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.
This final rule amends regulations governing funding and funds allocation procedures for the Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) in order to simplify and update the funding process in anticipation of a fully funded program.
Recently, cultural food preferences among participants in the WIC program have received considerable attention. There has been concern expressed that some WIC participants may not take full advantage of program benefits (e.g., the food packages and nutrition education) for cultural reasons. In this Notice, the Department is soliciting public comments regarding the issues surrounding the accommodation of cultural food preferences in the WIC program.