Electronic Code of Federal Regulations:

Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1a, 2, 5, 6, 6c, 7, 7a, 8 and 12a, as amended by Title XIII of the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008, Public Law No. 110–246, 122 Stat. 1624 (June 18, 2008).

§ 40.1 Definitions.

(a) Business day means the intraday period of time starting at the business hour of 8:15 a.m. and ending at the business hour of 4:45 p.m.; business hour means any hour between 8:15 a.m. and 4:45 p.m., Eastern Standard Time or Eastern Daylight Savings Time, whichever is currently in effect in Washington, DC, on all days except Saturdays, Sundays and federal holidays in Washington, DC.

(1) Any agreement, contract, transaction, or instrument, or any commodity futures or option contract with respect to all future or option expiries that has no open interest and in which no trading has occurred for a period of twelve complete calendar months following a certification with, or approval by, the Commission; provided, however , that no contract or instrument under this paragraph (b)(1) initially and originally certified with, or approved by, the Commission within the preceding 36 complete calendar months shall be considered to be dormant; or

(2) Any commodity futures or option contract or other agreement, contract, transaction or instrument of a dormant designated contract market, derivatives transaction execution facility or derivatives clearing organization; or

(3) Any commodity futures or option contract or other agreement, contract, transaction or instrument not otherwise dormant that a designated contract market, derivatives transaction execution facility or derivatives clearing organization self-declares through certification to be dormant.

(c) Dormant designated contract market means any designated contract market on which no trading has occurred for a period of twelve complete calendar months; provided, however , no designated contract market shall be considered to be dormant if its initial and original Commission order of designation was issued within the preceding 36 complete calendar months.

(d) Dormant derivatives clearing organization means any derivatives clearing organization registered pursuant to Section 5b of the Act that has not accepted for clearing any agreement, contract or transaction that is required or permitted to be cleared by a derivatives clearing organization under Sections 5b(a) and 5b(b) of the Act, respectively, for a period of twelve complete calendar months; provided, however , no derivatives clearing organization shall be considered to be dormant if its initial and original Commission order of registration was issued within the preceding 36 complete calendar months.

(e) Dormant derivatives transaction execution facility means any derivatives transaction execution facility on which no trading has occurred for a period of twelve complete calendar months; provided, however , no derivatives transaction execution facility shall be considered to be dormant if its initial and original Commission order of designation was issued within the preceding 36 complete calendar months.

(1) Any registered entity rule which remains unimplemented for twelve complete calendar months following a certification with, or an approval by, the Commission; or

(2) Any rule or rule amendment of a dormant designated contract market, derivatives transaction execution facility or derivatives clearing organization.

(g) Emergency means any occurrence or circumstance that, in the opinion of the governing board of a registered entity, or a person or persons duly authorized to issue such an opinion on behalf of the governing board of a registered entity under circumstances and pursuant to procedures that are specified by rule, requires immediate action and threatens or may threaten such things as the fair and orderly trading in, or the liquidation of or delivery pursuant to, any agreements, contracts or transactions, including:

(2) Any actual, attempted, or threatened corner, squeeze, congestion, or undue concentration of positions;

(3) Any circumstances which may materially affect the performance of agreements, contracts or transactions, including failure of the payment system or the bankruptcy or insolvency of any participant;

(4) Any action taken by any governmental body, or any other registered entity, board of trade, market or facility which may have a direct impact on trading; and

(5) Any other circumstance which may have a severe, adverse effect upon the functioning of a registered entity.

(h) Rule means any constitutional provision, article of incorporation, bylaw, rule, regulation, resolution, interpretation, stated policy, term and condition, trading protocol, agreement or instrument corresponding thereto, in whatever form adopted, and any amendment or addition thereto or repeal thereof, made or issued by a registered entity or by the governing board thereof or any committee thereof, except those provisions relating to the setting of levels of margin for commodities other than those subject to the provisions of Section 2(a)(1)(C)(v) of the Act and security futures as defined in Section 1a(31) of the Act.

(i) Terms and conditions mean any definition of the trading unit or the specific commodity underlying a contract for the future delivery of a commodity or commodity option contract, specification of cash settlement or delivery standards and procedures, and establishment of buyers' and sellers' rights and obligations under the contract. Terms and conditions include provisions relating to the following:

(1) Quality and other standards that define the commodity or instrument underlying the contract;

(6) Any price limits, trading halts, or circuit breaker provisions, and procedures for the establishment of daily settlement prices;

(7) Position limits, position accountability standards, and position reporting requirements;

(9) Delivery standards and procedures, including fees related to delivery or the delivery process, alternatives to delivery and applicable penalties or sanctions for failure to perform;

(10) If cash settled; all provisions related to the definition, composition, calculation and revision of the cash settlement price or index; and

[71 FR 1967, Jan. 12, 2006, as amended at 73 FR 8604, Feb. 14, 2008; 74 FR 12202, Mar. 23, 2009]

(a) Unless permitted otherwise by §37.7 of this chapter, a designated contract market or a registered derivatives transaction execution facility must comply with the submission requirements of this section prior to listing a product for trading that has not been approved under §40.3 of this chapter or that remains dormant subsequent to being submitted under this section or approved under §40.3 of this chapter. A registered derivatives clearing organization must comply with the submission requirements of this section prior to accepting for clearing a product that is not traded on a designated contract market, derivatives transaction execution facility or derivatives clearing organization and has not been approved for clearing under §40.5 of this chapter or that remains dormant subsequent to being submitted under this section or approved under §40.5 of this chapter. A submission shall comply with the following conditions:

