volume 1
PART 48—REGISTRATION OF FOREIGN BOARDS OF TRADE
§ 48.1   Scope.
The provisions of this part apply to any foreign board of trade that is registered, required to be registered, or applying to become registered with the Commission in order to provide its identified members or other participants located in the United States with direct access to its electronic trading and order matching system.
§ 48.2   Definitions.
For purposes of this part:
(a) Foreign board of trade. Foreign board of trade means any board of trade, exchange or market located outside the United States, its territories or possessions, whether incorporated or unincorporated.
(b) Foreign board of trade eligible to be registered. A foreign board of trade eligible to be registered means a foreign board of trade that satisfies the requirements for registration specified in § 48.7 and:
(1) Possesses the attributes of an established, organized exchange,
(2) Adheres to appropriate rules prohibiting abusive trading practices,
(3) Enforces appropriate rules to maintain market and financial integrity,
(4) Has been authorized by a regulatory process that examines customer and market protections, and
(5) Is subject to continued oversight by a regulator that has power to intervene in the market and the authority to share information with the Commission.
(c) Direct access. Direct access means an explicit grant of authority by a foreign board of trade to an identified member or other participant located in the United States to enter trades directly into the trade matching system of the foreign board of trade.
(d) Linked contract. Linked contract means a futures, option or swap contract that is made available for trading by direct access by a registered foreign board of trade that settles against any price (including the daily or final settlement price) of one or more contracts listed for trading on a registered entity as defined in section 1a(40) of the Act.
(e) Communications. Communications means any written or electronic documentation or correspondence issued by or on behalf of the Commission, the United States Department of Justice, or the National Futures Association.
(f) Material change. Material change means a material change in the information provided to the Commission in support of an application for registration under this part. Subsequent to registration, material change also includes a material change in the operations of the foreign board of trade or its clearing organization and, without limitation, a change in any of the following: The membership or participant criteria of the foreign board of trade or its clearing organization; the location of the management, personnel or operations of the foreign board of trade or its clearing organization; the structure, nature, or operation of the trading or clearing systems; the regulatory or self-regulatory regime applicable to the foreign board of trade, its clearing organization, or their respective members and other participants; the authorization, licensure, registration or recognition of the foreign board of trade or clearing organization; and the ability of the clearing organization to observe the Recommendations for Central Counterparties.
(g) Clearing organization. Clearing organization means the foreign board of trade, affiliate of the foreign board of trade or any third party clearing house, clearing association, clearing corporation or similar entity, facility or organization that, with respect to any agreement, contract or transaction executed on or through the foreign board of trade, would be:
(1) Defined as a derivatives clearing organization under section 1a(15) of the Act; or
(2) Defined as a central counterparty by the Recommendations for Central Counterparties.
(h) Swap. Swap means a swap as defined in section 1a(47) of the Act and any Commission regulation further defining the term adopted thereunder.
(i) Recommendations for Central Counterparties. Recommendations for Central Counterparties means:
(1) The current Recommendations for Central Counterparties issued jointly by the Committee on Payment and Settlement Systems and the Technical Committee of the International Organization of Securities Commissions as updated, revised or otherwise amended; or
(2) Successor standards, principles and guidance for central counterparties or financial market infrastructures adopted jointly by the Technical Committee of the International Organization of Securities Commissions and the Committee on Payment and Settlement Systems.
(j) Affiliate. An affiliate of a registered foreign board of trade member or other participant means any person, as that term is defined in section 1a(38) of the Act, that:
(1) Owns 50% or more of the member or other participant;
(2) Is owned 50% or more by the member or other participant; or
(3) Is owned 50% or more by a third person that also owns 50% or more of the member or other participant.
(k) Member or other participant. Member or other participant means a member or other participant of a foreign board of trade that is registered under this part and any affiliate thereof that has been granted direct access by the foreign board of trade.
§ 48.3   Registration required.
(a) Except as specified in this part, it shall be unlawful for a foreign board of trade to permit direct access to its electronic trading and order matching system unless and until the Commission has issued a valid and current Order of Registration to the foreign board of trade pursuant to the provisions of this part.
(b) It shall be unlawful for a foreign board of trade or the clearing organization to make false or misleading statements in or in connection with any application for registration under this part.
§ 48.4   Registration eligibility and scope.
(a) Only foreign boards of trade eligible to be registered, as defined in § 48.2(b) of this part, are eligible for registration with the Commission pursuant to this part.
