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 rule announces that no adverse comments were received in response to the direct final rule which amends the provisions of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) regulations to permit quarterly reporting of local agency expenditures.
This final rule amends regulations governing the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) to allow state agencies the option to defer the collection of blood test data for up to 90 days after the date of certification, so long as the applicant is determined to have at least one qualifying nutrition risk factor at the time of certification.
This final rule incorporates into the WIC program regulations numerous non-discretionary funding provisions mandated in the William F. Goodling Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act of 1998.
This direct final rule amends the regulations for WIC to give state agencies greater flexibility in the way they collect expenditure data from local agencies.
This final rule, published Oct. 21, 1999 in the Federal Register, amends both the food and the nutrition services and administration (NSA) funding formulas to improve the effectiveness of WIC funds distribution now that WIC is in a relatively stable funding environment.
The proposed rule entitled Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC): Food Delivery Systems was published in the Federal Register (64 FR 32308-32343) on June 16, 1999. This action extends the public comment period to Oct. 14, 1999.
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 proposed rule would strengthen the requirements for operation of vendor management systems by establishing mandatory selection criteria; limitation of vendors; training requirements; criteria to be used to identify high- risk vendors; and monitoring requirements, including compliance buys. In addition, the rule would strengthen food instrument accountability and sanctions for participants who violate program regulations. It would also streamline the vendor appeals process.