(b) North Carolina WIC program food instruments shall be transacted only at authorized WIC vendors in accordance with the terms of the signed WIC Vendor Agreement (DHHS Form 2768). Neither an agency of the United States government, the State of North Carolina, the local WIC agency nor a past or present WIC participant, parent or caretaker of an infant or child participant, or proxy is under any obligation to pay for food instruments accepted by a store that was not an authorized WIC vendor on the date of transaction of the food instrument.

(c) Only the individual who has received the food instrument at the local or state agency or through the mail and has signed the signature line may countersign the food instrument. Vendors shall assume full responsibility for food instruments not properly countersigned.

(d) North Carolina WIC food instruments shall be deposited at the vendor's bank. These food instruments shall not be assigned, transferred, sold or otherwise negotiated.