WASHINGTON — The National Grocers Association (NGA) welcomes the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s proposed rule requiring states to issue SNAP EBT cards with chip and tap-to-pay technology and requiring SNAP-authorized retailers to accept them.
“Too many families learn their benefits were stolen at the checkout, when trying to buy food for their families, after multinational criminal organizations skimmed their EBT cards,” said Stephanie Johnson, senior vice president and head of government affairs at NGA. “States that adopted SNAP EBT chip cards have seen a significant drop in skimming fraud, and we appreciate USDA and the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud for moving every state toward that standard."
USDA reports at least $360 million in stolen benefits replaced through the second quarter of fiscal year 2025.
The proposal would give states two years after a final rule to transition and would keep FNA SNAP EBT Operating Standards up-to-date as payment technology evolves.
"This is a strong first step in moving toward enhanced security measures for SNAP transactions and meets many of the goals of the bipartisan, bicameral Enhanced Cybersecurity for SNAP Act", Johnson added, "which NGA continues to support as it includes extended measures to bring security even further into the modern age."
