Food and Nutrition Service October 2009 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice invites the general public and other interested parties to comment on a proposed information collection. This collection is an extension, without change, of a currently approved collection. This information collection will conduct research in support of FNS' goal of delivering science-based nutrition education to targeted audiences. From development through testing of materials and tools with the target audience, FNS plans to conduct data collections that involve formative research including focus groups, interviews (dyad, triad, telephone, etc.), surveys and Web-based collection tools.

This final rule adopts, with changes, an interim rule published on November 29, 2005 amending the WIC regulations. The final rule incorporates into program regulations new legislative requirements for vendor cost containment that affect the selection, authorization, and reimbursement of retail vendors. These requirements are contained in the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004, enacted on June 30, 2004. The final rule reflects the statutory provisions that require State agencies to implement a vendor peer group system, competitive price criteria, and allowable reimbursement levels in a manner that ensures the WIC Program pays authorized vendors competitive prices for supplemental foods. It also requires State agencies to ensure vendors that derive more than 50 percent of their annual food sales revenue from WIC food instruments (``above-50-percent vendors'') do not cause higher food costs for the program than do other vendors (``regular vendors''). The intent of these provisions is to maximize the number of eligible women, infants, and children served with available Federal funding.