[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 7, Volume 7]
[Revised as of January 1, 2005]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 7CFR735.402]

[Page 187]
 
                          TITLE 7--AGRICULTURE
 
       CHAPTER VII--FARM SERVICE AGENCY, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 
PART 735_REGULATIONS FOR THE UNITED STATES WAREHOUSE ACT--Table of 
Contents
 
                     Subpart E_Electronic Providers
 
Sec. 735.402  Providers of other electronic documents.

    (a) To establish a USWA-authorized system to issue and transfer OED, 
each applicant must submit to DACO information and documents determined 
by DACO to be sufficient to determine that the applicant can comply with 
the provisions of the Act. Each provider operating pursuant to this 
section must meet the following requirements:
    (1) Have and maintain a net worth as specified in the applicable 
provider agreement;
    (2) Maintain two insurance policies; one for 'errors and omissions' 
and another for 'fraud and dishonesty'. Each policy's minimum coverage 
and maximum deductible amounts and applicability of other forms of 
financial assurances as set forth in Sec. 735.14 will be prescribed in 
the applicable provider agreement. Each policy must contain a clause 
requiring written notification to FSA 30 days prior to cancellation or 
as prescribed by FSA;
    (3) Submit a current review or an audit level financial statement 
prepared according to generally accepted accounting standards as defined 
by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants;
    (4) For any entity that is not an individual, a document that 
establishes proof of the existence, such as:
    (i) For a partnership, an executed partnership agreement; and
    (ii) For a corporation:
    (A) Articles of incorporation certified by the Secretary of State of 
the applicable State of incorporation;
    (B) Bylaws; and
    (C) Permits to do business; and
    (iii) For a limited partnership, an executed limited partnership 
agreement; and
    (iv) For a limited liability company:
    (A) Articles of organization or similar documents; and
    (B) Operating agreement or similar agreement.
    (5) Meet any additional financial requirements as set forth in the 
applicable provider agreement;
    (6) Pay user fees annually to FSA, as set and announced annually by 
FSA prior to April 1 of each calendar year; and
    (7) Operate a CFS as a neutral third party in a confidential and 
secure fashion independent of any outside influence or bias in action or 
appearance.
    (b) The provider agreement will contain, but not be limited to, 
these basic elements:
    (1) Scope of authority;
    (2) Minimum document and warehouse receipt requirements;
    (3) Liability;
    (4) Transfer of records protocol;
    (5) Records;
    (6) Conflict of interest requirements;
    (7) USDA common electronic information requirements;
    (8) Financial requirements;
    (9) Terms of insurance policies or assurances;
    (10) Provider's integrity statement;
    (11) Security audits; and
    (12) Submission, authorization, approval, use and retention of 
documents.
    (c) DACO may suspend or terminate a provider's agreement for cause 
at any time.
    (1) Hearings and appeals will be conducted in accordance with 
procedures as set forth in Sec. Sec. 735.6 and 735.8.
    (2) Suspended or terminated providers may not execute any function 
pertaining to USDA, USWA documents, USWA or State EWR's or OED's during 
the pendency of any appeal or subsequent to this appeal if the appeal is 
denied, except as authorized by DACO.
    (d) Each provider agreement will be automatically renewed annually 
on April 30th as long as the provider complies with the terms contained 
in the provider agreement, the regulations in this subpart, and the Act.
    (e) In addition to audits prescribed in this section the provider 
must submit a copy of any audit, examination or investigative report 
prepared by any Federal regulatory agency with respect to the provider 
including agencies such as, but not limited to, the Comptroller of the 
Currency, Department of the Treasury, the Federal Trade Commission, and 
the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

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