The Electronic Code of Federal Regulations
(e-CFR) is a prototype of a currently updated version of the Code
of Federal Regulations (CFR). The e-CFR prototype is a demonstration
project. It is not an official legal edition of the CFR.
The OFR updates the material in the e-CFR
on a frequent basis. See the e-CFR
home page for the current update status.
How does the e-CFR function?
The e-CFR consists of two linked databases:
the "current Code" and "amendment files."
The OFR updates the current Code database according to the effective
dates of amendments published in the Federal Register.
As amendments become effective, the
OFR integrates the changes into the current Code database to
display the full text of the currently updated CFR.
For future-effective amendments, the
OFR inserts hypertext links into the affected sections or parts
of the current Code to take users to the pertinent amendment
files. The amendment files contain amendatory instructions,
the text of amendments (if any) and their effective dates.
If the effective date of a regulation
falls on a weekend or federal holiday, the amendments will be
integrated into the current Code on the next federal business
day.
What special rules and procedures apply
to display of future amendments and effective dates in the e-CFR?
Publication of amendments and editorial
information. The amendment files show amendments as they
appeared in the Federal Register. Additional editorial
information not published in the Federal Register appears
within brackets.
Historical information in amendment
files. The amendment files include some amendments that have
already been integrated into the current Code database of e-CFR.
Be sure to read the effective date information thoroughly.
Exercise caution in researching amendment
files. Future-effective amendments in the linked amendment
files do not always become effective as originally stated in the
Federal Register. Agencies may delay or withdraw future-effective
amendments before the effective date of the regulations. We advise
users to check the e-CFR on the day after a regulation is scheduled
to go into effect to be certain that the agency did not publish
a delay or withdrawal document in the Federal Register.
Temporary rules and other uncodified
rulemaking actions. The e-CFR (like the annual editions of
the CFR) does not include, or link to "temporary rules"
and other regulations that will be in effect for less than one
year. The e-CFR also does not link to Federal Register
documents that do not change the text or effective date of regulations.
These include waivers, most interpretive rules, policy statements
and clarifications, as well as documents that affect compliance
dates and applicability dates. These types of documents are available
in the Federal Register
and are referenced in the LSA (List of CFR
Sections Affected).
Amendments affected by the Paperwork
Reduction Act. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act, certain
material related to information collections cannot become effective
until approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). For
the convenience of users, an amendment published in the Federal
Register with OMB approval pending is provisionally incorporated
into the text of the current Code, along with an effective date
note carried at the end of the section.
Partially effective CFR amendments.
A new regulation may contain units of text with different effective
dates. If a unit of text has a later effective date than the text
in surrounding parallel units, the e-CFR includes the later-effective
text in the current Code for the convenience of users. An effective
date note carried at the end of the section alerts readers to
the later effective date.
Changes to authority citations.
The e-CFR does not link to changes in authority citations with
future effectiveness. Changes to authority citations are incorporated
into the current Code on the date the change goes into effect.
Inconsistent or erroneous amendments.
An amendment that was stated erroneously or that is clearly inconsistent
with the codification structure or effectiveness of the current
Code or pending amendments is cited in an editorial note, either
within the text of the section where the amendment would appear,
or at the end of the section.
What is incorporation by reference?
Incorporation by reference is a legal
process established under the Freedom of Information Act that
permits federal agencies to grant legally enforceable status to
certain national consensus standards and other published materials.
If agencies receive the approval of the OFR, the referenced material
has the same legal status that it would have if it were published
in full text in the Federal Register and CFR.
For questions or comments regarding e-CFR editorial
content, features, or design, email ecfr@nara.gov.
For questions concerning e-CFR programming and delivery issues, email webteam@gpo.gov.
