[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 16, Volume 2]
[Revised as of January 1, 2003]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 16CFR1012.2]

[Page 23-24]
 
                     TITLE 16--COMMERCIAL PRACTICES
 
             CHAPTER II--CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION
 
PART 1012--MEETINGS POLICY--MEETINGS BETWEEN AGENCY PERSONNEL AND OUTSIDE PARTIES--Table of Contents
 
Sec. 1012.2  Definitions.

    (a) As used in this part 1012, the following terms have the 
respective meanings set forth in paragraphs (a)-(d) of Sec. 1011.2 of 
this subchapter: ``Agency,'' ``Agency staff,'' ``Commissioner,'' 
``Commission.''
    (b) Agency meeting. Any face-to-face encounter, other than a 
Commission meeting subject to the Government in

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the Sunshine Act, 5 U.S.C. 552b, and part 1013, in which one or more 
employees, including Commissioners, discusses with an outside party any 
subject relating to the Agency or any subject under its jurisdiction. 
The term Agency meeting does not include telephone conversations, but 
see Sec. 1012.8 which relates to telephone conversations.
    (c) Outside party. Any person not an employee, not under contract to 
do work for the Agency, or not acting in an official capacity as a 
consultant to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, such as advisory 
committee members or offeror personnel. Examples of persons falling 
within this definition are representatives from industry and consumer 
groups. Members of the news media when acting in a newsgathering 
capacity are not outside parties. (See also Sec. 1012.7.) Officers and 
employees of the Federal Government when acting in their official 
capacities (except when advocating a particular course of action on 
behalf of an outside party) are not outside parties.
    (d) Substantial interest matter. Any matter, other than that of a 
trivial nature, that pertains in whole or in part to any issue that is 
likely to be the subject of a regulatory or policy decision by the 
Commission. Pending matters, i.e., matters before the Agency in which 
the Agency is legally obligated to make a decision, automatically 
constitute substantial interest matters. Examples of pending matters 
are: Scheduled administrative hearings; matters published for public 
comments; petitions under consideration; and mandatory standard 
development activities. The following are some examples of matters that 
do not constitute substantial interest matters: Inquiries concerning the 
status of a pending matter; discussions relative to general 
interpretations of existing laws, rules, and regulations; inspection of 
nonconfidential CPSC documents by the public; negotiations for 
contractual services; and routine CPSC activities such as recruitment, 
training, meetings involving consumer deputies, or meetings with 
hospital staff and other personnel involved in the National Electronic 
Injury Surveillance System.