[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 15, Volume 1]
[Revised as of January 1, 2002]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 15CFR15.13]

[Page 165-166]
 
                  TITLE 15--COMMERCE AND FOREIGN TRADE
 
PART 15--LEGAL PROCEEDINGS--Table of Contents
 
  Subpart B--Testimony by Employees and the Production of Documents in 
                            Legal Proceedings
 
Sec. 15.13  Demand for testimony or production of documents: Department policy.

    No employee shall in response to a demand, produce any documents, or 
provide testimony regarding any information relating to, or based upon 
Department of Commerce documents, or disclose any information or produce 
materials acquired as part of the performance of that employee's 
official duties, or because of that employee's official status without 
the prior authorization of the General Counsel, or the Solicitor, or the 
appropriate agency counsel. The reasons for this policy are as follows:
    (a) To conserve the time of Department employees for conducting 
official business;
    (b) To minimize the possibility of involving the Department in 
controversial issues that are not related to the Department's mission;

[[Page 166]]

    (c) To prevent the possibility that the public will misconstrue 
variances between personal opinions of Department employees and 
Department policy;
    (d) To avoid spending the time and money of the United States for 
private purposes;
    (e) To preserve the integrity of the administrative process; and
    (f) To protect confidential, sensitive information and the 
deliberative process of the Department.