Summary
This final rule considers public comments submitted in response to the proposed rule revising the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP), the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), and USDA Foods disaster response regulations. This final rule makes access and parity improvements in USDA’s food distribution programs to support access for eligible populations and streamline requirements for program operators.
Dates
Effective date: This rule is effective Dec. 30, 2024.
Implementation dates: See section 2 of the Supplementary Information. This rulemaking consists of multiple provisions. Implementation for each provision is referenced in the Supplementary Information section of this final rule and detailed in the section-by-section analysis.
Background
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (the Department or USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) works to increase food security and reduce hunger through the administration of 16 federal nutrition assistance programs. Through the provision of food and administrative funding, USDA FNS food distribution programs assist the emergency feeding network—made up of thousands of food banks, food pantries, Tribal governments, and other community partners—in feeding those in need.
In a proposed rule published in the Federal Register on Aug. 14, 2023 (88 FR 54908) (described hereafter as “the proposed rule”), FNS proposed to amend food distribution regulations at 7 CFR parts 247, 250, 251, 253, and 254 to make access and parity improvements within the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP), the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), and USDA Foods disaster response. Based on comments received in response to the proposed rule, USDA is finalizing regulatory changes with the following overall aims:
- Increasing access to food distribution programs so eligible individuals can more easily receive the nutrition resources they need, and program operators can more easily provide those resources;
- Increasing parity between FDPIR and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP);
- Modernizing program operations by updating some outdated terminology and processes;
- Updating regulations to be consistent with current program operations and building in flexibility for future changes; and
- Incorporating lessons learned from implementing these critical programs during the COVID-19 pandemic.