(b) A foreign board of trade may apply for registration under this part in order to permit the members and other participants of the foreign board of trade that are located in the United States to enter trades directly into the trading and order matching system of the foreign board of trade, to the extent that such members or other participants are:
(1) Entering orders for the member's or other participant's proprietary accounts;
(2) Registered with the Commission as futures commission merchants and are submitting customer orders to the trading system for execution;
(3) Registered with the Commission as a commodity pool operator or commodity trading advisor, or are exempt from such registration pursuant to § 4.13 or § 4.14 of this chapter, and are submitting orders for execution on behalf of a United States pool that the member or other participant operates or an account of a United States customer for which the member or other participant has discretionary authority, respectively, provided that a futures commission merchant registered with the Commission as such or a firm exempt from such registration pursuant to § 30.10 of this chapter acts as clearing firm and guarantees, without limitation, all such trades of the commodity pool operator or commodity trading advisor effected through submission of orders to the trading system; or
(4) Registered with the Commission as introducing brokers and are submitting customer orders to the trading system for execution, provided that a futures commission merchant registered with the Commission as such or a firm exempt from such registration pursuant to § 30.10 of this chapter acts as a clearing firm and guarantees, without limitation, all trades of the introducing broker effected through submission of orders for United States customers to the trading system.
§ 48.5   Registration procedures.
(a) A foreign board of trade seeking registration with the Commission pursuant to this part must electronically file an application for registration with the Secretary of the Commission at its Washington DC headquarters at FBOTapplications@cftc.gov.
(b) A complete application for registration must include:
(1) A completed Form FBOT and Form Supplement S-1, as set forth in the appendix to this part, or any successor forms, and all information and documentation described in such forms; and
(2) Any additional information and documentation necessary, in the discretion of the Commission, to supplement the application including, but not limited to, documentation and information provided during the course of an on-site visit, as applicable, to the foreign board of trade, the clearing organization and the regulatory authority or authorities, to effectively demonstrate that the foreign board of trade and its clearing organization satisfy the registration requirements set forth in § 48.7.
(c) An applicant for registration must identify with particularity any information in the application that will be subject to a request for confidential treatment and must provide support for any request for confidential treatment pursuant to the procedures set forth in § 145.9 of this chapter.
(d) If, upon review, the Commission finds the application for registration to be complete, the Commission may approve or deny the application. In reviewing the application, the Commission will consider, among other things:
(1) Whether the foreign board of trade is eligible to be registered as defined in § 48.2(b) and;
(2) Whether the foreign board of trade and its clearing organization are subject to comprehensive supervision and regulation by the appropriate governmental authorities in their home country or countries that is comparable to the comprehensive supervision and regulation to which designated contract markets and derivatives clearing organizations are respectively subject under the Act, Commission regulations, and other applicable United States laws and regulations, if any, and;
(3) Any previous Commission findings that the foreign board of trade and its clearing organization are subject to comprehensive supervision and regulation by the appropriate government authorities in their home country or countries that is comparable to the comprehensive supervision and regulation to which designated contract markets and derivatives clearing organizations are subject under the Act, Commission regulations, and other applicable United States laws and regulations, if any; and
(4) Whether the foreign board of trade and its clearing organization have adequately demonstrated that they meet the requirements for registration specified in § 48.7.
(5) The Commission's determination that the foreign board of trade and its clearing organization are subject to comprehensive supervision and regulation by the appropriate government authorities in their home country or countries that is comparable to the comprehensive supervision and regulation to which designated contract markets and derivatives clearing organizations are subject will be based upon a principles-based review conducted in a manner consistent with this part 48 pursuant to which the Commission will look to determine if the government authorities support and enforce regulatory objectives in the oversight of the foreign board of trade and the clearing organization that are substantially equivalent to the regulatory objectives supported and enforced by the Commission in its oversight of designated contract markets and derivatives clearing organizations.
(e) If the Commission approves the application, the Commission will issue an Order of Registration. If the Commission does not approve the application, the Commission will, after appropriate notice and an opportunity to respond, issue a Notice of Action specifying that the application was not approved and setting forth the reasons therefor. The Commission, in its discretion, may impose conditions in the Order of Registration and may, after appropriate notice and an opportunity to respond, amend, suspend, or otherwise restrict the terms of an issued Order of Registration or issue an Order revoking registration.
(f) A foreign board of trade whose application is not approved may reapply for registration 360 days after the issuance of the Notice of Action if the foreign board of trade has addressed any deficiencies in its original application or facts and circumstances relevant to the Commission's review of the application have changed.
§ 48.6   [Reserved]
§ 48.7   Requirements for registration.
