WASHINGTON, Dec. 17, 2003 U.S. suppliers will be eligible to compete fornew commodity contracts to feed Iraqi citizens under the Oil-for-FoodProgram.

In November, the Oil-for-Food Program was formally transferred from theUnited Nations to the Coalition Provisional Authority, which administersIraq. The Coalition Provisional Authority requested that the World FoodProgram (WFP), the U.N.’s food aid agency, continue to manage theOil-for-Food Program, under which food and humanitarian supplies arepurchased, imported and distributed to Iraqi citizens.

Existing contracts developed before the war extend through June 2004, butWFP will soon issue new tenders to create a 60-day buffer stock of food.According to WFP, as much as $600 million may be allocated for newpurchases, which are expected to include wheat, pulses, rice, vegetableoil and other commodities.

U.S. suppliers who are registered with WFP as official suppliers forinternational tenders will be eligible to compete for these contracts.Suppliers who are not registered with WFP can get registrationinstructions by contacting the WFP Food Procurement