(1) The designated contract market or derivatives transaction execution facility has filed its submission electronically in a format specified by the Secretary of the Commission with the Secretary of the Commission at submissions@cftc.gov , the relevant branch chief at the regional office having local jurisdiction over the registered entity, and, for filings submitted by a designated contract market or registered derivatives transaction execution facility, the Division of Market Oversight at DMOSubmissions@cftc.gov ;

(2) The Commission has received the submission at its headquarters by the open of business on the business day preceding the product's listing or acceptance for clearing; and

(i) A copy of the submission cover sheet in accordance with the instructions in appendix D to this part;

(ii) A copy of the product's rules, including all rules related to its terms and conditions, or the rules establishing the terms and conditions of the listed product that make it acceptable for clearing;

(iv) A certification by the designated contract market or derivatives transaction execution facility that the product to be listed complies with the Act and regulations thereunder.

(v) A request for confidential treatment as permitted under the procedures of 40.8.

(b) A registered entity shall provide, if requested by Commission staff, additional evidence, information or data relating to whether any contract meets, initially or on a continuing basis, any of the requirements of the Act or Commission rules or policies thereunder which may be beneficial to the Commission in conducting a due diligence assessment of the product and the entity's compliance with these requirements.

(c) Stay. The Commission may stay the listing of a contract pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section during the pendency of Commission proceedings for filing a false certification or to alter or amend the contract terms and conditions pursuant to Section 8a(7) of the Act. The decision to stay the listing of a contract in such circumstances shall not be delegable to any employee of the Commission.

[71 FR 1968, Jan. 12, 2006, as amended at 73 FR 8605, Feb. 14, 2008; 74 FR 12202, Mar. 23, 2009; 74 FR 17394, Apr. 15, 2009]

(a) Request for approval . Pursuant to Section 5c(c) of the Act and §§37.7 and 38.4 of this chapter, a designated contract market or registered derivatives transaction execution facility may request that the Commission approve a new or dormant product prior to listing the product for trading, or if initially submitted under §40.2 of this chapter, subsequent to listing the product for trading. A submission requesting approval shall:

(1) Be filed electronically with the Secretary of the Commission and at the regional office of the Commission having local jurisdiction over the submitting designated contract market or registered derivatives transaction execution facility in a format specified by the Secretary of the Commission;

(2) Include a copy of the submission cover sheet in accordance with the instructions in appendix D to this part;

(3) Include a copy of the rules that set forth the contract's terms and conditions;

(4) Comply with the requirements of appendix A to this part—Guideline No. 1. To demonstrate compliance, the submission shall include:

(i) An explanation, if not self-evident from the rules, as to how the specific terms and conditions satisfy the acceptable practices set forth in Guideline No. 1, appendix A to part 40. This information may be provided in narrative form or by completion of the applicable chart.

(ii) For physical delivery contracts, an explanation as to how the terms and conditions as a whole will result in a deliverable supply such that the contract will not be conducive to price manipulation or distortion and that the deliverable supply reasonably can be expected to be available to short traders and salable by long traders at its market value in normal cash marketing channels.

(iii) For cash settled contracts, an explanation as to how the cash settlement of the contract is at a price reflecting the underlying cash market, will not be subject to manipulation or distortion, and is based on a cash price series that is reliable, acceptable, publicly available and timely.

(iv)(A) A brief description of the cash market for the commodity, instrument, index or interest that underlies the contract. The description may include materials prepared by the designated contract market or registered derivatives transaction execution facility, existing studies by industry trade groups, academics, governmental bodies or other entities, reports of consultants, or other materials, which provide a description of the underlying cash market.

(B) The cash market description may, however, be confined only to those aspects relevant to particular term(s) or condition(s) that differ from an existing contract, where a contract based on the same, or a closely related, commodity is already listed for trading and is not dormant.

(5) Describe any agreements or contracts entered into with other parties that enable the designated contract market or derivatives transaction execution facility to carry out its responsibilities.

(6) Include the certifications required in §41.22 for product approval of a commodity that is a security future or a security futures product as defined in Sections 1a(31) or 1a(32) of the Act, respectively;

(7) Include a request for confidential treatment as permitted under the procedures of §40.8.

(9) Include, if requested by Commission staff, additional evidence, information or data relating to whether the contract meets, initially or on a continuing basis, any of the specific requirements of the Act, or any other requirement for designation under the Act or Commission regulations or policies thereunder.

(b) Forty-five day review. All products submitted for Commission approval under this paragraph shall be deemed approved by the Commission forty-five days after receipt by the Commission, or at the conclusion of such extended period as provided under paragraph (c) of this section, unless notified otherwise within the applicable period, if:

(1) The submission complies with the requirements of paragraph (a) of this section; and

(2) The submitting entity does not amend the terms or conditions of the product or supplement the request for approval, except as requested by the Commission or for correction of typographical errors, renumbering or other such nonsubstantive revisions, during that period. Any voluntary, substantive amendment by the submitting entity will be treated as a new submission under this section.

