FNS Documents & Resources

The physical presence waiver, issued under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act of 2020, allowed WIC state and local agencies to remotely certify participants into WIC during the COVID-19 pandemic. This report summarizes data collected from surveys of WIC state and local agencies about the use of the physical presence waiver and the impact it had on WIC services.

The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) will discontinue the requirement for vendors to use high security seals to secure USDA Foods deliveries as of July 1, 2023. 

This letter extends the expiration date for certain flexibilities for WIC state agencies following the Abbott Recall and infant formula shortage. 

This letter extends the expiration date for certain flexibilities for WIC state agencies following the Abbott Recall and infant formula shortage. 

This letter is in response to correspondence from WIC state agencies requesting flexibility with regard to the maximum monthly allowance (MMA) requirements in WIC as a result of the impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the 2022 Abbott recall of certain powder infant formula on the nationwide supply chain leading to both periodic location and product-based WIC infant formula shortages.

This letter provides WIC state agencies flexibility related to WIC federal requirements. USDA is collaborating across a number of government agencies to ensure that WIC participants are able to obtain safe formula.

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.

FNS has used its authority under FFRCA to waive certain onsite monitoring requirements for the school meals programs, the Child and Adult Care Food Program, and the Summer Food Service Program, so that programs can to maintain program integrity and support social distancing while providing meals. 

FNS  is waiving the requirement that the state agency annually review a number of sponsors whose program reimbursements, in the aggregate, account for at least one-half of the total program reimbursements in the state in the previous year. 

This memorandum includes questions and answers intended to provide clarification on the operation of the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program during implementation of alternative child nutrition program operations throughout school year 2021-22 due to the continued novel coronavirus public health emergency.