NGA Statement on SNAP Waiver Guidance

• January 6, 2026

The National Grocers Association (NGA), the trade association representing the independent supermarket industry, released the following statement on SNAP waiver guidance:

"For decades, local grocers have served as trusted stewards of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), operating on the front lines of a successful public-private partnership that helps feed more than 40 million Americans each day. Independent, family-owned grocery stores serve their neighbors, and consistently comply with rigorous federal and state regulations. The USDA's recent release of new guidance on state SNAP restriction waivers is an important step, and we appreciate its engagement as these policies move forward.

However, the approval of SNAP restriction waivers has introduced significant new challenges for independent grocers working to serve their communities and uphold the core mission of SNAP. As of January 1, retailers in five states are required to identify, track, and enforce restrictions across tens of thousands of products, necessitating costly system reprogramming, item coding, employee retraining, and customer education. These operational demands place additional strain on stores and could disrupt checkout experiences as retailers work in good faith to comply.

While we appreciate the 90-day implementation window in the guidance, many questions remain unanswered. For SNAP to function effectively as a public-private partnership, retailers need clear and consistent definitions, state-approved UPC lists, and adequate time to ensure they can implement changes accurately and efficiently. Unfortunately, much of this information is still lacking, yet grocers are required to comply, exposing them to the risk of penalties.

Independent grocers are proud economic anchors in their communities, creating local jobs, generating tax revenue, and ensuring food access in neighborhoods large and small. For SNAP reforms to succeed, policymakers must pair their ambition with practicality and provide grocers with the clarity, time, and support necessary to carry out these changes."

###

About the National Grocers Association

NGA is the national trade association representing the retail and wholesale community grocers that comprise the independent sector of the food distribution industry. An independent retailer is a privately owned or controlled food retail company operating a variety of formats. The independent grocery sector is accountable for about 1.2 percent of the nation's overall economy and is responsible for generating more than $250 billion in sales, 1.1 million jobs, $39 billion in wages and $36 billion in taxes. NGA members include retail and wholesale grocers located in every congressional district across the country, as well as state grocers' associations, manufacturers and service suppliers. For more information about NGA, visit www.nationalgrocers.org.