The CFTC Act of 1974 also authorized the creation of a national futures association. The National Futures Association (NFA) was established in 1981.
It is a self-regulatory body of the futures industry and is supported by the futures industry. Its members have established rules -- often above and beyond state or federal laws -- to maintain fair practices and protect the integrity of the industry.
Relationship of the CFTC to the NFA
The relationship between the CFTC and the NFA is similar to the relationship between the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) and the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD).
CFTC => NFA
SEC => NASD
The CFTC is the parent organization and depends on the NFA to perform mandatory registration and enforce other CFTC regulations.
NFA - Functions
The NFA serves as a self-regulatory association and performs these functions:
Enforces customer protection
Screens applicants for membership
Provides a forum for arbitration of disputes
Audits members for compliance to industry rules
Promotes education of the industry
Take the opposite side of a customer order that the broker has been given to execute.
Execute an order in any location other than the designated pit area or electronic platform on the exchange where it trades.
Trade 'ahead' of this order.
Execute an order outside of the regular trading hours established for the commodity and/or commodity options in question.