(c) Extension of time. The Commission may extend the forty-five day review period in paragraph (b) of this section for:

(1) An additional forty-five days, if the product raises novel or complex issues that require additional time for review or is of major economic significance, in which case, the Commission would notify the submitting designated contract market or registered derivatives transaction execution facility within the initial forty-five day review period and would briefly describe the nature of the specific issues for which additional time for review would be required; or

(2) Such extended period as the submitting designated contract market or registered derivatives transaction execution facility so instructs the Commission in writing.

(d) Notice of non-approval. The Commission at any time during its review under this section may notify the submitting entity that it will not, or is unable to, approve the product or instrument. This notification will briefly specify the nature of the issues raised and the specific provision of the Act or regulations, including the form or content requirements of paragraph (a) of this section, that the product would violate, appears to violate or the violation of which cannot be ascertained from the submission.

(e) Effect of non-approval. (1) Notification to a submitting entity under paragraph (d) of this section of the Commission's refusal to approve a product or instrument does not prejudice the entity from subsequently submitting a revised version of the product or instrument for Commission approval or from submitting the product or instrument as initially proposed pursuant to a supplemented submission.

(2) Notification to a submitting registered entity under paragraph (d) of this section of the Commission's refusal to approve a product shall be presumptive evidence that the entity may not truthfully certify under §40.2 that the same, or substantially the same, product does not violate the Act or regulations thereunder.

[66 FR 42283, Aug. 10, 2001, as amended at 67 FR 62879, Oct. 9, 2002; 69 FR 67505, Nov. 18, 2004; 71 FR 1968, Jan. 12, 2006; 73 FR 8605, Feb. 14, 2008; 74 FR 12202, Mar. 23, 2009; 74 FR 17394, Apr. 15, 2009]

(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of this part, a designated contract market must submit for Commission approval under the procedures of §40.5, prior to its implementation, any rule or dormant rule that, for a delivery month having open interest, would materially change a term or condition, as defined in §40.1(i), of a contract for future delivery in an agricultural commodity enumerated in Section 1a(4) of the Act, or of an option on such a contract or commodity.

(b) The following rules or rule amendments are not material changes and, except as provided in paragraph (b)(9) of this section, may be reported to the Commission pursuant to the provisions of §40.6(c):

(2) For each delivery location, changes in lists of approved delivery facilities and delivery service providers, including weighmasters and inspectors, pursuant to previously set standards or criteria;

(3) Changes to terms and conditions of options on futures other than those relating to last trading day, expiration date, option strike price delistings, and speculative position limits;

(5) Changes required to comply with a binding order of a court of competent jurisdiction, or of a rule, regulation or order of the Commission or of another federal regulatory authority;

(6) Corrections of typographical errors, renumbering, periodic routine updates to identifying information about approved entities and other such nonsubstantive revisions of a product's terms and conditions that have no effect on the economic characteristics of the product;

(8) Fees or fee changes that are $1.00 or more per contract and are established by an independent third party or are unrelated to delivery, trading, clearing or dispute resolution; and

(i) The text of which has been submitted for review to the Secretary of the Commission electronically in a format specified by the Secretary of the Commission, at least ten business days prior to its implementation and that has been labeled “Non-Material Agricultural Rule Change;”

(ii) For which the designated contract market has provided an explanation as to why it considers the rule “non-material,” and any other information that may be beneficial to the Commission in analyzing the merits of the entity's claim of non-materiality; and

(iii) With respect to which the Commission has not notified the contract market during the review period that the rule appears to require or does require prior approval under this section.

[71 FR 1969, Jan. 12, 2006, as amended at 73 FR 8605, Feb. 14, 2008; 74 FR 12202, Mar. 23, 2009]

(a) Request for approval of rules . Pursuant to Section 5c(c) of the Act and §§37.7, 38.4 and 39.4 of this chapter, a registered entity may request that the Commission approve a new or dormant rule prior to implementation, or if initially submitted under §§40.2 or 40.6 of this chapter, subsequent to implementation. A submission requesting approval shall:

(1) Be filed electronically with the Secretary of the Commission and at the regional office of the Commission having local jurisdiction over the registered entity in a format specified by the Secretary of the Commission.

(2) Include a copy of the submission cover sheet in accordance with the instructions in appendix D to this part;

(3) Set forth the text of the proposed rule or rule amendment (in the case of a rule amendment, deletions and additions must be indicated);

(4) Describe the proposed effective date of a proposed rule and any action taken or anticipated to be taken to adopt the proposed rule by the registered entity or by its governing board or by any committee thereof, and cite the rules of the entity that authorize the adoption of the proposed rule;

(5) Explain the operation, purpose, and effect of the proposed rule, including, as applicable, a description of the anticipated benefits to market participants or others, any potential anticompetitive effects on market participants or others, how the rule fits into the registered entity's framework of self-regulation, a demonstration that the submission complies with the requirements of appendix A to this part—Guideline No. 1, and any other information which may be beneficial to the Commission in analyzing the proposed rule. If a proposed rule affects, directly or indirectly, the application of any other rule of the submitting registered entity, set forth the pertinent text of any such rule and describe the anticipated effect;

(6) Briefly describe any substantive opposing views expressed to the registered entity by governing board or committee members, members of the entity or market participants with respect to the proposed rule that were not incorporated into the proposed rule;

(7) Identify any Commission regulation that the Commission may need to amend, or sections of the Act or Commission regulations that the Commission may need to interpret, in order to approve the proposed rule. To the extent that such an amendment or interpretation is necessary to accommodate a proposed rule, the submission should include a reasoned analysis supporting the amendment to the Commission regulation or the interpretation;

(8) Include a request for confidential treatment as permitted under the procedures of §40.8.

