Proposed Rule: WIC Food Delivery Systems-Delay of Implementation Date

This proposed rule would delay the implementation date of the final rule entitled Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC): Food Delivery Systems, published in the Federal Register on Dec. 29, 2000, 65 FR 83248, which became effective on April 28, 2001 and has an implementation date of Feb. 27, 2002.

The 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. The proposed delay of the implementation date until Oct. 1, 2002 is necessary to provide state agencies additional time to implement the rule, to promote more effective and efficient implementation of the new requirements, and because the new implementation date corresponds with the beginning of the federal fiscal year.