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Rule Enforcement Reviews of Designated Contract Markets



The Division of Market Oversight’s Market Compliance Section conducts regular reviews of each designated contract market’s (DCM) ongoing compliance with core principles through the self-regulatory programs operated by the exchange in order to enforce its rules, prevent market manipulation and customer and market abuses, and ensure the recording and safe storage of trade information. These reviews are known as rule enforcement reviews (RERs).

Periodic RERs normally examine a DCM’s audit trail, trade practice surveillance, disciplinary, and dispute resolution programs for compliance with the relevant core principles, which include Core Principle 10, Trade Information, and Core Principle 17, Recordkeeping with respect to audit trail programs; Core Principle 2, Compliance With Rules, and Core Principle 12, Protection of Market Participants with respect to trade practice surveillance and disciplinary programs; and Core Principle 13, Dispute Resolution, with respect to dispute resolution programs.

Other periodic RERs normally examine a DCM’s market surveillance program for compliance with Core Principle 4, Monitoring of Trading, and Core Principle 5, Position Limitations or Accountability. On some occasions, these two types of RERs may be combined in a single RER. Market Compliance can also conduct horizontal RERs of the compliance of multiple exchanges in regard to particular core principles.

In conducting an RER, the Division of Market Oversight (DMO) staff examine trading and compliance activities at the exchange in question over an extended time period selected by DMO, typically the twelve months immediately preceding the start of the review. Staff conduct extensive review of documents and systems used by the exchange in carrying out its self-regulatory responsibilities; interview compliance officials and staff of the exchange; and prepare a detailed written report of their findings. In nearly all cases, the RER report is made available to the public and posted on CFTC.gov.

Rule Enforcement Review Reports

Last Updated: June 26, 2008