[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 7, Volume 4]
[Revised as of January 1, 2003]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 7CFR271.1]

[Page 538]
 
                          TITLE 7--AGRICULTURE
 
    CHAPTER II--FOOD AND NUTRITION SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 
PART 271--GENERAL INFORMATION AND DEFINITIONS--Table of Contents
 
Sec. 271.1  General purpose and scope.

    (a) Purpose of the food stamp program. The food stamp program is 
designed to promote the general welfare and to safeguard the health and 
well being of the Nation's population by raising the levels of nutrition 
among low-income households. Section 2 of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 
states, in part:

    Congress hereby finds that the limited food purchasing power of low-
income households contributes to hunger and malnutrition among members 
of such households. Congress further finds that increased utilization of 
food in establishing and maintaining adequate national levels of 
nutrition will promote the distribution in a beneficial manner of the 
Nation's agricultural abundance and will strengthen the Nation's 
agricultural economy, as well as result in more orderly marketing and 
distribution of foods. To alleviate such hunger and malnutrition, a food 
stamp program is herein authorized which will permit low-income 
households to obtain a more nutritious diet through normal channels of 
trade by increasing food purchasing power for all eligible households 
who apply for participation.

    (b) Scope of the regulations. Part 271 contains general information, 
definitions, and other material applicable to all parts of this 
subchapter. Part 272 sets forth policies and procedures governing State 
agencies which participate in the program. Part 273 describes the 
eligibility criteria to be applied by State agencies and related 
processing requirements and standards. Part 274 provides requirements 
for the issuance of coupons to eligible households and establishes 
related issuance responsibilities. Part 275 sets forth guidelines for 
monitoring the food stamp program, analyzing the results and formulating 
corrective action. Part 276 establishes State agency liability and 
certain Federal sanctions. Part 277 outlines procedures for payment of 
administrative costs of State agencies. Part 278 delineates the terms 
and conditions for the participation of retail food stores, wholesale 
food concerns, meal services, and insured financial institutions. Part 
279 establishes the procedures for administrative and judicial reviews 
requested by food retailers, food wholesalers, and meal services. Part 
280 explains procedures for issuing emergency coupon allotments to 
certain victims of disasters unable to purchase adequate amounts of 
food. Part 281 sets forth guidelines for designating Indian tribes as 
State agencies. Part 282 provides guidelines for initiation, selection, 
and operation of demonstration, research, and evaluation projects. Part 
284 provides for a nutrition assistance program for the Commonwealth of 
the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). Part 285 describes the general 
terms and conditions under which grant funds are provided to the 
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

[Amdt. 132, 43 FR 47882, Oct. 17, 1982, as amended by Amdt. 216, 47 FR 
23461, May 28, 1982; Amdt. 248, 48 FR 16832, Apr. 19, 1983; Amdt. 356, 
59 FR 29713, June 9, 1994]