This letter provides information to WIC state agencies and WIC Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program state agencies on available American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 waivers and a new state agency request process.
El Programa de Servicios de Alimentos y Nutrición (FNS) espera que las tiendas autorizadas del SNAP tengan una política y un programa de cumplimiento operativo establecido para evitar que se produzcan infracciones con el SNAP. Nuestro objetivo es garantizar que todos los propietarios de tiendas comprendan y valoren plenamente esta responsabilidad y conozcan los recursos de formación.
FNS expects SNAP authorized stores to have an established, operational compliance policy and program in place to prevent SNAP violations from occurring. Our goal is to ensure that all store owners fully understand and appreciate this responsibility and are aware of training resources.
This letter provides WIC state agencies the opportunity to opt into waivers to modernize WIC through building or enhancing remote services.
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.