An applicant for registration must demonstrate that it and, where applicable, its clearing organization meet the following requirements. The registration requirements applicable to clearing organizations may alternatively be met by demonstrating that the clearing organization is registered and in good standing with the Commission as a derivatives clearing organization. The Commission, in its discretion, may request additional information and documentation in connection with an application for registration and an applicant for registration must provide promptly any such additional information or documentation. The Commission, in its discretion, also may impose additional registration requirements that the Commission deems necessary after appropriate notice and opportunity to respond.
(a) Foreign Board of Trade and Clearing Membership:
(1) The members and other participants of the foreign board of trade and its clearing organization are fit and proper and meet appropriate financial and professional standards;
(2) The foreign board of trade and its clearing organization have and enforce provisions to minimize and resolve conflicts of interest; and
(3) The foreign board of trade and its clearing organization have and enforce rules prohibiting the disclosure, both during and subsequent to service on a board or committee, of material non-public information obtained as a result of a member's or other participant's performance of duties as a member of their respective governing boards and significant committees.
(b) The Automated Trading System:
(1) The trading system complies with Principles for the Oversight of Screen-Based Trading Systems for Derivative Products developed by the Technical Committee of the International Organization of Securities Commissions,
(2) The trade matching algorithm matches trades fairly and timely,
(3) The audit trail captures all relevant data, including changes to orders, and audit trail data is securely maintained and available for an adequate time period,
(4) Adequate and appropriate trade data is made available to users and the public,
(5) The trading system has demonstrated reliability,
(6) Access to the trading system is secure and protected,
(7) There are adequate provisions for emergency operations and disaster recovery,
(8) Trading data is backed up to prevent loss of data, and
(9) Only those futures, option or swap contracts that have been identified to the Commission in the foreign board of trade's application for registration or permitted to be made available for trading by direct access pursuant to the procedures set forth in § 48.10 of this part are made available for trading by direct access.
(c) Terms and Conditions of Contracts to Be Made Available in the United States.
(1) Contracts must meet the following standards:
(i) Contracts must be futures, option or swap contracts that would be eligible to be traded on a designated contract market;
(ii) Contracts must be cleared;
(iii) Contracts must not be prohibited from being traded by United States persons; and
(iv) Contracts must not be readily susceptible to manipulation.
(2) Foreign futures and option contracts on non-narrow-based security indexes must have been certified by the Commission pursuant to the procedures set forth in § 30.13 of this chapter.
(3) Contracts that have the following characteristics must be specifically identified as having such characteristics:
(i) Contracts that are linked to a contract listed for trading on a registered entity as defined in section 1a(40) of the Act, and
(ii) Contracts that have any other relationship with a contract listed for trading on a registered entity (for example, if both the foreign board of trade's and the registered entity's contract settle to the price of the same third party-constructed index).
(d) Settlement and Clearing:
(1) The clearing organization observes the Recommendations for Central Counterparties or is registered with the Commission as a derivatives clearing organization, and
(2) The clearing organization is in good regulatory standing in its home country jurisdiction.
(e) The Regulatory Regimes Governing the Foreign Board of Trade and the Clearing Organization:
(1) The regulatory authorities provide comprehensive supervision and regulation of the foreign board of trade, the clearing organization, and the type of contracts to be made available through direct access that is comparable to the comprehensive supervision and regulation provided by the Commission to designated contract markets, derivatives clearing organizations and such contracts. That is, the regulatory authorities support and enforce regulatory objectives in the oversight of the foreign board of trade, clearing organization and the type of contracts that the foreign board of trade wishes to make available through direct access that are substantially equivalent to the regulatory objectives supported and enforced by the Commission in its oversight of designated contract markets, derivatives clearing organizations, and such products.
(2) The regulatory authorities engage in ongoing regulatory supervision and oversight of the foreign board of trade and its trading system, the clearing organization and its clearing system, and the members, intermediaries and other participants of the foreign board of trade and clearing organization, with respect to, among other things, market integrity, customer protection, clearing and settlement and the enforcement of the rules of the foreign board of trade and the clearing organization.
(3) The regulatory authorities have the power to share information directly with the Commission, upon request, including information necessary to evaluate the continued eligibility of the foreign board of trade for registration and to audit for compliance with the terms and conditions of the registration.
(4) The regulatory authorities have the power to intervene in the market.
