This ICR covers the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (âCommissionâ or âCFTCâ) amendments to its Form 8-R. The 8-R is the application form that individuals must use to register with the Commission as an associated person of a registrant, floor broker, or floor trader, or to be listed as a principal of a registrant (collectively, âapplicantsâ). 17 CFR 3.10(a)(2), 3.11(a), and 3.12(c). Form 8-R requests information about the applicant that is necessary to assess the applicantâs fitness to engage in business as a derivatives professional, subject to regulation and oversight by the Commission. Individual applicants have been required to use Form 8-R since 1977. Revision of Registration Forms and Amendment of Related Rules, 42 FR 23988 (May 11, 1977) (Form 8-R replaced Forms 2-R, 4-R and 94). This ICR also addresses the implications of the Form 3-R cancellation.
With regards to the Alternative to Fingerprinting Requirement For Foreign Natural Persons: the alternative to fingerprinting recognized the limitations on usefulness of fingerprints of foreign nationals while also ensuring the continued protection of market participants and the public through submission of a certification to NFA relating to the background check of the relevant foreign natural person and maintainance of records relating thereto pursuant to Commission regulation 3.21. With regards to Commodity Pool Operators and Commodity Trading Advisors;
Amendments to Compliance Obligations: This collection covers the Commodity Futures Trading Commission's data collection authority for CPO's and CTAs, that are consistent with the data collection required under Title IV of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, for entities registered with both the Commission and the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (âCommissionâ or âCFTCâ) amended Form 7-R. Form 7-R is the application form that entities must use to register with the Commission as a futures commission merchant, retail foreign exchange dealer, introducing broker, commodity trading advisor, commodity pool operator, leverage transaction merchant, swap dealer, major swap participant, or floor trader firm (collectively, âapplicantsâ). 17 CFR 3.10(a)(1), 3.11(a). Applicants have been required to use Form 7-R since 1977. Revision of Registration Forms and Amendment of Related Rules, 42 FR 23988 (May 11, 1977) (Form 7-R replaced Forms 1-R, 5-R and 6-R). Form 7-R requests information about the applicant that is necessary to assess the applicantâs fitness to engage in business in the registration categories referenced above, subject to regulation and oversight by the Commission. In connection with the revision of Form 7-R, the Commission is making no change to the burden estimates of collections 3038-0023 and 3038-0072 because the changes to Form 7-R, when considered together in the aggregate, do not result in any net change to the information collection burdens associated with the revised version of Form 7-R.
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC or Commission) has determined to adopt via final rulemaking two new exemptions and an exclusion that generally would provide relief from commodity pool operator (CPO) and/or commodity trading advisor (CTA) registration and compliance. Accordingly, the Commission is amending this information collection to reflect the deregistration of entities eligible for this new relief, who were previously subject to registration as CPOs and/or CTAs under the Commodity Exchange Act (CEA) and CFTC regulations. The Commission continues to project a decrease in the number of registrants consistent with the exclusion and exemptions adopted in this final rulemaking, and therefore, decreases in the respondents, responses, and overall burden of this information collection.
Overall, the estimated burden hours are decreased due to a decrease in the number of persons expected to apply for and maintain registration as a result of the final rulemaking. The total number of registrants is expected to decrease from year to year, due to several factors, including, among other things, the adoption by the CFTC of regulations that provide additional exemptions and exclusions from the requirement to register as a CPO or CTA, and the industry trend away from open outcry trading to electronic trading.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.