This interim final rule, published in the Federal Register on December 6, 2007, revises the WIC food packages. The revisions align the WIC food packages with the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans and infant feeding practice guidelines of the American Academy of Pediatrics. The interim final rule revisions largely reflect recommendations made by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) of the National Academies in its report, "WIC Food Packages: Time for a Change," with certain cost containment and administrative modifications found necessary by the Department to ensure cost neutrality. An interim final rule allows FNS to obtain feedback on the major changes as recommended by IOM while allowing implementation to move forward. State agencies must implement the provisions no later than August 5, 2009*. The interim final rule comment period ends on February 1, 2010, which is 180 days after the implementation deadline. USDA will issue a final rule after review and analysis of public comments.

* March 17, 2008 - The Federal Register published a document which delays from August 5, 2009 until October 1, 2009 the implementation date of the interim final rule entitled Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC): Revisions in the WIC Food Package, which was published in the Federal Register on December 6, 2007, 72 FR 68966, and became effective on February 4, 2008.

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Additional data and tables - these tables provide additional detail for the regulatory impact analysis for the WIC Food Package Interim Rule.

You may submit comments prior to February 1, 2010, in one of two ways:

1. Go to www.regulations.gov and follow instructions at that site for and submitting comments.  (Search procedures on the Regulations.gov site have changed since the interim rule was issued.)  Once at the Regulations.gov site, you may find it helpful to search using the term "wic food package interim rule" or "FNS-2006-0037-0003."

or 

2. Mail your comments to:

Director, Supplemental Food Programs Division
Food and Nutrition Service, USDA
3101 Park Center Drive, Room 520
Alexandria, Virginia 22302
 

Press Release