The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced earlier this week that they were again extending its waiver deadline for those in need of baby formula.
On Wednesday, the agency said the waivers made available through the federal WIC nutrition program would be extended through the end of the year.
The current waivers were set to expire on Sept. 30.
“USDA recognizes the flexibilities provided by these waivers remain necessary as we continue to pull every lever to address infant formula supply issues and provide certainty for families,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in a news release. “We will continue to work all hands on deck to ensure families can access infant formula, as part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s whole-of-government approach to get more safe formula on store shelves nationwide.”
The waiver program was first introduced in June to deal with the infant formula crisis.
The crisis began in February amid the coronavirus pandemic and then was exacerbated after Abbott announced a voluntary recall and then had to shut its Michigan factory due to contamination, the agency said.
The agency said close to 500 waivers have been issued to WIC state agencies.