(f) The Rules of the Foreign Board of Trade and the Clearing Organization and Enforcement Thereof:
(1) The foreign board of trade and its clearing organization have implemented and enforce rules to ensure compliance with the requirements of registration contained in this part;
(2) The foreign board of trade and its clearing organization have the capacity to detect, investigate, and sanction persons who violate their respective rules;
(3) The foreign board of trade and the clearing organization (or their respective regulatory authorities) have implemented and enforce disciplinary procedures that empower them to recommend and prosecute disciplinary actions for suspected rule violations, impose adequate sanctions for such violations, and provide adequate protections to charged parties pursuant to fair and clear standards;
(4) The foreign board of trade and its clearing organization are authorized by rule or by contractual agreement to obtain, from members and other participants, any information and cooperation necessary to conduct investigations, to effectively enforce their respective rules, and to ensure compliance with the conditions of registration;
(5) The foreign board of trade and its clearing organization have sufficient compliance staff and resources, including by delegation and/or outsourcing to a third party, to fulfill their respective regulatory responsibilities, including appropriate trade practice surveillance, real time market monitoring, market surveillance, financial surveillance, protection of customer funds, enforcement of clearing and settlement provisions and other compliance and regulatory responsibilities;
(6) The foreign board of trade has implemented and enforces rules with respect to access to the trading system and the means by which the connection thereto is accomplished;
(7) The foreign board of trade's audit trail captures and retains sufficient order and trade-related data to allow its compliance staff to detect trading and market abuses and to reconstruct all transactions within a reasonable period of time;
(8) The foreign board of trade has implemented and enforces rules prohibiting fraud and abusive trading practices including, but not limited to, wash sales and trading ahead;
(9) The foreign board of trade has the capacity to detect and deter, and has implemented and enforces rules relating to, market manipulation, attempted manipulation, price distortion, and other disruptions of the market; and
(10) The foreign board of trade has and enforces rules and procedures that ensure a competitive, open and efficient market and mechanism for executing transactions.
(g) Information Sharing:
(1) The regulatory authorities governing the activities of the foreign board of trade and the clearing organization are signatories to the International Organization of Securities Commissions Multilateral Memorandum of Understanding, or otherwise ensure that substitute information sharing arrangements that are satisfactory to the Commission are in place;
(2) The regulatory authorities governing the activities of the foreign board of trade and the clearing organization are signatories to the Declaration on Cooperation and Supervision of International Futures Exchanges and Clearing Organizations or otherwise commit, in writing, to share the types of information contemplated by the International Information Sharing Memorandum of Understanding and Agreement with the Commission;
(3) The foreign board of trade has executed the International Information Sharing Memorandum of Understanding and Agreement; and
(4) Pursuant to the conditions described in § 48.8(a)(6), the foreign board of trade and clearing organization agree to provide directly to the Commission, upon request, any information necessary, in the discretion of the Commission, to evaluate the continued eligibility and appropriateness of the foreign board of trade and the clearing organization, or their respective members or other participants for registration, to audit for and enforce compliance with the requirements and conditions of the registration, or to enable the Commission to carry out its duties under the Act and Commission regulations.
§ 48.8   Conditions of registration.
Upon registration under this part, and on an ongoing basis thereafter, the foreign board of trade and the clearing organization shall comply with the applicable conditions of registration set forth in this section and any additional conditions that the Commission deems necessary and may impose, in its discretion, and after appropriate notice and opportunity to respond. Such conditions could include, but are not limited to, additional conditions applicable to the listing of swap contracts. Continued registration is expressly conditioned upon satisfaction of these conditions.
(a) Specified conditions for maintaining registration. (1) Registration Requirements: The foreign board of trade and its clearing organization shall continue to satisfy all of the requirements for registration set forth in § 48.7.
(2) Regulatory Regime:
(i) The foreign board of trade will continue to satisfy the criteria for a regulated market or licensed exchange pursuant to the regulatory regime described in its application and will continue to be subject to oversight by the regulatory authorities described in its application.
(ii) The clearing organization will continue to satisfy the criteria for a regulated clearing organization pursuant to the regulatory regime described in the application for registration and will continue to be in good standing with the relevant regulatory authority.
(iii) The laws, systems, rules, and compliance mechanisms of the regulatory regime applicable to the foreign board of trade will continue to require the foreign board of trade to maintain fair and orderly markets; prohibit fraud, abuse, and market manipulation and other disruptions of the market; and provide that such requirements are subject to the oversight of appropriate regulatory authorities.
(3) Satisfaction of International Standards:
(i) The foreign board of trade will continue to comply with the Principles for the Oversight of Screen-Based Trading Systems for Derivative Products developed by the Technical Committee of the International Organization of Securities Commissions, as updated, revised, or otherwise amended, to the extent such principles do not contravene United States law.
