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Resource | Policy Memos WIC and FMNP: Available Expedited ARPA Waivers and Request Process

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.

10/17/2023
Resource | Policy Memos WIC Policy Memorandum #2023-3 Unwinding Infant Formula Flexibilities in WIC

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.

WPM 2023-3
02/01/2023
Resource | Policy Memos Abbott Infant Formula Recall Waiver Expiration Memo

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

WPM 2023-1
11/08/2022
Resource | Policy Memos Abbott Infant Formula Recall Waiver Expiration Schedules

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

WPM 2022-7
08/23/2022
Resource | Policy Memos WIC Infant Formula MMA Waiver for Food Package III

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.

07/27/2022
Resource | Policy Memos WIC Infant Formula MMA Waiver for Food Packages I and II

This letter is in response to correspondence from WIC state agencies requesting program flexibility with regard to the maximum monthly allowance requirements in WIC as a result of the impact of the ongoing Coronavirus Disease 2019 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.

07/22/2022
Resource | Policy Memos WIC Infant Formula Imported Infant Formula under FDA's Infant Formula Enforcement Discretion Waiver

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.

07/15/2022
Resource | Policy Memos WIC Infant Formula Vendor Exchanges Waiver

This letter is in response to correspondence from WIC state agencies requesting program flexibility from WIC federal requirements as a result of the impact of the ongoing Coronavirus Disease 2019 pandemic and the 2022 Abbott recall of certain powder infant formula and exempt infant formula on the nationwide supply chain leading to both periodic location- and product-based WIC infant formula and exempt infant formula shortages.

05/24/2022
Resource | Policy Memos WIC Infant Formula Medical Documentation Waiver

This letter is in response to correspondence from WIC state agencies requesting program flexibility with regard to medical documentation requirements in WIC, as a result of the impact of the ongoing Coronavirus Disease 2019 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.

05/23/2022
Resource | Policy Memos WIC Infant Formula Vendor Substitutions Waiver

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.

03/09/2022
Page updated: October 14, 2021