This interim rule revises regulations governing the WIC food packages to align the WIC food packages with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and current infant feeding practice guidelines of the American Academy of Pediatrics, better promote and support the establishment of successful long-term breastfeeding, provide WIC participants with a wider variety of food, and provide WIC state agencies with greater flexibility in prescribing food packages to accommodate participants with cultural food preferences.
These income eligibility guidelines are to be used in conjunction with the WIC regulations.
This final rule strengthens vendor management in retail food delivery systems by establishing mandatory selection criteria, training requirements, criteria to be used to identify high-risk vendors, and monitoring requirements, including compliance investigations. In addition, the rule strengthens food instrument accountability and sanctions for participants who violate program requirements.
This final rule amends the regulations governing the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children to clarify one of the provisions required by the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996.
This final rule amends the WIC program regulations to incorporate two nondiscretionary funding provisions mandated by the Agricultural Risk Protection Act of 2000.
The interim rule and this final rule implement three legislative requirements that affect the application and certification process for the WIC program.
The provisions in this interim rule include elimination of the following provisions: required provision of written information on certain other assistance programs; state agency timeframes for action on local agency applications for participation in the WIC program; annual evaluation of nutrition education and breastfeeding promotion efforts; and annual submission of a state plan.
This rule strengthens and simplifies current bidding requirements for using a single-supplier competitive system to provide a rebate for infant formulas.
The Department announces adjusted income eligibility guidelines to be used by state agencies in determining the income eligibility of persons applying to participate in the WIC program. These income eligibility guidelines are to be used in conjunction with the WIC regulations.
This interim rule amends regulations for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children. The rule adds three legislative requirements that affect the application and certification process for the WIC program.