FNS Documents & Resources

This Instruction establishes the general standards and procedures that the state distributing agency (SDA), Indian Tribal Organization (ITO), or other consignee must follow in receiving shipments of USDA Foods, and conveys established responsibilities for other entities such as USDA Foods vendors and carriers.

On December 20, 2018, the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (Farm Bill) (P.L. 115-334) was signed into law. Section 4102 of the Farm Bill changes CSFP certification requirements outlined in 7 C.F.R. 247.16 effective immediately. As a result, states and Indian Tribal Organizations (ITOs) are required to establish new certification periods of between one and three years for program participants. States and ITOs also have the option to permit their local agencies to issue temporary one-month certifications for applicants on waiting lists, as provided below.

The USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is making significant revisions to the CSFP food package which state agencies are expected to implement on November 1, 2019. FNS is releasing the updated Distribution Rates at this time to allow CSFP state agencies and Indian Tribal Organizations (ITOs) sufficient time to consult with local agencies and plan their ordering accordingly to ensure smooth implementation of the enhanced food package.

The USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is making significant revisions to the CSFP food package which state agencies are expected to implement on November 1, 2019. FNS is releasing the updated Distribution Rates at this time to allow CSFP state agencies and Indian Tribal Organizations (ITOs) sufficient time to consult with local agencies and plan their ordering accordingly to ensure smooth implementation of the enhanced food package.

This memorandum transmits the 2019 Income Guidelines for state agencies and Indian Tribal Organizations in determining the eligibility of individuals applying to participate in CSFP. 

This memorandum is meant to provide clarification and guidance on policies and procedures for donated food storage and distribution as they relate to product dating.

This memorandum consolidates and clarifies select disaster/emergency policies and procedures applicable to the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP), the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), and The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP).

The purpose of this policy memorandum is to clarify the options available to state distributing agencies or recipient agencies in assigning value to USDA donated foods for audit purposes.

The purpose of this memorandum is to provide clarification on “explicitly religious activities” per 7 CFR Part 16 and provide specific examples related to The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) and the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP).

This memorandum answers questions to assist state, local, and eligible recipient agencies in implementing the provisions of the Final Rule and is being released in conjunction with Policy Memorandum FD-142: Further Clarification on Explicitly Religious Activities.