[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 132 (Wednesday, July 10, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 45738]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-17325]


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FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION


Transfer of Delegations of Authority To Disclose Certain 
Nonpublic Information to Foreign Law Enforcement Agencies and 
Delegation of Authority To Sign Confidentiality Agreements With Certain 
Foreign Agencies

AGENCY: Federal Trade Commission.

ACTION: Transfer of delegation of authority and delegation of 
authority.

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SUMMARY: The Commission has delegated authority to share information 
with certain law enforcement agencies in Canada, Australia and the 
United Kingdom to the Associate Director for International Consumer 
Protection. The Commission has also delegated to the Associate Director 
for International Consumer Protection authority to execute 
confidentiality agreements with certain foreign agencies, a condition 
of their being granted access to nonpublic databases. The delegation 
includes authority previously delegated to the Associate Director for 
Planning and Information, and all delegations are subject to 
confidentiality laws and rules.

EFFECTIVE DATE: May 8, 2002.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael L. Shore, Attorney, 
International Division of Consumer Protection, 202 326-2708, 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice is hereby given, pursuant to 
Reorganization Plan No. 4 of 1961, 26 FR 6191, that the Commission has 
transferred from the Associate Director for Planning and Information to 
the Associate Director for International Consumer Protection its prior 
delegations of authority to disclose: (1) to Canadian law enforcement 
agencies, information regarding consumer protection investigations 
involving Canadian businesses or consumers (65 FR 64950-02 (Oct. 31, 
2000)); (2) to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, 
information regarding consumer protection investigations involving 
Australian businesses or consumers (65 FR 64950-02 (Oct. 31, 2000)); 
(3) to Australian law enforcement agencies, information contained in 
the Consumer Sentinel database of consumer complaints and law 
enforcement information (67 FR 4260-04 (Jan. 29, 2002)); and (4) to the 
United Kingdom Office of Fair Trading and the United Kingdom 
Directorate for Trade and Industry information regarding consumer 
protection investigations involving U.K. businesses or consumers (65 FR 
67011-02 (Nov. 8, 2000)). With respect to Canadian law enforcement 
agencies, the Associate Director for International Consumer Protection 
can redelegate this authority to individual Regional Directors on 
specific cases and projects as appropriate. In addition, the Commission 
has delegated to the Associate Director for International Consumer 
Protection the authority to execute econsumer.gov confidentiality 
agreements with consumer protection authorities from current or future 
International Marketing Supervision Network (IMSN) member countries, 
and to execute Consumer Sentinel confidentiality agreements with any 
foreign law enforcement agency whose access has been authorized or is 
authorized in the future by the Commission or by the Commission's 
delegate, including without limitation Canadian and Australian law 
enforcement agencies.
    This delegated authority does not apply to competition-related 
investigations. When exercising its delegated authority, staff will 
require from the relevant foreign law enforcement agency assurances of 
confidentiality. Disclosures shall be made only to the extent 
consistent with limitations on disclosure, including section 6(f) of 
the FTC Act, 15 U.S.C. 46(f), section 21 of the Act, 15 U.S.C. 57b-2, 
and the Commission Rule 4.10(d), 16 CFR 4.10(d), and with the 
Commission's enforcement policies and other important interests. Where 
the subject matter of the information to be shared raises significant 
policy concerns, staff shall notify the Commission before disclosing 
such information.

    By direction of the Commission.
Donald S. Clark,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 02-17325 Filed 7-9-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6750-01-M