1. (a)

   1. (1) FCIC will not provide a final agency determination for any request that contains specific factual information to situations or cases, such as acts or failures to act of any participant under the terms of a policy, procedure, or any reinsurance agreement. A properly filed request will be reviewed by FCIC and a final agency determination will be issued within 90 days of receipt of the request.
   2. (2) FCIC will not consider any examples or hypotheticals provided in the request because those are fact-specific and could be construed as a finding of fact by FCIC. If an example or hypothetical is required to illustrate an interpretation, FCIC will provide the example in the interpretation.

2. (b)

   1. (1) If, in the sole judgment of FCIC, the request is unclear, ambiguous, or incomplete, FCIC will not provide a final agency determination and the requestor will be notified within 30 days of the date of receipt by FCIC that the request is unclear, ambiguous, or incomplete.
   2. (2) When FCIC provides a notification under paragraph (b)(1) of this section, the 90-day time period for FCIC to provide a response is stopped on the date FCIC issues the notification. On the date FCIC receives an acceptable request, FCIC has the balance of the days remaining in the 90-day time period to provide a final agency determination. For example, FCIC receives a request for a final agency determination on January 10. On February 10, FCIC issues a notification that the request is unclear. On March 10, FCIC receives an acceptable request. FCIC has 60 days from March 10, the balance of the 90-day time period, to provide a response.
3. (c) If FCIC does not provide a response within 90 days of receipt of a request, the requested interpretation is applicable for the applicable crop year. Additionally, in the case of a joint request for a final agency determination when the requestors have differing interpretations, if FCIC does not provide a response within 90 days, neither party may assume their interpretation is correct.
4. (d) When issuing a final agency determination, FCIC will not evaluate the insured, insurance provider, agent, or loss adjuster as it relates to their performance in following FCIC policy provisions.

[91 FR 16155, Apr. 1, 2026]