(ii) The clearing organization will continue to:
(A) Be registered with the Commission as a derivatives clearing organization and be in compliance with the laws and regulations related thereto; or
(B) Observe the Recommendations for Central Counterparties.
(4) Restrictions on Direct Access:
(i) Only the foreign board of trade's identified members or other participants will have direct access to the foreign board of trade's trading system from the United States and the foreign board of trade will not provide, and will take reasonable steps to prevent, third parties from providing direct access to persons other than the identified members or other participants.
(ii) All orders that are transmitted to the foreign board of trade's trading system by a foreign board of trade's identified member or other participant that is operating pursuant to the foreign board of trade's registration will be solely for the member's or trading participant's own account unless such member or other participant is registered with the Commission as a futures commission merchant or such member or other participant is registered with the Commission as an introducing broker, commodity pool operator or commodity trading advisor, or is exempt from registration as a commodity pool operator or commodity trading advisor pursuant to § 4.13 or § 4.14 of this chapter, provided that a futures commission merchant registered with the Commission as such or a firm exempt from such registration pursuant to § 30.10 of this chapter acts as clearing firm and guarantees, without limitation, all trades of the introducing broker, commodity pool operator or commodity trading advisor effected through submission of orders for United States pools or customers to the trading system.
(5) Submission to Commission Jurisdiction:
(i) Prior to operating pursuant to registration under this part and on a continuing basis thereafter, a registered foreign board of trade will require that each current and prospective member or other participant that is granted direct access to the foreign board of trade's trading system and that is not registered with the Commission as a futures commission merchant, an introducing broker, a commodity trading advisor or a commodity pool operator, file with the foreign board of trade a written representation, executed by a person with the authority to bind the member or other participant, stating that as long as the member or other participant is authorized to enter orders directly into the trade matching system of the foreign board of trade, the member or other participant agrees to and submits to the jurisdiction of the Commission with respect to activities conducted pursuant to the registration.
(ii) The foreign board of trade and its clearing organization will file with the Commission a valid and binding appointment of an agent for service of process in the United States pursuant to which the agent is authorized to accept delivery and service of communications, as defined in § 48.2(e) issued by or on behalf of the Commission, the United States Department of Justice, or the National Futures Association.
(iii) The foreign board of trade, clearing organization, and each current and prospective member or other participant that is granted direct access to the foreign board of trade's trading system and that is not registered with the Commission as a futures commission merchant, an introducing broker, a commodity trading advisor, or a commodity pool operator will maintain with the foreign board of trade written representations, executed by persons with the authority to bind the entity making them, stating that as long as the foreign board of trade is registered under this part, the foreign board of trade, the clearing organization or member of either or other participant granted direct access pursuant to this part will provide, upon the request of the Commission, the United States Department of Justice and, if appropriate, the National Futures Association, prompt access to the entity's, member's, or other participant's original books and records or, at the election of the requesting agency, a copy of specified information containing such books and records, as well as access to the premises where the trading system is available in the United States.
(iv) The foreign board of trade will maintain all representations required pursuant to § 48.8(a)(5) as part of its books and records and make them available to the Commission upon request.
(6) Information Sharing:
(i) Information-sharing arrangements satisfactory to the Commission, including but not limited to those set forth in § 48.7(g), are in effect between the Commission and the regulatory authorities that govern the activities of both the foreign board of trade and the clearing organization.
(ii) The Commission is, in fact, able to obtain sufficient information regarding the foreign board of trade, the clearing organization, their respective members and participants and the activities related to the foreign board of trade's registration.
(iii) The foreign board of trade and its clearing organization, as applicable, will provide directly to the Commission any information necessary to evaluate the continued eligibility and appropriateness of the foreign board of trade for registration, the capability and determination to enforce compliance with the requirements and conditions of the registration, or to enable the Commission to carry out its duties under the Act and Commission regulations and to provide adequate protection to the public or United States registered entities.
(iv) In the event that the foreign board of trade and the clearing organization are separate entities, the foreign board of trade will require the clearing organization to enter into a written agreement in which the clearing organization is contractually obligated to promptly provide any and all information and documentation that may be required of the clearing organization under this regulation and such agreement shall be made available to the Commission, upon request.
(7) Monitoring for Compliance: The foreign board of trade and the clearing organization will employ reasonable procedures for monitoring and enforcing compliance with the specified conditions of its registration.
(8) On-Site Visits: The foreign board of trade and the clearing organization will permit and will cooperate with Commission staff with respect to on-site visits for the purpose of overseeing ongoing compliance of the foreign board of trade and the clearing organization with registration requirements and conditions of registration.
