Agriculture Department, Food and Nutrition Service
This rule codifies a new framework for determining distinct staple food varieties for meeting staple food stocking requirements for retailer participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). This rule is needed to implement the previously codified provision of the Agricultural Act of 2014 which increased the minimum number of staple food varieties a SNAP retailer must carry from three to seven in each of four staple food categories and the number of food categories for which at least one perishable variety must be provided from two to three. These changes aim to ensure that SNAP retailers can effectively serve SNAP participants by offering a wider variety of staple foods.
Document Headings Document headings vary by document type but may contain the following: the agency or agencies that issued and signed a document the number of the CFR title and the number of each part the document amends, proposes to amend, or is directly related to the agency docket number / agency internal file number the RIN which identifies each regulatory action listed in the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions See the Document Drafting Handbook for more details. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service 7 CFR Parts 271 and 278 [Docket ID FNS-2025-0018] RIN 0584-AF12 ( printed page 25082) AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), USDA. ACTION: Final rule. SUMMARY: This rule codifies a new framework for determining distinct staple food varieties for meeting staple food stocking requirements for retailer participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). This rule is needed to implement the previously codified provision of the Agricultural Act of 2014 which increased the minimum number of staple food varieties a SNAP retailer must carry from three to seven in each of four staple food categories and the number of food categories for which at least one perishable variety must be provided from two to three. These changes aim to ensure that SNAP retailers can effectively serve SNAP participants by offering a wider variety of staple foods. DATES: Effective date: This rule is effective July 7, 2026. Implementation date: SNAP retailers must implement the provisions of this rule no later than November 4, 2026 See the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Patrick Penn, Food and Nutrition Service, 1320 Braddock Place, Alexandria, VA 22314, patrick.penn@usda.gov . SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Abbreviations 2014 Farm Bill The Agricultural Act of 2014 CFR Code of Federal Regulations FNS Food and Nutrition Service SBREFA Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act S…
Citation: 91 FR 25082
