Any person not located in the United States, its territories or possessions, who is required in accordance with the provisions of this part to be registered with the Commission, other than a person required to be registered as a futures commission merchant, may apply for an exemption from registration under this part by filing with the National Futures Association a Form 7-R completed and filed in accordance with the instructions thereto and designating an agent for service of process, as specified below. A person who receives confirmation of an exemption pursuant to this section must engage in all transactions subject to regulation under part 30 through a registered futures commission merchant or a foreign broker who has received confirmation of an exemption pursuant to §30.10 in accordance with the provisions of §30.3(b).

(a) Agent for service of process. Any person who seeks exemption from registration under this part shall enter into a written agency agreement with the futures commission merchant located in the United States through which business is done, with any registered futures association, or any other person located in the United States in the business of providing services as an agent for service of process, pursuant to which agreement such futures commission merchant or other person is authorized to serve as the agent of such person for purposes of accepting delivery and service of communications issued by or on behalf of the Commission, U.S. Department of Justice, any self-regulatory organization, or any foreign futures or foreign options customer. If the written agency agreement is entered into with any person other than the futures commission merchant through which business is done, the futures commission merchant or foreign broker who has received confirmation of an exemption pursuant to §30.10 with whom business is conducted must be expressly identified in such agency agreement. Service or delivery of any communication issued by or on behalf of the Commission, U.S. Department of Justice, any self-regulatory organization or any foreign futures or foreign options customer, pursuant to such agreement, shall constitute valid and effective service or delivery upon such person. Unless otherwise specified by the Commission, the agreement required by this section shall be filed with the National Futures Association. For the purposes of this section, the term “communication” includes any summons, complaint, order, subpoena, request for information, or notice, as well as any other written document or correspondence relating to any activities of such person subject to regulation under this part.

(b) Termination of agreement. Whenever the agreement referred to in paragraph (a) of this section is terminated or is otherwise no longer in effect, the futures commission merchant or any other person that is party to the agreement shall immediately notify the National Futures Association and the futures commission merchant through which business is done, as appropriate. Upon notice, a futures commission merchant shall not accept from the person that has entered into such agreement any order, other than liquidating order(s), for, or on behalf of a foreign futures or foreign options customer. Notwithstanding the termination of the agreement referred to in paragraph (a) of this section, service or delivery of any communication issued by or on behalf of the Commission, U.S. Department of Justice, any self-regulatory organization, or any foreign futures or foreign options customer pursuant to the agreement shall nonetheless constitute valid and effective service or delivery upon such person with respect to any transaction entered into on or before the date of the termination of the agreement.

(c) Applicability of other rules. Any person who is located outside of the United States, its territories or possessions, and who, in accordance with the provisions of paragraph (a) of this section, is exempt from registration as an introducing broker, commodity pool operator or commodity trading advisor under this part, shall nonetheless comply with the provisions of §30.6 of this part and §§1.37 and 1.57 of this chapter as if registered in such capacity.

(d) Access to records. Any person exempt from registration with the Commission in accordance with the provisions of paragraph (a) of this section must, upon the request of any representative of the Commission or U.S. Department of Justice, provide such records as such person is required to maintain under this part as requested at the place in the United States designated by the representative within 72 hours after the person receives the request.

[52 FR 28998, Aug. 5, 1987, as amended at 64 FR 28914, May 28, 1999; 68 FR 40499, July 8, 2003]