[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: 16CFR1031.15]

[Page 125]
 
                     TITLE 16--COMMERCIAL PRACTICES
 
             CHAPTER II--CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION
 
PART 1031_COMMISSION PARTICIPATION AND COMMISSION EMPLOYEE INVOLVEMENT 
IN VOLUNTARY STANDARDS ACTIVITIES--Table of Contents
 
                     Subpart B_Employee Involvement
 
Sec.  1031.15  Communication criteria.

    (a) Commission officials and employees, who are not in the positions 
listed in Sec.  1031.12(a), or who are not already authorized to 
communicate with a voluntary standards group or representative 
incidental to their approved membership in a voluntary standard 
organization or group or as part of a voluntary standard, may:
    (1) Communicate, within the scope of their duties, with a voluntary 
standard group, representative, or other committee member, on voluntary 
standards matters which are substantive in nature, i.e., matters that 
pertain to the formulation of the technical aspects of a specific 
voluntary standard or the course of conduct for developing the standard, 
only with the specific advance approval from the person or persons to 
whom they apply to obtain approval for involvement pursuant to Sec.  
1031.13. The approval may indicate the duration of the approval and any 
other conditions.
    (2) Communicate, within the scope of their duties, with a voluntary 
standard group, representative, or other committee member, concerning 
voluntary standards activities which are not substantive in nature.
    (b) Commission employees may communicate with voluntary standards 
organizations only in accordance with Commission procedures.
    (c) Commissioners can engage in substantive and non-substantive 
written communications with voluntary standards bodies or 
representatives, provided a disclaimer in such communications indicates 
that any substantive views expressed are only their individual views and 
are not necessarily those of the Commission. Where a previous official 
Commission vote has taken place, that vote should also be noted in any 
such communication. Copies of such communications shall thereafter be 
provided to the other Commissioners, the Office of the Secretary, and 
the Voluntary Standards Coordinator.
    (d) The Voluntary Standards Coordinator shall be furnished a copy of 
each written communication of a substantive nature and a report of each 
oral communication of a substantive nature between a Commission official 
or employee and a voluntary standards organization or representative 
which pertains to a voluntary standards activity. The information shall 
be provided to the Voluntary Standards Coordinator as soon as 
practicable after the communication has taken place.

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