[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 45, Volume 1]
[Revised as of October 1, 2003]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 45CFR73.735-506]

[Page 168-169]
 
                        TITLE 45--PUBLIC WELFARE
 
                           AND HUMAN SERVICES
 
PART 73--STANDARDS OF CONDUCT--Table of Contents
 
               Subpart E--Gifts, Entertainment, and Favors
 
Sec. 73.735-506  Gifts and decorations from foreign governments.

    (a) An employee may not request or otherwise encourage the tender of 
a

[[Page 169]]

gift or decorations from a foreign government or official thereof.
    (b) An employee may accept from a foreign government:
    (1) A gift which is in the nature of medical treatment or an 
educational scholarship;
    (2) A tangible gift of minimal value tendered or received as a mark 
of courtesy; (``Minimal value'' means a retail value in the United 
States at the time of acceptance of not more than one hundred dollars, 
unless the Administrator of the General Services Administration adjusts 
the value by regulation.) or
    (3) A tangible gift of more than minimal value when it appears that 
to refuse the gift would be likely to cause offense or embarrassment or 
otherwise adversely affect the foreign relations of the United States. 
However, the acceptance of such a gift would be on behalf of the United 
States and the gift would become the property of the United States. See 
the Department's General Administration Manual, Chapter 20-25 for 
information regarding the disposition of a gift accepted under these 
circumstances.
    (c) An employee may also accept from a foreign government gifts of 
travel or expenses for travel (such as transportation, food and lodging) 
that take place entirely outside the United States and are of more than 
minimal value, if such acceptance is consistent with the interests of 
the United States and is approved by the travel approving authority in 
accordance with the Department's Travel Manual. See General 
Administration Manual, Chapter 20-25 for a requirement to report such 
travel.
    (d) An employee may accept, retain, and wear a decoration tendered 
in recognition of active field service in time of combat operations or 
awarded for other outstanding or unusually meritorious performance, 
subject to the approval of the Secretary or his or her designee.
    (e) Members of an employee's family and household are also subject 
to the regulations in this section. A member of an employee's family and 
household is a relative by blood, marriage or adoption who is a resident 
of the household. However, if a member of an employee's family and 
household is employed by another agency of the Government, the offer or 
acceptance of a gift shall be treated under the regulations of that 
agency.
    (f) For purposes of this section ``foreign government'' means:
    (1) Any unit of foreign government authority including any foreign 
national, state, local and municipal government;
    (2) Any international or multinational organization whose membership 
is composed of any unit of foreign government described in paragraph 
(f)(1) of this section; or
    (3) Any agent or representative of any such unit or organization 
when acting as such agent or representative. (5 U.S.C. 7342)