South Carolina Code of Regulations › Chapter 61 - DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL › Subchapter 61-94 - WIC Vendors › Section 61-94.201 - Approval of Vendors

Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 6, June 28, 2024
(A) Only
			 vendors authorized by the Department may redeem electronic WIC benefits or
			 otherwise provide supplemental foods to participants.
(B) To be authorized for participation as a
			 WIC Vendor, a vendor must:
1. Request, in
			 writing, by phone, or by email a WIC Vendor application packet.
2. Submit a completed application packet to
			 the State WIC Program Office, including the WIC Vendor Application, WIC Price
			 Survey, Vendor Agreement, and an IRS W-9, Request for Taxpayer Identification
			 and Certification form.
3. Be
			 authorized to participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
			 (SNAP). (Pharmacies are exempt from this requirement.)
4. Not be employed by the WIC program nor
			 have a spouse, child, parent, or sibling who is employed by the WIC program
			 serving the county in which the vendor applicant conducts business. The vendor
			 applicant also shall not have an employee who handles, or transacts eWIC who is
			 employed by, or has a spouse, child, or parent who is employed by the WIC
			 Program serving the county in which the vendor applicant conducts
			 business.
5. Pass a pre-approval
			 visit completed by the State WIC Program Office.
6. Inform and train cashiers and other staff
			 on program requirements.
7. Ensure
			 employees receive instruction regarding the WIC Program policies, procedures,
			 and requirements.
8. Maintain the
			 minimum stock of WIC foods as required by the Vendor Agreement. (Pharmacies are
			 exempt from this requirement.)
9.
			 Comply with at least one established definition for store type within the four
			 (4) Regions. Store Type 1 - Total Food Sales > $10,000,000; Store Type 2 -
			 Total Food Sales of $10,000,000-$5,000,000; Store Type 3 - Total Food Sales
			 < $5,000,000; Store Type 4 - Government-owned facilities (Commissaries), and
			 Store Type 5 - Pharmacy.
10.
			 Operate the store at a single, fixed location (no mobile/home delivery
			 stores).
11. Purchase infant
			 formula only from a state-approved wholesaler, distributor, or
			 supplier.
12. Be located in South
			 Carolina.
13. Must be open for
			 business at least six (6) days a week for a minimum of eight (8) consecutive
			 hours a day between the hours of 8 a.m. - 10 p.m.
14. Have no convictions or civil judgments
			 within the last six (6) years that indicate a lack of business integrity on the
			 part of the current owners, officers, or managers. Such activities include, but
			 are not limited to: fraud, antitrust, violations, embezzlement, theft, forgery,
			 bribery, falsification of records, making false statements, receiving stolen
			 property, making false claims, or obstruction of justice.
15. Provide to WIC participants only those
			 foods authorized by the State WIC Program and in the exact quantities
			 prescribed.
The following is a list of acceptable foods:
i) Infant formula must be iron-fortified,
			 supply approximately twenty kilocalories (20 kcal) per fluid ounce, and not
			 require the addition of any ingredient other than water.
ii) Infant cereal which contains a minimum of
			 forty-five milligrams (45 mg) of iron per one hundred grams (100 g) of dry
			 cereal and contains no other ingredients, such as fruit, formula, or DHA. No
			 organic infant cereal.
iii) Infant
			 juice which contains a minimum of thirty milligrams (30 mg) of Vitamin C per
			 one hundred milliliters (100 ml) of single strength or reconstituted frozen
			 juice concentrate. Juice must be pasteurized, one hundred percent (100%)
			 unsweetened fruit or vegetable juice. No calcium-fortified or organic
			 juice.
iv) Pasteurized fluid whole,
			 fat free, low-fat, or reduced fat milk which is flavored (low-fat only) or
			 unflavored and contains four hundred international units (400 IU) of Vitamin D
			 and two thousand international units (2000 IU) of Vitamin A per fluid
			 quart.
v) Nonfat dry milk solids
			 may be substituted on a reconstituted quart basis and must contain four hundred
			 international units (400 IU) of Vitamin D and two thousand international units
			 (2000 IU) of Vitamin A per reconstituted quart.
vi) Quarts and half (1/2) gallons of
			 lactose-free milk (whole, reduced fat, low-fat, and fat free).
vii) Domestic cheese made from one hundred
			 percent (100%) pasteurized milk (American, Monterey Jack, Cheddar, Mozzarella,
			 Colby, Muenster, Swiss, and a blend of any of these flavors). Block style,
			 sliced, crumbled, string, pearled, low-fat, reduced fat, low cholesterol,
			 and/or low sodium are allowed.
viii) Calcium-set prepared Tofu with calcium
			 salts of fourteen to sixteen ounces (14-16 oz), and organic tofu.
ix) Cereal (hot or cold) which contains a
			 minimum of twenty-eight milligrams (28 mg) of iron per one hundred grams (100
			 g) of dry cereal and not more than 21.2 grams of sucrose and other sugars per
			 one hundred grams (100 g) of cereal (no more than six grams (6 g) of sugar per
			 ounce). Half of the cereals authorized must have whole grain as the primary
			 ingredient by weight and meet labeling requirements.
x) Eggs, Grade A large, white only.
xi) Peanut butter, with no added
			 flavorings.
xii) Mature legumes or
			 beans.
xiii) Canned tuna or pink
			 salmon packed in water or oil.
xiv)
			 Infant fruits and vegetables include any variety of single ingredient,
			 commercial infant food fruits or vegetables without added sugars, starches, or
			 salt. No organic infant foods or foods with added DHA.
xv) Infant meats include any variety of
			 commercial infant food having meat or poultry as a single major ingredient,
			 with added broth or gravy, and no added sugars, salt, or DHA.
xvi) Whole grains include whole wheat bread,
			 whole grain bread, brown rice, whole wheat, or soft corn tortillas. Whole grain
			 must be the primary ingredient by weight in all whole grain products and meet
			 labeling requirements for making a health claim as a "whole grain food with
			 moderate fat content.".