July 3, 2012

CFTC Issues Final Order Amending the Effective Date for Swap Regulation Order Issued on July 14, 2011

Washington, DC – The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) today issued a final Order regarding the effective date for swap regulation. On May 16, 2012, the Commission published in the Federal Register a Notice of Proposed Amendment to extend the temporary exemptive relief the Commission granted on July 14, 2011, from certain provisions of the Commodity Exchange Act that otherwise would have taken effect on the general effective date of Title VII of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act – July 16, 2011.

This final order extends the July 14 Order with certain modifications. Specifically, it removes references to the entities terms, including “swap dealer,” “major swap participant,” and “eligible contract participant” in light of the final joint rulemaking of the CFTC and Securities and Exchange Commission further defining those terms issued on April 18, 2012; extends the potential latest expiration date of the July 14 Order to December 31, 2012, or, depending on the nature of the relief, such other compliance date as may be determined by the Commission; allows the clearing of agricultural swaps, as described herein; and removes any reference to the exempt commercial market and exempt board of trade grandfather relief previously issued by the Commission. The Order is effective immediately.

Last Updated: July 3, 2012