PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
Subject of Possible Rule Making: WAC 246-790-060 Women, infant and childrens nutrition program authorized foods.
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 43.70.120 and 7 C.F.R. 246.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: These rule changes are necessary to implement the United States Department of Agriculture - Food and Nutrition Service (USDA-FNS) new interum [interim] food package rule for the women, infants and children nutrition program. USDA-FNS published the final interim rule on December 6, 2007, and it is effective October 1, 2009. This new federal rule significantly changes the foods allowed on the WIC nutrition program.
Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: The department of health is the only state agency that regulates WIC in this state.
Process for Developing New Rule: Collaborative rule making.
Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication. Interested parties can participate [in] the formulation of the new rule by providing comments on proposed language which will be posted on the DOH WIC web site and sent to interested persons by regular mail. Interested parties may also participate in the decision to adopt the rule by attending the rule hearing (date and time to be determined). Send your request to be on the interested parties mailing list and/or your written comments to Janice K. Boden, P.O. Box 47886, Olympia, WA 98504-7886, (360) 236-3610, fax (360) 236-2345 or e-mail janice.boden@doh.wa.gov.
July 29, 2008
Mary C. Selecky
Secretary