Donation of Foods for Use in the United States, Its Territories and Possessions and Areas Under Its Jurisdiction (Soup Kitchens and Food Banks) and TEFAP

This final rule amends the Food Distribution Program Regulations and the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) regulations to codify previously proposed food distribution provisions contained in the Hunger Prevention Act of 1988 and several nondiscretionary food distribution requirements contained in the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990, and the Food, Agriculture, Conservation and Trade Act Amendments of 1991.

The statutory requirements contained in this final rule address: Distribution of additional commodities to emergency feeding organizations, soup kitchens, and food banks; use of Emergency Food Assistance Program administrative funds; State and local maintenance- of-effort requirements; priority in the distribution of commodities to existing networks and organizations under TEFAP; and explicit inclusion of hospitals and facilities caring for needy infants and children as charitable institutions.

In addition to codifying provisions contained in the above laws, this final rule implements previously proposed discretionary changes initiated by the Department in order to reduce the administrative burden imposed upon state agencies and to make the Department's regulations more consistent.