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Information for Retailers
What you can find...
Retailer Selection Criteria
Retailers must meet all the following requirements in order to be considered
for authorization. Applying for WIC authorization does not guarantee you
will be authorized. The WIC Program does not authorize every retailer that
applies.
Once authorized, retailers must continue to meet all of the following
requirements, and any changes to the criteria, in order to remain authorized.
The WIC Program may review your compliance with the Retailer Selection Criteria
any time in the contract period. Failure to meet any of the selection
criteria is cause for denial or ending the contract.
WIC Program bases the selection of each retailer on the following
criteria:
Program Need
The program mission is to improve the lifelong health and nutrition of
women, infants, and children in Washington state. Meeting this mission
is the foundation for selection of authorized retailers. Retailers are
selected to provide clients reasonable access to the nutrition provided by
WIC foods.
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Check Volume
Retailers re-applying must take an average of at least forty checks per
month.
Retailers with no WIC history will be on probation for one year or the the
end of the contract period, whichever comes first. The WIC Program will
evaluate the retailer's check volume at the end of the probation and may take
action to end the contract.
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WIC Approved Foods
Retailers must have on the shelves:
- At least the minimum quantities of WIC approved foods as specified
in the WIC Approved Foods - Minimum Stock Levels when they apply.
- The minimum quantity of the WIC contract formulas for at least 1-2
infants, using the quantities specified in the WIC Approved Foods -
Minimum Stock Levels.
- At least the minimum variety of items for all WIC food categories as
specified in the WIC Approved Foods - Minimum Stock Levels.
- WIC approved foods with current shelf lives.
Retailers must:
- Maintain minimum stock levels throughout the contract period.
- Purchase infant formula only from a wholesaler, distributor,
retailer, or supplier approved by the WIC Program.
- Be prepared to provide documentation identifying where they buy
infant formula.
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Prices of WIC Approved Foods
A retailer must agree to and maintain prices of individual WIC foods at or
less than the maximum price within their assigned peer group, as determined by
the WIC Program.
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Business Operations
A retailer must:
- Have a valid Washington state tax registration (UBI) number.
Oregon and Idaho retailers must have all valid licenses required by
their respective state.
- Have an activated Food Stamp authorization number. Pharmacies
are exempt.
- Operate from a fixed, permanent location.
- Be a full line/full service retailer that stocks a variety of staple
foods on a continuous basis in addition to WIC approved foods.
Staple foods include fresh, frozen, and/or canned unbreaded meat,
poultry, fruits, and vegetables; dairy products, and grain products,
such as bread, rice, and pasta.
- Be open for business at least eight hours per day, six days per
week.
- Accept cash and food stamp EBT.
- Receive or be expected to receive no more than fifty percent (50%)
of their total annual food sales from WIC transactions.
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Business Integrity
The WIC Program will not authorize a retailer if, in the last six years, the
retailer has been disqualified from WIC or the Food Stamp Program or has been
assessed a monetary penalty instead of a Food Stamp disqualification.
Exceptions may be considered based on program need.
An owner, officer, or partner of a retailer must not have bought or sold a
store in order to avoid a WIC sanction.
The WIC Program will deny or revoke a retailer's WIC authorization if any of
the owners, officers, partners, or managers has been convicted of or had a civil
judgment for fraud, antitrust violations, embezzlement, theft, forgery, bribery,
falsification or destruction of records, making false statements, receiving
stolen property, making false claims, or obstruction of justice in the last six
years.
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Compliance with the WIC
Contract
A retailer must attend training on WIC requirements at least once per
contract period.
A retailer must comply with all program requirements.
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For more information on retailer selection criteria contact the WIC Retailer Management Team at
1-800-841-1410.
WIC Checker Newsletters
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WIC Retailer Training Dates
Participating in interactive WIC training at least once during the contract cycle is required by your WIC Retailer Contract (section 6(a) under Special Terms and Conditions). Failure to do so may jeopardize your ability to continue WIC authorization for the next contract cycle beginning April 1, 2009.
There are no more trainings scheduled for 2008.
2009 dates will be posted soon so check back often.
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Documents posted in PDF version on the Department of Health Web
site will be made available on request to users who are unable to download or
view them. For persons with disabilities, PDF documents will be made available
on request in other formats. To submit a request, contact
WIC's Subsite Developer. Download the free PDF viewer here.
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