This letter serves as notice to all WIC state agencies that effective Aug. 6, 2024, the Secretary of Agriculture has reaffirmed that a supply chain disruption exists in WIC state agencies with Gerber infant formula contracts.
This letter serves as notice to all WIC state agencies that effective May 8, 2024, the Secretary of Agriculture has determined that a Supply Chain Disruption exists in WIC state agencies with Gerber infant formula contracts. The contracted infant formula manufacturer, Gerber, is discontinuing production of their contract brand soy-based powder infant formula, Gerber Good Start Soy.
This letter serves as notice to all WIC state agencies that effective May 8, 2024, the Secretary of Agriculture has determined that a Supply Chain Disruption exists in WIC state agencies with Gerber infant formula contracts. The contracted infant formula manufacturer, Gerber, issued a letter on April 4, 2024, affirming a limited supply of their contract brand powder infant formula, Gerber Good Start SoothePro.
This guidance provides resources that state agencies may use when considering next steps and set forth instructions for submitting state plan amendments that involve operational changes such as electronic solution proposals and/or WIC FMNP waiver requests.
On Nov. 8, 2022, FNS published WIC Policy Memorandum #2023-1 Abbott Infant Formula Waiver Expiration Schedule which extended active waivers to Jan. 31, 2023, or 60 days after the end of the Presidentially-declared COVID-19 major disaster declaration in the affected area, whichever is sooner. However, FNS recognizes that WIC state agencies may need additional flexibility to ensure uninterrupted access to infant formula for WIC families even as WIC state agencies transition back to normal operations. The intent of this policy memorandum is to formally describe the timeline for this transition, as previously described in the Dec. 19, 2022 letter to state agencies.
This letter is in response to correspondence from WIC state agencies using offline Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) technology or paper food instruments, and requesting program flexibility from the WIC program federal requirements as a result of the impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the 2022 Abbott recall of certain powder infant formula, exempt infant formula, and WIC-eligible nutritionals on the nationwide supply chain leading to both periodic location- and product-based WIC infant formula and exempt infant formula shortages.
FNS has used its authority under FFRCA to waive certain onsite monitoring requirements for the school meals programs, the Child and Adult Care Food Program, and the Summer Food Service Program, so that programs can to maintain program integrity and support social distancing while providing meals.
FNS is waiving the requirement that the state agency annually review a number of sponsors whose program reimbursements, in the aggregate, account for at least one-half of the total program reimbursements in the state in the previous year.
This memorandum clarifies that individual state agency waiver requests submitted to FNS in calendar year 2020 requesting flexibilities in the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Child and Adult Care Food Program, Summer Food Service Program, Special Milk Program for Children and Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program during the COVID-19 public health emergency that have not been approved or denied prior to Dec. 31, 2020, will no longer be considered active requests.
FNS is establishing a nationwide waiver to support schools unable to complete a triennial assessment of the local school wellness policies by June 30, 2021, due to school closures as a result of COVID–19. This waiver applies to state agencies that have local educational agencies administering the NSLP and/or SBP.