Company did not “reproduce” WIC vendor stamp by using generic stamp to clarify store number.

The parent company of several WIC-participating grocery stores used a generic four-digit rotary stamp to clarify the store numbers on vouchers that had been returned for illegible or missing vendor stamp imprints.  The Department of Public Health sought to terminate WIC participation for several of the company’s stores based on its determination that such practice violated the WIC program’s prohibition against the reproduction of vendor stamps.  The Court reversed the Department’s proposed action, holding that use of the generic stamp did not meet the definition of “reproduce,” and constituted a method of correction that was not prohibited by program rules.  The Court’s decision was later upheld after review by the Department.