(a) Required prior approval for disclosure. In any foreign proceeding in which CBP is not a party, no CBP employee shall, in response to a demand, furnish CBP documents or testimony as to any material contained in CBP files, any information relating to or based upon material contained in CBP files, or any information or material acquired as part of the performance of that person's official duties (or because of that person's official status) without the prior approval of the Chief Counsel, as described in paragraph (b) of this section.

(b) Employee notification to Counsel. Whenever a demand in a foreign proceeding is made upon a CBP employee concerning pre-clearance activities within the territory of the foreign country, that employee shall immediately notify the appropriate Associate Chief Counsel responsible for the pre-clearance location. All other demands in a foreign proceeding shall be reported by CBP employees to the Chief Counsel. The CBP employee shall then await instructions from the Chief Counsel concerning the response to the demand.

(c) Counsel notification to originating component. Upon receipt of a proper demand for CBP information, one which complies with the provisions of §103.22(c), if the Chief Counsel believes that it will comply with any part of the demand, it will immediately advise the originating component.

(d) Conditions for authorization of disclosure. The Chief Counsel, subject to the terms of paragraph (e) of this section, may authorize the disclosure of CBP documents or the appearance and testimony of a CBP employee if:

(1) Production of the demanded documents or testimony, in the judgment of the Chief Counsel, are appropriate under the factors specified in §103.23(a) of this subpart; and

(2) None of the factors specified in §103.23(b) of this subpart exist with respect to the demanded documents or testimony.

(e) Limitations on the scope of authorized disclosure.

(1) The Chief Counsel shall authorize the disclosure of CBP information by a CBP employee without further authorization from CBP officials whenever possible, provided that:

(i) If necessary, Counsel has consulted with the originating component regarding disclosure of the information demanded;

(ii) There is no objection from the originating component to the disclosure of the information demanded; and

(iii) Counsel has sought to limit the demand for information to that which would be consistent with the factors specified in §103.23 of this part.

(2) In the case of an objection by the originating component, the Chief Counsel shall make the disclosure determination.

[61 FR 19838, May 3, 1996, as amended at 78 FR 70856, Nov. 27, 2013]