(9) Include a copy of the submission cover sheet in accordance with the instructions in appendix D to this part.

(b) Forty-five day review. All rules submitted for Commission approval under paragraph (a) of this section shall be deemed approved by the Commission under section 5c(c) of the Act, forty-five days after receipt by the Commission, or at the conclusion of such extended period as provided under paragraph (c) of this section, unless notified otherwise within the applicable period, if:

(1) The submission complies with the requirements of paragraphs (a)(1)(i) through (vi) of this section, and

(2) The submitting entity does not amend the proposed rule or supplement the submission, except as requested by the Commission, during the pendency of the review period. Any amendment or supplementation not requested by the Commission will be treated as the submission of a new filing under this section.

(c) Commencement and extension of time for review . The Commission shall commence the review period in paragraph (b) of this section for a compliant submission under §40.4(b)(9) ten business days after its receipt and further may extend the review period in paragraph (b) of this section for any approval request for:

(1) An additional forty-five days, if the proposed rule raises novel or complex issues that require additional time for review or is of major economic significance, in which case, the Commission would notify the submitting registered entity within the initial forty-five day review period and would briefly describe the nature of the specific issues for which additional time for review would be required; or

(2) Such additional period as the submitting entity has so instructed the Commission in writing.

(d) Notice of non-approval. The Commission at any time during its review under this section may notify the submitting entity that it will not, or is unable to, approve the proposed rule or rule amendment. This notification will briefly specify the nature of the issues raised and the specific provision of the Act or regulations, including the form or content requirements of this section, that the proposed rule would violate, appears to violate or the violation of which cannot be ascertained from the submission.

(e) Effect of non-approval. (1) Notification to a registered entity under paragraph (d) of this section of the Commission's refusal to approve a proposed rule or rule amendment of a registered entity does not prejudice the entity from subsequently submitting a revised version of the proposed rule or rule amendment for Commission approval or from submitting the rule or rule amendment as initially proposed pursuant to a supplemented submission.

(2) Notification to a registered entity under paragraph (d) of this section of the Commission's refusal to approve a proposed rule or rule amendment of a registered entity shall be presumptive evidence that the entity may not truthfully certify that the same, or substantially the same, proposed rule or rule amendment does not violate the Act or regulations thereunder.

(f) Expedited approval. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (b) of this section, changes to terms and conditions of a product that are consistent with the Act and Commission regulations and with standards approved or established by the Commission in a written notification to the registered entity of the applicability of this paragraph (f) shall be deemed approved by the Commission at such time and under such conditions as the Commission shall specify in the notice, provided, however, that the Commission may, at any time, alter or revoke the applicability of such a notice to any particular product.

[66 FR 42283, Aug. 10, 2001, as amended at 67 FR 62879, Oct. 9, 2002; 69 FR 67505, Nov. 18, 2004; 71 FR 1969, Jan. 12, 2006; 73 FR 8605, Feb. 14, 2008; 74 FR 17394, Apr. 15, 2009]

(a) Required certification . Unless permitted otherwise by §37.7 of this chapter, a registered entity must comply with the following conditions prior to the implementation of any rule that has not obtained Commission approval under §40.5 of this chapter or that remains dormant subsequent to being submitted under this section or approved under §40.5 of this chapter:

(1) The rule or rule amendment is not a rule or rule amendment of a designated contract market that materially changes a term or condition of a contract for future delivery of an agricultural commodity enumerated in section 1a(4) of the Act or an option on such a contract or commodity in a delivery month having open interest;

(2) The registered entity has filed its submission electronically in a format specified by the Secretary of the Commission with the Secretary of the Commission at submissions@cftc.gov , the relevant branch chief at the regional office having local jurisdiction over the registered entity, and, for filings submitted by a designated contract market, registered derivatives transaction execution facility, or electronic trading facility on which significant price discovery contracts are traded or executed, the Division of Market Oversight at DMOSubmissions@cftc.gov , and the Commission has received the submission at its headquarters by the open of business on the business day preceding implementation of the rule; provided, however , rules or rule amendments implemented under procedures of the governing board to respond to an emergency as defined in §40.1, shall, if practicable, be filed with the Commission prior to the implementation or, if not practicable, be filed with the Commission at the earliest possible time after implementation, but in no event more than twenty-four hours after implementation; and

(i) A copy of the submission cover sheet in accordance with the instructions in appendix D to this part (in the case of a rule or rule amendment that responds to an emergency, “Emergency Rule Certification” should be noted in the Description section of the submission coversheet);

(ii) The text of the rule (in the case of a rule amendment, deletions and additions must be indicated);

(iv) A brief explanation of any substantive opposing views expressed to the registered entity by governing board or committee members, members of the entity or market participants, that were not incorporated into the rule; and

(v) A certification by the registered entity that the rule complies with the Act and regulations thereunder.

(vi) A request for confidential treatment as permitted under the procedures of 40.8.

