November 5, 2013

CFTC Issues Proposed Rule to Require All Registered Introducing Brokers, Commodity Pool Operators, and Commodity Trading Advisors to Become and Remain Members of a Registered Futures Association

Washington, DC —The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC or Commission) proposed a rule today to amend its regulations to require that all persons registered with the Commission as introducing brokers (IBs), commodity pool operators (CPOs), and commodity trading advisors (CTAs) become and remain members of at least one registered futures association (RFA). Currently, the National Futures Association (NFA) is the only RFA.

The Commission is proposing new Section 170.17 to address recent changes to the Commodity Exchange Act (CEA) by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the Commission’s authority to regulate swaps. Currently, under Sections 170.15 and 170.16 of the Commission’s regulations, all registered futures commission merchants (FCMs), swap dealers (SDs) and major swap participants (MSPs) are required to become members of NFA. However, there is no mandatory membership requirement for other registrants. Through the interaction of the Commission’s rules and NFA Bylaw 1101, any IB, CPO or CTA required to be registered with the Commission that desires to conduct business directly with an FCM, SD, or MSP must become a member of NFA, and derivatively, must ensure that it conducts business only with those IBs, CPOs or CTAs that also are NFA members. However, due to the unique nature of swap transactions, it may be possible for certain IBs, CPOs or CTAs to not be captured by the intersection of Sections 170.15 or 170.16 and NFA Bylaw 1101, and therefore, it may be possible for these Commission registrants to serve clients without becoming members of NFA. The Commission intends the proposed rule to avoid this possibility.

The comment period for the proposed rule will remain open for 60 days after publication in the Federal Register.

Last Updated: November 5, 2013