(9) Conditions Applicable to Swap Trading:
(i) The foreign board of trade will ensure that all transaction data relating to each swap transaction, including price and volume, are reported as soon as technologically practicable after execution of the swap transaction to a swap data repository that is either registered with the Commission or has an information sharing arrangement with the Commission.
(ii) The foreign board of trade will agree to coordinate with the Commission with respect to arrangements established to address cross market oversight issues involving swap trading, including surveillance, emergency actions and the monitoring of trading.
(b) Other continuing obligations. (1) Registered foreign boards of trade and their clearing organizations will continue to comply with the following obligations on an ongoing basis:
(i) The foreign board of trade will maintain the following updated information and submit such information to the Commission on at least a quarterly basis, not later than 30 days following the end of the quarter, and at any time promptly upon the request of a Commission representative, computed based upon separating buy sides and sell sides, in a format as determined by the Commission:
(A) For each contract available to be traded through the foreign board of trade's trading system;
( 1 ) The total trade volume originating from electronic trading devices providing direct access;
( 2 ) The total trade volume for such contracts traded through the trading system worldwide;
( 3 ) The total trade volume for such contracts traded on the foreign board of trade generally; and
(B) A listing of the names, National Futures Association identification numbers (if applicable), and main business addresses in the United States of all members and other participants that have direct access.
(ii) The foreign board of trade will promptly provide to the Commission written notice of the following:
(A) Any material change to the information provided in the foreign board of trade's registration application.
(B) Any material change in the rules of the foreign board of trade or clearing organization or the laws, rules, or regulations in the home country jurisdictions of the foreign board of trade or clearing organization relevant to futures, option or swap contracts made available by direct access.
(C) Any matter known to the foreign board of trade, the clearing organization or its representatives that, in the judgment of the foreign board of trade or clearing organization, may affect the financial or operational viability of the foreign board of trade or its clearing organization with respect to contracts traded by direct access, including, but not limited to, any significant system failure or interruption.
(D) Any default, insolvency, or bankruptcy of any foreign board of trade member or other participant that is or should be known to the foreign board of trade or its representatives or the clearing organization or its representatives that may have a material, adverse impact upon the condition of the foreign board of trade as it relates to trading by direct access, its clearing organization or upon any United States customer or firm or any default, insolvency or bankruptcy of any member of the foreign board of trade's clearing organization.
(E) Any violation of any specified conditions of the foreign board of trade's registration or failure to satisfy the requirements for registration under this part that is known or should be known by the foreign board of trade, the clearing organization or any of their respective members or participants.
(F) Any disciplinary action by the foreign board of trade or its clearing organization, or any regulatory authority that governs their respective activities, taken against any of their respective members or participants with respect to any contract available to be traded by direct access that involves any market manipulation, abuse, fraud, deceit, or conversion or that results in suspension or expulsion.
(iii) The foreign board of trade and the clearing organization, or their respective regulatory authorities, as applicable, will provide the following to the Commission annually as of June 30 and not later than July 31.
(A) A certification from the foreign board of trade's regulatory authority confirming that the foreign board of trade retains its authorization, licensure or registration, as applicable, as a regulated market and/or exchange under the authorization, licensing, recognition or other registration methodology used by the foreign board of trade's regulatory authority and that the foreign board of trade is in continued good standing.
(B) If the clearing organization is not a derivatives clearing organization registered with the Commission, a certification from the clearing organization's regulatory authority confirming that the clearing organization retains its authorization, licensure or registration, as applicable, as a clearing organization under the authorization, licensing or other registration methodology used by the clearing organization's regulatory authority and is in continued good standing.
(C) If the clearing organization is not a derivatives clearing organization registered with the Commission, a recertification of the clearing organization's observance of the Recommendations for Central Counterparties.
(D) A certification that affiliates, as defined in § 48.2(k), continue to be required to comply with the rules of the foreign board of trade and clearing organization and that the members or other participants to which they are affiliated remain responsible to the foreign board of trade for ensuring their affiliates' compliance.
(E) A description of any material changes regarding the foreign board of trade or clearing organization that have not been previously disclosed, in writing, to the Commission, or a certification that no such material changes have occurred.
(F) A description of any significant disciplinary or enforcement actions that have been instituted by or against the foreign board of trade or the clearing organization or the senior officers of either during the prior year.
(G) A written description of any material changes to the regulatory regime to which the foreign board of trade or the clearing organization are subject that have not been previously disclosed, in writing, to the Commission, or a certification that no material changes have occurred.
(2) The above-referenced annual reports must be signed by an officer of the foreign board of trade or the clearing organization who maintains the authority to bind the foreign board of trade or clearing organization, as applicable, and must be based on the officer's personal knowledge.
