[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 16, Volume 2]
[Revised as of January 1, 2007]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 16CFR1012.2]

[Page 22-23]
 
                     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 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;

[[Page 23]]

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.