(4) The registered entity shall provide, if requested by Commission staff, additional evidence, information or data that may be beneficial to the Commission in conducting a due diligence assessment of the certification filing and the entity's compliance with any of the requirements of the Act or Commission regulations or policies thereunder.

(b) Stay. The Commission may stay the effectiveness of a rule implemented pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section during the pendency of Commission proceedings for filing a false certification or to alter or amend the rule pursuant to section 8a(7) of the Act. The decision to stay the effectiveness of a rule in such circumstances shall not be delegable to any employee of the Commission.

(c) Notification of rule amendments. Notwithstanding the rule certification requirement of Section 5c(c)(1) of the Act, and paragraphs (a)(1), (a)(2) and (a)(3) of this section, a registered entity may place the following rules or rule amendments into effect without certification to the Commission if the following conditions are met:

(1) The registered entity provides to the Commission at least weekly a summary notice of all rule changes made effective pursuant to this paragraph during the preceding week. Such notice must be labeled “Weekly Notification of Rule Changes” and need not be filed for weeks during which no such actions have been taken. One copy of each such submission shall be furnished electronically in a format specified by the Secretary of the Commission; and

(i) Nonmaterial revisions. Corrections of typographical errors, renumbering, periodic routine updates to identifying information about approved entities and other such nonsubstantive revisions of a product's terms and conditions that have no effect on the economic characteristics of the product;

(ii) Delivery standards set by third parties. Changes to grades or standards of commodities deliverable on a product that are established by an independent third party and that are incorporated by reference as product terms, provided that the grade or standard is not established, selected or calculated solely for use in connection with futures or option trading and such changes do not affect deliverable supplies or the pricing basis for the product;

(iii) Index products . Routine changes in the composition, computation, or method of selection of component entities of an index (other than routine changes to securities indexes to the extent that such changes are not described in paragraph (c)(3)(ii)(F) of this section) referenced and defined in the product's terms, that do not affect the pricing basis of the index, which are made by an independent third party whose business relates to the collection or dissemination of price information and which was not formed solely for the purpose of compiling an index for use in connection with a futures or option product;

(iv) Option contract terms . Changes to option contract rules, which may qualify for implementation without notice pursuant to paragraph (c)(3)(ii)(G) of this section, relating to the strike price listing procedures, strike price intervals, and the listing of strike prices on a discretionary basis;

(v) Fees . Fees or fee changes that are $1.00 or more per contract and are established by an independent third party or are unrelated to delivery, trading, clearing or dispute resolution.

(vi) Survey lists . Changes to lists of banks, brokers, dealers, or other entities that provide price or cash market information to an independent third party and that are incorporated by reference as product terms.

(vii) Approved brands . Changes in lists of approved brands or markings pursuant to previously certified or Commission approved standards or criteria;

(viii) Delivery facilities and delivery service providers . Changes in lists of approved delivery facilities and delivery service providers (including weighmasters, assayers, and inspectors) at a delivery location, pursuant to previously certified or Commission approved standards or criteria; or

(ix) Trading Months . The initial listing of trading months, which may qualify for implementation without notice pursuant to (c)(3)(ii)(H) of this section, within the currently established cycle of trading months.

(3) Notification of rule amendments not required. Notwithstanding the rule certification requirements of section 5c(c)(1) of the Act and of paragraphs (a)(2) and (a)(3) of this section, registered entity may place the following rules or rule amendments into effect without certification or notice to the Commission if the following conditions are met:

(i) The registered entity maintains documentation regarding all changes to rules; and

(A) Transfer of membership or ownership. Procedures and forms for the purchase, sale or transfer of membership or ownership, but not including qualifications for membership or ownership, any right or obligation of membership or ownership or dues or assessments;

(B) Administrative procedures. The organization and administrative procedures of a registered entity governing bodies such as a Board of Directors, Officers and Committees, but not voting requirements, Board of Directors or Committee composition requirements or procedures, use or disclosure of material non-public information gained through the performance of official duties, or requirements relating to conflicts of interest;

(C) Administration. The routine, daily administration, direction and control of employees, requirements relating to gratuity and similar funds, but not guaranty, reserves, or similar funds; declaration of holidays, and changes to facilities housing the market, trading floor or trading area;

(D) Standards of decorum. Standards of decorum or attire or similar provisions relating to admission to the floor, badges, or visitors, but not the establishment of penalties for violations of such rules; and

(E) Fees. Fees or fee changes that are less than $1.00 or that relate to matters such as dues, badges, telecommunication services, booth space, real time quotations, historical information, publications, software licenses or other matters that are administrative in nature.

(F) Securities Indexes . Routine changes to the composition, computation or method of security selection of an index that is referenced and defined in the product's rules, and which are made by an independent third party.

(G) Option contract terms. For registered entities that are in compliance with the daily reporting requirements of §16.01 of this chapter, changes to option contract rules relating to the strike price listing procedures, strike price intervals, and the listing of strike prices on a discretionary basis.

(H) Trading Months. For registered entities that are in compliance with the daily reporting requirements of §16.01 of this chapter, the initial listing of trading months which are within the currently established cycle of trading months.