(c) Additional specified conditions for foreign boards of trade with linked contacts. If a registered foreign board of trade grants members or other participants direct access and makes available for trading a linked contract, the following additional conditions apply:
(1) Statutory Conditions.
(i) The foreign board of trade will make public daily trading information regarding the linked contract that is comparable to the daily trading information published by the registered entity for the contract to which the foreign board of trade's contract is linked, and
(ii) The foreign board of trade (or its regulatory authority) will:
(A) Adopt position limits (including related hedge exemption provisions) applicable to all market participants for the linked contract that are comparable to the position limits (including related hedge exemption provisions) adopted by the registered entity for the contract to which it is linked;
(B) Have the authority to require or direct any market participant to limit, reduce, or liquidate any position the foreign board of trade (or its regulatory authority) determines to be necessary to prevent or reduce the threat of price manipulation, excessive speculation as described in section 4a of the Act, price distortion, or disruption of delivery on the cash settlement process;
(C) Agree to promptly notify the Commission, with regard to the linked contract, of any change regarding—
( 1 ) The information that the foreign board of trade will make publicly available,
( 2 ) The position limits that foreign board of trade or its regulatory authority will adopt and enforce,
( 3 ) The position reductions required to prevent manipulation, excessive speculation as described in section 4a of the Act, price distortion, or disruption of delivery or the cash settlement process, and
( 4 ) Any other area of interest expressed by the Commission to the foreign board of trade or its regulatory authority;
(D) Provide information to the Commission regarding large trader positions in the linked contract that is comparable to the large trader position information collected by the Commission for the contract to which it is linked; and
(E) Provide the Commission such information as is necessary to publish reports on aggregate trader positions for the linked contract that are comparable to such reports on aggregate trader positions for the contract to which it is linked.
(2) Other Conditions on Linked Contracts.
(i) The foreign board of trade will inform the Commission in a quarterly report of any member that had positions in a linked contract above the applicable foreign board of trade position limit, whether a hedge exemption was granted, and if not, whether a disciplinary action was taken.
(ii) The foreign board of trade will provide the Commission, either directly or through its agent, with trade execution and audit trail data for the Commission's Trade Surveillance System on a trade-date plus one basis and in a form, content and manner acceptable to the Commission for all linked contracts.
(iii) The foreign board of trade will provide to the Commission, at least one day prior to the effective date thereof, except in the event of an emergency market situation, copies of, or hyperlinks to, all rules, rule amendments, circulars and other notices published by the foreign board of trade with respect to all linked contracts.
(iv) The foreign board of trade will provide to the Commission copies of all reports of disciplinary action involving the foreign board of trade's linked contracts upon closure of the action. Such reports should include the reason the action was undertaken, the results of the investigation that led to the disciplinary action, and any sanctions imposed.
(v) In the event that the Commission, pursuant to its emergency powers authority, directs that the registered entity which lists the contract to which the foreign board of trade's contract is linked to take emergency action with respect to a linked contract (for example, to cease trading in the contract), the foreign board of trade, subject to information-sharing arrangements between the Commission and its regulatory authority, will promptly take similar action with respect to the its linked contract.
§ 48.9   Revocation of registration.
(a) Failure to Satisfy Registration Requirements or Conditions:
(1) If the Commission determines that a registered foreign board of trade or the clearing organization has failed to satisfy any registration requirements or conditions for registration, the Commission shall notify the foreign board of trade of such determination, including the particular requirements or conditions that are not being satisfied, and shall afford the foreign board of trade or clearing organization an opportunity to make appropriate changes to bring it into compliance.
(2) If, not later than 30 days after receiving a notification under paragraph (a)(1) of this section, the foreign board of trade or clearing organization fails to make changes that, in the opinion of the Commission, are necessary to comply with the registration requirements or conditions of registration, the Commission may revoke the foreign board of trade's registration, after appropriate notice and an opportunity to respond, by issuing an Order Revoking Registration which sets forth the reasons therefor.
(3) A foreign board of trade whose registration has been revoked for failure to satisfy a registration requirement or condition of registration may apply for re-registration 360 days after the issuance of the Order Revoking Registration if the deficiency causing the revocation has been cured or relevant facts and circumstances have changed.
(b) Other events that could result in revocation. Notwithstanding § 48.9(a), revocation under these circumstances will be handled by the Commission as relevant facts or circumstances warrant.
