Commodity Futures Trading Commission 

 Office of Public Affairs 

 Three Lafayette Centre 

 1155 21st Street, NW 

 Washington, DC 20581 

 www.cftc.gov

Q & A – Core Principles and Other 

Requirements for Designated Contract Markets 

What is the goal of the proposed rulemaking? 

The proposed rulemaking implements Section 735 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer 

Protection Act of 2010 (“Dodd-Frank Act”), which amended Section 5 of the Commodity Exchange Act (“CEA”) 

governing the designation and operation of designated contract markets (“DCMs”). The proposed rulemaking also 

implements the provisions under the Dodd-Frank Act that pertain to the processing, trading and execution of 

swaps on DCMs. 

How did the Dodd-Frank Act amend the CEA, as applicable to DCMs? 

The Dodd-Frank Act amended the DCM core principles by: (i) eliminating the eight criteria for designation as a 

contract market; (ii) amending most of the core principles, including incorporating the substantive requirements of 

the designation criteria; and (iii) adding five new core principles. Accordingly, all DCMs and DCM applicants must 

comply with a total of 23 core principles as a condition of obtaining and maintaining designation as a contract 

market. 

The Dodd-Frank Act also amended the CEA to require that execution of clearable swaps must occur on a DCM or 

a SEF, except where no DCM or SEF makes the swap available for trading. 

How does the proposed rulemaking implement the applicable provisions of the Dodd- Frank Act? 

To implement the relevant provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act, the proposed rulemaking proposes new and 

amended rules, guidance and acceptable practices applicable to DCMs and DCM applicants, under Part 38 of Title 

17 of the Code of Federal Regulations. The proposed rules, guidance and acceptable practices implement the 

amended core principles and incorporate the trading and execution of swaps on DCMs. 

What are some examples of new or revised requirements that are proposed in the rulemaking? 

The proposed rulemaking proposes several new requirements for DCMs. Some examples include: 

• The proposed rules would eliminate the ninety-day accelerated approval procedures for DCM applications 

and require that all applications for designation as a contract market be reviewed within 180 days, as 

required under the CEA. 

• To streamline the application process, the proposed rulemaking includes, under Part 38, a new DCM 

application form with a comprehensive list of instructions and documents that must accompany applications 

for designation as a contract market. 

• To prevent market disruption, the proposed rules would require that DCMs implement trade risk control 

mechanisms, including pauses and halts to trading, under certain conditions. 

• The proposed rules would impose a minimum centralized market trading requirement for all contracts listed 

on a DCM, and proposes additional rules pertaining to specific aspects of block trades. 

Commodity Futures Trading Commission ♦ Office of Public Affairs ♦ 202-418-5080 
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Commodity Futures Trading Commission ♦ Office of Public Affairs ♦ 202-418-5080 

• The proposed rules would require DCMs to meet specified financial resource requirements. 

• The proposed rules would require DCMs to establish operational and system safeguard requirements. 

• The proposed rules include specific requirements for DCMs that list swaps, including reporting, 

recordkeeping and compliance requirements. 

Who is affected by the proposed rulemaking? 

The entities affected by the proposed rules include all DCMs and DCM applicants that request designation as a 

contract market, and DCM market participants, DCM members and intermediaries. 

When will the new rules, guidance and acceptable practices take effect? 

The proposed rules, guidance and acceptable practices will take effect sixty days after publication of the final rules in 

the Federal Register.