[66 FR 42283, Aug. 10, 2001, as amended at 67 FR 62879, Oct. 9, 2002; 69 FR 67505, Nov. 18, 2004; 71 FR 1970, Jan. 12, 2006; 73 FR 8605, Feb. 14, 2008, 74 FR 12202, Mar. 23, 2009; 74 FR 17394, Apr. 15, 2009]

(a) Procedural matters —(1) Review of products or rules. The Commission hereby delegates, until it orders otherwise, to the Director of the Division of Clearing and Intermediary Oversight and separately to the Director of the Division of Market Oversight or to the Director's delegatee with the concurrence of the General Counsel or the General Counsel's delegatee, authority to request under §40.3(b)(2) or §40.5(b)(2) that the entity requesting approval amend the proposed product, rule or rule amendment or supplement the submission, to notify a submitting entity under §40.3(c) or §40.5(c) that the time for review has been extended, and to notify the submitting entity under §40.3(d) or §40.5(d) that the Commission is not approving, or is unable to approve, the proposed product, rule or rule amendment.

(2) Emergency rules. The Commission hereby delegates authority to the Directors of Division of Market Oversight and Division of Clearing and Intermediary Oversight or the delegatees of the Directors, authority to receive notification and the required certification of emergency rules under §40.6(a)(2).

(3) The Commission hereby delegates to the Director of the Division of Market Oversight or to the Director's delegate, with the concurrence of the General Counsel or the General Counsel's delegate, the authority to determine whether a rule change submitted by a DCM for a materiality determination under §40.4(b)(9) is not material (in which case it may be reported pursuant to the provisions of §40.6(c)), or is material, in which case he or she shall notify the DCM that the rule change must be submitted for the Commission's prior approval.

(b) Approval authority. The Commission hereby delegates, until the Commission orders otherwise, to the Director of the Division of Clearing and Intermediary Oversight and separately to the Director of the Division of Market Oversight, with the concurrence of the General Counsel or the General Counsel's delegatee, to be exercised by either of such Directors or by such other employee or employees of the Commission under the supervision of such Directors as may be designated from time to time by the Directors, the authority to approve, pursuant to section 5c(c)(3) of the Act and §40.5, rules or rule amendments of a registered entity that:

(1) Relate to, but do not substantially change, the quantity, quality, or other delivery specifications, procedures, or obligations for delivery, cash settlement, or exercise under an agreement, contract or transaction approved for trading by the Commission; daily settlement prices; clearing position limits; requirements or procedures for governance of a registered entity; procedures for transfer trades; trading hours; minimum price fluctuations; and maximum price limit and trading suspension provisions;

(2) Reflect routine modifications that are required or anticipated by the terms of the rule of a registered entity;

(3) Establish or amend speculative limits or position accountability provisions that are in compliance with the requirements of the Act and Commission regulations;

(4) Are in substance the same as a rule of the same or another registered entity which has been approved previously by the Commission pursuant to section 5c(c)(3) of the Act;

(5) Are consistent with a specific, stated policy or interpretation of the Commission; or

(c) The Directors may submit to the Commission for its consideration any matter that has been delegated pursuant to paragraph (a) or (b) of this section.

(d) Nothing in this section shall be deemed to prohibit the Commission, at its election, from exercising the authority delegated in paragraph (a) or (b) of this section to the Directors.

[66 FR 42283, Aug. 10, 2001, as amended at 67 FR 62352, Oct. 7, 2002; 67 FR 62880, Oct. 9, 2002; 71 FR 1971, Jan. 12, 2006; 74 FR 12203, Mar. 23, 2009]

(a) The following sections of all applications to become a designated contract market, derivatives execution transaction facility or designated clearing organization will be public: transmittal letter, proposed rules, the applicant's regulatory compliance chart, documents establishing the applicant's legal status, documents setting forth the applicant's governance structure, and any other part of the application not covered by a request for confidential treatment.

(b) The following submissions required by §36.3(c)(4) of this chapter by an electronic trading facility on which significant price discovery contracts are traded or executed will be public: rulebook, the facility's regulatory compliance chart, documents establishing the facility's legal status, documents setting forth the facility's governance structure, and any other parts of the submissions not covered by a request for confidential treatment.

(c) Any information required to be made publicly available by a registered entity under Sections 5(d)(7), 5a(d)(4) and 5b(c)(2)(L) of the Act, respectively, will be treated as public information by the Commission at the time an order of designation or registration is issued by the Commission, a registered entity is deemed to be designated or registered, or a rule or rule amendment of the registered entity is approved or deemed to be approved by the Commission or can first be made effective the day following its certification by the registered entity.

(d) Commission staff will not consider requests for confidential treatment of information that is required to be made public under section 5(d)(7) of the Act of Commission regulations §40.3(a)(7) or §40.5(a)(8).

[67 FR 62880, Oct. 9, 2002, as amended at 69 FR 67505, Nov. 18, 2004; 71 FR 1971, Jan. 12, 2006; 74 FR 17394, Apr. 15, 2009]

Editorial Note: At 74 FR 17394, Apr. 15, 2009, §40.8 was amended by adding (c); however, the amendment could not be incorporated because (c) already exists.

Appendix A to Part 40—Guideline No. 1

(2) A description of the cash market for the commodity on which the contract is based.

(i) The description may include, in addition to or in lieu of materials prepared by the board of trade, existing studies by industry trade groups, academics, governmental bodies or other entities, reports of consultants, or other materials which provide a description of the underlying cash market.