(1) The Commission may revoke a foreign board of trade's registration, after appropriate notice and an opportunity to respond, if the Commission determines that a representation made in the foreign board of trade's application for registration is found to be untrue or materially misleading or if the foreign board of trade failed to include information in the application that would have been material to the Commission's determination as to whether to issue an Order of Registration.
(2) The Commission may revoke a foreign board of trade's registration, after appropriate notice and an opportunity to respond, if there is a material change in the regulatory regime applicable to the foreign board of trade or clearing organization such that the regulatory regime no longer satisfies any registration requirement or condition for registration applicable to the regulatory regime.
(3) The Commission may revoke a foreign board of trade's registration in the event of an emergency or in a circumstance where the Commission determines that revocation would be necessary or appropriate in the public interest. Following revocation, the Commission will provide notice and an opportunity to respond.
(4) The Commission may revoke a foreign board of trade's registration in the event the foreign board of trade or the clearing organization is no longer authorized, licensed or registered, as applicable, as a regulated market and/or exchange or clearing organization or ceases to operate as a foreign board of trade or clearing organization, subject to notice and an opportunity to respond.
(5) The Commission may revoke a foreign board of trade's registration in response to a voluntary request by the foreign board of trade to vacate its registration. A foreign board of trade may file a request to vacate its registration with the Secretary of the Commission at FBOTapplications@cftc.gov.
(c) Upon request by the Commission, a registered foreign board of trade must file with the Commission a written demonstration, containing such supporting data, information, and documents, in such form and manner and within such timeframe as the Commission may specify, that the foreign board of trade or clearing organization is in compliance with the registration requirements and/or conditions for registration.
§ 48.10   Additional contracts.
(a) Generally. A registered foreign board of trade that wishes to make an additional futures, option or swap contract available for trading by identified members or other participants located in the United States with direct access to its electronic trading and order matching system must submit a written request prior to offering the contracts from within the United States. Such a written request must include the terms and conditions of the additional futures, option or swap contracts and a certification that the additional contracts meet the requirements of § 48.8(c), if applicable, and that the foreign board of trade and the clearing organization continue to satisfy the requirements and conditions of registration. The foreign board of trade can make available for trading by direct access the additional contracts ten business days after the date of receipt by the Commission of the written request, unless the Commission notifies the foreign board of trade that additional time is needed to complete its review of policy or other issues pertinent to the additional contracts. A registered foreign board of trade may list for trading by direct access an additional futures or option contract on a non-narrow-based security index pursuant to the Commission certification procedures set forth in § 30.13(d) and appendix D to part 30 of this chapter.
(b) Option contracts on previously approved futures contracts. (1) If the option is on a futures contract that is not a linked contract, the option contract may be made available for trading by direct access by filing with the Commission no later than the business day preceding the initial listing of the contract:
(i) A copy of the terms and conditions of the additional contract and
(ii) A certification that the foreign board of trade and the clearing organization continue to satisfy the conditions of its registration.
(2) If the option is on a futures contract that is a linked contract, the option contract may be made available for trading by direct access by filing with the Commission no later than the business day preceding the initial listing of the contract:
(i) A copy of the terms and conditions of the additional contract; and
(ii) A certification that the foreign board of trade and the clearing organization continue to satisfy the conditions of its registration, including the conditions specifically applicable to linked contracts set forth in § 48.8(c).
(3) If the option is on a non-narrow-based security index futures contract which may be offered or sold in the United States pursuant to a Commission certification issued pursuant to § 30.13 of this chapter, the option contract may be listed for trading by direct access without further action by either the registered foreign board of trade or the Commission.
§ 48.11   Delegation of authority.
(a) The Commission hereby delegates, until it orders otherwise, to the Director of the Division of Market Oversight, or such other employee or employees as the Director may designate from time to time, the authority:
(1) In § 48.7, to request additional information and documentation in connection with an application for registration;
(2) In § 48.9(a)(1), to notify a registered foreign board of trade that it or the clearing organization has failed to satisfy any registration requirements or conditions for registration;
(3) In § 48.9(c), to request that a registered foreign board of trade file with the Commission a written demonstration, containing such supporting data, information, and documents, in such form and manner and within such timeframe as the Commission may specify, that the foreign board of trade or clearing organization is in compliance with the registration requirements and/or conditions for registration; and
(4) In § 48.10, to notify a foreign board of trade whether additional time is needed for staff to complete its review of policy or other issues pertinent to the additional contracts, or that the contract can be made available for trading by direct access.
(b) The Director of the Division of Market Oversight may submit to the Commission for its consideration any matter which has been delegated in this section.
(c) Nothing in this section prohibits the Commission, at its election, from exercising the authority delegated in this section.