(a) A DoD employee, other than a special Government employee, who is required to file a financial disclosure report (SF 450 or SF 278) shall obtain written approval from the agency designee before engaging in a business activity or compensated outside employment with a prohibited source, unless general approval has been given in accordance with paragraph (b) of this section. Approval shall be granted unless a determination is made that the business activity or compensated outside employment is expected to involve conduct prohibited by statute or regulation. For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:

(1) Business activity. Any business, contractual or other financial relationship not involving the provision of personal services by the DoD employee. It does not include a routine commercial transaction or the purchase of an asset or interest, such as common stock, that is available to the general public;

(2) Employment. Any form of non-Federal employment or business relationship involving the provision of personal services by the DoD employee. It includes, but is not limited to, personal services as an officer, director, employee, agent, attorney, consultant, contractor, general partner or trustee; and

(3) Prohibited source. See 5 CFR 2635.203(d) (modified by the separate DoD component agency designations in §3601.102 of this part).

(b) The DoD component designated agency ethics official or designee may, by a written notice, exempt categories of business activities or employment from the requirement of paragraph (a) of this section, for prior approval based on a determination that business activities or employment within those categories would generally be approved and are not likely to involve conduct prohibited by statute or regulation.