(ii) Where the same, or a closely related commodity, is already designated as a contract market which and is not dormant, the cash market description can be confined to those aspects relevant to particular term(s) or condition(s) which differ from such existing contract.

(3) A demonstration that the terms and conditions, as a whole, will result in a deliverable supply such that the contract will not be conducive to price manipulation or distortion and that the deliverable supply reasonably can be expected to be available to short traders and salable by long traders at its market value in normal cash marketing channels.

For purposes of this demonstration, provide the following information in chart or narrative form.

Contract Terms and Conditions

Term or condition	Exchange proposal	Rule number of identical approved provision, if any¹	Explanation as to consistency with, or reason for variance from cash market practice
1. Commodity characteristics ( e.g., grade, quality, weight, class, growth, issuer, origin, maturity, source, rating, etc.)
2. Any quality differentials for nonpar deliveries, or lack thereof
3. Delivery points/region
4. Any locational differentials for nonpar deliveries, or lack thereof
5. Delivery facilities (type, number, capacity, ownership)
6. Contract size and/or trading unit
7. Delivery pack or composition of delivery units
8. Delivery instrument ( e.g., warehouse receipt, shipping certificate, bill of lading)
9. Transportation terms ( e.g., FOB, CIF, prepay freight to destination)
10. Delivery procedures
11. Delivery months
12. Delivery period and last trading day
13. Inspection/certification procedures (verification of delivery eligibility, any discounts applied for age)
14. Minimum price change (tick) equal to or less than cash market minimum price increment
15. Daily price limit provisions (note relationship to cash market price movements)
DELIVERABLE SUPPLIES²—ESTIMATE OF DELIVERABLE SUPPLIES FOR TRADING MONTH(S) WITH LOWEST SUPPLIES
ESTIMATION METHODOLOGY

¹If an identical provision has been approved for a nondormant contract in the same commodity, there is no need to provide an explanation in the next column.

²No estimate of deliverable supply is needed if a previously designated nondormant contract is trading. Also, no justification of the spot month limit is needed if the limit is the same as that approved by the Commission for an identical contract in that commodity (relative to the quantity or value of the identical contract). Where more than one contract is based on the same underlying commodity or instrument, positions should be combined for purposes of applying speculative limits.

Terms and Conditions Related to Speculative Limits

Speculative limit	Standard	Level (exchange rule)
1. Spot month	No greater than one-fourth of estimated deliverable supply
2. Nonspot individual month or all months combined (financial and energy contract)	5,000 contract
3. Nonspot individual month or all months combined (tangible commodity contracts)	1,000 contracts
4. Reporting level	Equal to or less than levels specified in CFTC rule 15.03
5. Aggregation rule	Same as CFTC rule 150.5(g) or previously approved language

(4) As specifically requested, such additional evidence, information or data relating to whether the contract meets, initially or on a continuing basis, any of the specific requirements of the Act, including the public interest standard contained in Section 5(7) of the Act, and whether the contract reasonably can be expected to be, or has been, used for hedging and/or price basing on more than an occasional basis, or any other requirement for designation under the Act or Commission rules and policies.

(1) The rules setting forth the terms and conditions of the proposed futures contract.

(2) A description of the cash market for the commodity on which the contract is based.

(ii) Where the same, or a closely related commodity, is already designated as a contract market which is not dormant, the cash market description can be confined to those aspects relevant to particular term(s) or conditions(s) which differ from such existing contract.

(3) A demonstration that cash settlement of the contract is at a price reflecting the underlying cash market, will not be subject to manipulation or distortion, and is based on a cash price series that is reliable, acceptable, publicly available and timely.

For purposes of this demonstration, provide the following information in chart or narrative form.

Contract Terms and Conditions

Term or condition		Rule number of identical approved provision, if any¹	Explanation as to consistency with, or reason for variance from, cash market practice
1. Commodity characteristics ( e.g., grade, quality, weight, class, growth, issuer, maturity, source, rating, etc.)
2. Delivery months, noting any cyclical variations in trading activity that may affect the potential for manipulating the cash settlement price
3. Last trading day
4. Contract size
5. Minimum price change (tick)
6. Daily price limit provisions, relative to cash market price movements

¹If an identical provision has been approved for a nondormant contract in the same commodity, there is not need to provide an explanation in the next column.

Terms and Conditions Related to Cash Settlement Price Series

Requirement	Rule number of identical approved provision	Explanation or justification
1. Where an independent third party calculate the cash settlement price series, evidence that the third party does not object to its use and provides safeguards against susceptibility to manipulation
2. Where board of trade generates cash settlement rice series, specifications of calculation procedure and safeguards in cash settlement process to protect against susceptibility to manipulation ( e.g., if self-generated survey, polling sample representative of cash market, but with a minimum of 4 nontrading entities or 8 entities that trade for own account)
3. Procedure for, and timeliness of, dissemination to public
4. Evidence that price is reliable indicator of cash market values and acceptable for hedging

Terms and Conditions Related to Speculative Limits

Speculative limit	Standard	Level (exchange rule)
1. Spot month	Must be no greater than necessary to minimize the potential for manipulation or distortion of the contract's or the underlying commodity's price
2. Nonspot individual month or all months combined (financial and energy contracts)	5,000 contracts
3. Nonspot individual month or all months combined (tangible commodity contracts)	1,000 contracts
4. Reporting level	Equal to or less than levels specified in CFTC rule 15.03
5. Aggregation rule	Same as CFTC rule 150.5(g) or previously approved language

(1) The rules setting forth the terms and conditions of the proposed option contract.

