(a) In general

The Secretary shall prescribe such regulations as the Secretary may deem necessary to carry out this chapter and the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act [42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.], including regulations relating to the service of food in participating schools and service institutions in competition with the programs authorized under this chapter and the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act.

(b) National school nutrition standards

(1) Proposed regulations

(A) In general

The Secretary shall—

(i) establish science-based nutrition standards for foods sold in schools other than foods provided under this chapter and the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.); and

(ii) not later than 1 year after December 13, 2010, promulgate proposed regulations to carry out clause (i).

(B) Application

The nutrition standards shall apply to all foods sold—

(i) outside the school meal programs;

(ii) on the school campus; and

(iii) at any time during the school day.

(C) Requirements

In establishing nutrition standards under this paragraph, the Secretary shall—

(i) establish standards that are consistent with the most recent Dietary Guidelines for Americans published under section 5341 of title 7, including the food groups to encourage and nutrients of concern identified in the Dietary Guidelines; and

(ii) consider—

(I) authoritative scientific recommendations for nutrition standards;

(II) existing school nutrition standards, including voluntary standards for beverages and snack foods and State and local standards;

(III) the practical application of the nutrition standards; and

(IV) special exemptions for school-sponsored fundraisers (other than fundraising through vending machines, school stores, snack bars, a la carte sales, and any other exclusions determined by the Secretary), if the fundraisers are approved by the school and are infrequent within the school.

(D) Updating standards

As soon as practicable after the date of publication by the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Health and Human Services of a new edition of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans under section 5341 of title 7, the Secretary shall review and update as necessary the school nutrition standards and requirements established under this subsection.

(2) Implementation

(A) Effective date

The interim or final regulations under this subsection shall take effect at the beginning of the school year that is not earlier than 1 year and not later than 2 years following the date on which the regulations are finalized.

(B) Reporting

The Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate and the Committee on Education and Labor of the House of Representatives a quarterly report that describes progress made toward promulgating final regulations under this subsection.

(c) Transfer of funds; reserve for special projects

Terms Used In 42 USC 1779

  • School: means (A) any public or nonprofit private school of high school grade or under, including kindergarten and preschool programs operated by such school, and (B) any public or licensed nonprofit private residential child care institution (including, but not limited to, orphanages and homes for the mentally retarded, but excluding Job Corps Centers funded by the Department of Labor). See 42 USC 1784
  • School year: means the annual period from July 1 through June 30. See 42 USC 1784
  • Secretary: means the Secretary of Agriculture. See 42 USC 1784
  • State: means any of the fifty States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. See 42 USC 1784

In such regulations the Secretary may provide for the transfer of funds by any State between the programs authorized under this chapter and the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act [42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.] on the basis of an approved State plan of operation for the use of the funds and may provide for the reserve of up to 1 per centum of the funds available for apportionment to any State to carry out special developmental projects.