Summary
The Food and Nutrition Service, USDA (the Department), proposes to remove barriers to online ordering and internet-based transactions in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) through this rulemaking. This is expected to improve the WIC shopping experience while increasing equity and access to nutritious foods for WIC participants, thus positively impacting nutrition security.
The proposed rule also complements the program’s near-complete transition to electronic benefit transfer (EBT) by streamlining and modernizing certain WIC food delivery regulations to support current technology and future innovation, and by introducing measures intended to meet the needs of a modern, data-driven program that uses these technologies for food delivery.
Public Comments
Written comments must be received on or before May 24, 2023 to be assured of consideration.
FNS invites interested persons to submit written comments on this proposed rule. Comments may be submitted in writing by one of the following methods:
- Federal eRulemaking Portal: go to https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting comments. The electronic filing system will accept comments until 11:59 p.m. ET at the end of May 24, 2023.
- Regular U.S. Mail: WIC Vendor and Technology Branch, Policy Division, Food and Nutrition Service, PO Box 2885, Fairfax, Virginia 22031-0885.
- Overnight, courier, or hand delivery: Patricia Bailey, WIC Vendor and Technology Branch, Policy Division, Food and Nutrition Service, 1320 Braddock Place, 3rd Floor, Alexandria, Virginia, 22314.
All written comments submitted in response to this proposed rule will be included in the public record and will be made available to the public. Please be advised that the substance of the comments and the identity of the individuals or entities submitting the comments will be subject to public disclosure. FNS will make the written comments publicly available on the internet via https://www.regulations.gov.
WIC Online Ordering and Transactions Proposed Rule Stakeholder Briefing
Watch the recorded stakeholder briefing and for more information view the slide-deck.