(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to offer to enter into, enter into, confirm the execution of, or maintain a position in, any commodity option transaction subject to the provisions of this part unless the commodity option involved is traded (1) on or subject to the rules of a contract market which has been designated to trade commodity options pursuant to this part and (2) by or through a member thereof in accordance with the provisions of this part.

(b) It shall be unlawful for:

(1) Any person to solicit or accept orders from an option customer (other than in a clerical capacity) for any commodity option transaction, or to supervise any person or persons so engaged, unless such person is:

(i) Registered as a futures commission merchant under the Act, and either:

(A) Is a member of the contract market on which the option is traded, or

(B) Is a member of a futures association registered under section 17 of the Act which has adopted rules which the Commission has approved under section 17(j) of the Act and, in addition to the requirements of that section, has determined to provide for the regulation of the commodity option related activity of its member futures commission merchants in a manner equivalent to that required of contract markets under these regulations; or

(ii) Registered as an introducing broker under the Act, and either:

(A) Is a member of a futures association registered under section 17 of the Act which has adopted rules which the Commission has approved under section 17(j) of the Act, or is a member of a contract market which has adopted rules which the Commission has approved under section 5a(a)(12) of the Act, and which, in addition to the requirements of those sections, has determined to provide for the regulation of the commodity option related activity of its member introducing brokers in a manner equivalent to that required of contract markets with respect to their member futures commission merchants under these regulations; or

(B) Is operating pursuant to a guarantee agreement, and the futures commission merchant which has signed such agreement is a member of a self-regulatory organization that has adopted rules which the Commission has approved that provide for the regulation of the commodity option related activity of the introducing broker in a manner equivalent to that required of contract markets with respect to their member futures commission merchants under these regulations; or

(iii) An individual registered as an associated person of a specified person registered as a futures commission merchant or as an introducing broker under the Act who meets the requirements of paragraphs (b)(1)(i) or (b)(1)(ii), respectively, of this section, and such registration shall not have expired, been suspended (and the period of suspension has not expired) or been revoked.

(2) Any person registered or required to be registered as a futures commission merchant or as an introducing broker under the Act to permit another person to become or remain associated with such person as a partner, officer, employee, agent or representative (or in any status or position involving similar functions) in any capacity involving the solicitation or acceptance of an order from an option customer (other than in a clerical capacity) for any commodity option transaction, or the supervision of any person or persons so engaged, if such person knows or should have known that such other person is or was not registered as required by this part or that such registration has expired, been suspended (and the period of suspension has not expired) or been revoked.