[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 45, Volume 1]
[Revised as of October 1, 2002]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 45CFR73.735-502]

[Page 160-161]
 
                        TITLE 45--PUBLIC WELFARE
 
                           AND HUMAN SERVICES
 
PART 73--STANDARDS OF CONDUCT--Table of Contents
 
               Subpart E--Gifts, Entertainment, and Favors
 
Sec. 73.735-502  Permissible acceptance of gifts, entertainment, and favors.

    (a) An employee may accept a gift, gratuity, favor, entertainment, 
loan or similar favor of monetary value which stems from a family 
relationship such as that between the employee and his or her parents, 
spouse or children, if it is clear that the relationship is the 
motivating factor.
    (b) Loans from banks or other financial institutions may be accepted 
on customary terms.
    (c) Unsolicited advertising or promotional material such as pens, 
note pads, calendars and similar items of nominal intrinsic value may be 
accepted.
    (d) An employee may accept food or refreshment of nominal value on 
infrequent occasions in the ordinary course of a luncheon or dinner 
meeting or on an inspection tour only if the employee is properly in 
attendance and there is not a reasonable opportunity to pay.

    Example 1: Employee is on the premises of Company participating in a 
meeting at a normal mealtime. A representative of Company provides a 
meal for all meeting participants from a Company facility and there is 
no established method for payment. Employee may accept.
    Example 2: Employee is on the premises of Company and he or she goes 
outside for lunch with a representative of the Company. The 
representative offers to pay the bill. Since it is practical for the 
employee to pay for his or her own meal, the employee may not accept.

    (e) An employee may also accept food or refreshment of nominal value 
on infrequent occasions if the food and/or refreshment is offered to all 
participants or attendees of a meeting or convention.


[[Page 161]]


    Example 1: During the course of a convention of a professional 
organization a luncheon open to all attendees is sponsored by a 
corporation which conducts business with the Department and the employee 
has official dealings with representatives of the corporation. The 
employee may attend the luncheon.