(2)(i) For options on futures contracts, the terms and conditions of the proposed or existing underlying futures contract.

(A) A description of the cash market for the commodity on which the contract is based.

(1) The description may include, in addition to or in lieu of material prepared by the board of trade: existing studies by industry trade groups, academics, governmental bodies or other entities; promotional or marketing materials prepared by or for the board of trade; reports of consultants; or other materials which provide a description of the underlying cash market.

(2) Where the same, or a closely related commodity, is already designated and is not dormant, the cash market description can be confined to those aspects relevant to particular term(s) or condition(s) which differ from such existing contract.

(B) Depending on the method of settling the option, the relevant chart for either a physical delivery or cash settled futures contract.

Terms and Conditions

Criterion	Applicable CFTC Rule (17 CFR)	Standard
1. Speculative limits	150.5	Combined net position in futures and options on a futures-equivalent basis at the futures position levels, with inter-month spread exemptions that are consistent with those of the futures contracts or consistent with Commission Rule 150.5(e) for underlying future
2. Aggregation rule	150.4	Same as Rule 150.5(g) or previously approved language
3. Reporting level	15.00(b)(2)	50 contracts or fewer
4. Strike prices (number listed & increments)	33.4(b)(1)	Procedures for routine listing of strikes are specified and automatic, provisions for listing discretionary strikes are specified
5. Option expiration & last trading day	33.4(b)(2)	Except for options on cash-settled futures contracts, expiration is not less than one business day before the earlier of the last trading day or the first notice day of the underlying future
6. Minimum tick	33.4(d)	Equal to, or less than, the underlying futures tick
7. Daily price limit, if specified	33.4(d)	Equal to, or greater than, the underlying futures price limit

(4) As specifically requested, such additional evidence, information or data relating to whether the contract meets, initially or on a continuing basis, any of the specific requirements of the Act, including the public interest standard contained in Section 5(7) of the Act, or any other requirement for designation under the Act or Commission rules and policies.

(a) Applications for product approval. Each application for product approval under §40.3 must be accompanied by a check or money order made payable to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission in an amount to be determined annually by the Commission and published in theFederal Register.

(b) Checks and applications should be sent to the attention of the Office of the Secretariat, Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Three Lafayette Centre, 1155 21st Street, NW., Washington, DC 20581. No checks or money orders may be accepted by personnel other than those in the Office of the Secretariat.

(c) Failure to submit the fee with an application for product approval will result in return of the application. Fees will not be returned after receipt.

A properly completed submission cover sheet must accompany all rule submissions submitted electronically by a registered entity to the Secretary of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, at submissions@cftc.gov in a format specified by the Secretary of the Commission.

1. Identifier Code (optional) —If applicable, the exchange or clearing organization Identifier Code at the top of the cover sheet. Such codes are commonly generated by the exchanges or clearing organizations to provide an identifier that is unique to each filing (e.g., NYMEX Submission 03–116).

3. Organization —The name of the organization filing the submission (e.g., CBOT).

4. Filing as a —Check the appropriate box for a designated contract market (DCM), derivatives clearing organization (DCO), derivatives transaction execution facility (DTEF), or electronic trading facility with a significant price discovery contract (ECM–SPDC).

5. Type of Filing —Indicate whether the filing is a rule amendment or new product and the applicable category under that heading.

6. Rule Numbers —For rule filings only, identify rule number(s) being adopted or modified in the case of rule amendment filings.

7. Description —For rule or rule amendment filings only, enter a brief description of the new rule or rule amendment. This narrative should describe the substance of the submission with enough specificity to characterize all essential aspects of the filing.

8. Other Requirements —Comply with all filing requirements for the underlying proposed rule or rule amendment. The filing of the submission cover sheet does not obviate the responsibility to comply with any applicable filing requirement (e.g., rules submitted for Commission approval under §40.5 must be accompanied by an explanation of the purpose and effect of the proposed rule along with a description of any substantive opposing views). Rules submitted for Commission approval under §40.5 must be accompanied by an explanation of the purpose and effect of the proposed rule along with a description of any substantive opposing views). Checking the box marked “confidential treatment requested” on the Submission Cover Sheet does not obviate the submitter's responsibility to comply with all applicable requirements for requesting confidential treatment in rule 40.8(c) and, where appropriate, rule 145.9, and will not substitute for notice or full compliance with such requirements.

PART 40—PROVISIONS COMMON TO REGISTERED ENTITIES

§ 40.1 Definitions.

§ 40.2 Listing and accepting products for trading or clearing by certification.

§ 40.3 Voluntary submission of new products for Commission review and approval.

§ 40.4 Amendments to terms or conditions of enumerated agricultural contracts.

§ 40.5 Voluntary submission of rules for Commission review and approval.

§ 40.6 Self-certification of rules.

§ 40.7 Delegations.

§ 40.8 Availability of public information.

Appendix A to Part 40—Guideline No. 1

Appendix B to Part 40—Schedule of Fees

Appendix C to Part 40 [Reserved]

Appendix D to Part 40—Submission Cover Sheet and Instructions