The new rules for meal vouchers (VR) and food vouchers (VA) come into force this Saturday (7) and promise to expand the card acceptance network across the country.
The date marks the beginning of the national implementation of so-called interoperability, a mechanism that allows cards from different operators to work in a wider network of establishments.
The objective is to increase competition between companies that administer benefits, reduce costs for merchants and make it easier for workers to use the cards.
According to the National Coordination of the Workers' Food Program (PAT), the change was determined by Decree No. 12,712, published in November 2025.
But what changes for workers? Can meal vouchers be used in supermarkets? What about food vouchers in restaurants? Will it be possible to withdraw money from cards? Are companies required to offer these benefits?
To clarify these and other doubts, g1 listened to experts and consulted information from the National Coordination of PAT and the Labor Tax Audit. Below, they respond:
What is interoperability?
Interoperability allows companies that manage meal vouchers and food vouchers to share their networks of accredited establishments.
In practice, the measure seeks to solve a common problem: arriving at a restaurant, supermarket or cafeteria and discovering that the place accepts meal vouchers or food vouchers, but not the brand on your card.
With full interoperability, networks begin to function in an integrated manner. Thus, an establishment will be able to accept cards from different operators using the same payment structure, without having to contract each company separately.
What changes for the worker?
Workers should find more establishments that accept their meal vouchers or food vouchers, regardless of the card brand.
The change, however, does not increase the card balance, does not allow the benefit to be transformed into cash nor does it expand the types of products that can be purchased.
According to Elber, workers will have an easier time using the cards, but will continue to be subject to the same rules regarding what they can buy with each benefit.
Can meal vouchers be used in supermarkets?
No. Although the cards will now be accepted in more establishments, this does not change the rules on the use of benefits.
What is being expanded is the network of locations that accept cards, maintaining the purpose of each benefit.
The meal voucher continues to be used to purchase ready-made meals, such as lunches, dinners and snacks, in restaurants, cafeterias, bakeries and similar establishments.
Food vouchers continue to be used to purchase food, such as those sold in supermarkets and grocery stores.
Can I buy electronics, medicines and other products in supermarkets?
No. According to Elber, even though supermarkets, pharmacies, gas stations and convenience stores sell food, the cards continue to be used exclusively for food expenses.
Benefits cannot be used to purchase medicines, fuel, cosmetics, hygiene products, electronics or other products that are not food.
The rule also applies to supermarkets. Even though these establishments sell appliances, cell phones, toys, clothes and household items, these products cannot be paid for with meal vouchers or food vouchers.
And alcoholic drinks?
PAT rules determine that resources are used to feed the worker.
Therefore, products that do not meet this purpose, such as alcoholic beverages, may be considered incompatible with the program's rules during inspections by the responsible bodies.
Can I withdraw money from the card?
No. The money deposited by the company continues to be used exclusively for food and cannot be moved freely like the balance in a bank account.
The worker cannot withdraw the balance, transfer the amounts to a bank account or use other means to transform the benefit into cash.
According to Elber, informal agreements between workers and merchants to exchange card balances for cash continue to be irregular.
Can I transfer the balance to another person or between benefits?
No. Those who receive both benefits will continue to have a specific balance for meal vouchers and another for food vouchers.
It will not be allowed to transfer money from one benefit to another or send the amounts to other people.
Do the new rules also apply to delivery apps?
Yes. The rules remain valid regardless of whether the purchase is made in person or online.
Will multi-benefit cards be banned?
No. Companies will be able to continue offering cards that combine different benefits in a single payment method.
The difference is that the amounts allocated to food must be separated from the balances of other benefits available on the same card.
According to Elber, the values of meal vouchers and food vouchers linked to the PAT must continue to be identified and subject to the program's rules. Other benefits may follow different rules.
Will establishments be required to accept meal vouchers and food vouchers?
No. Each establishment will continue to be able to decide whether or not to accept meal vouchers and food vouchers.
For establishments that already accept these benefits, however, the tendency is for restrictions related to different brands to decrease.
What to do if the card is declined?
The first step is to confirm whether the establishment accepts meal vouchers or food vouchers.
If the establishment accepts the benefit, but refuses the card brand, there may be an integration failure between operators, a technical problem or non-compliance with the new rules.
According to Elber, the worker must record the date and place of the payment attempt and, if possible, save the error message displayed on the machine.
This information can help the worker file a complaint with the card operator, the company's human resources department or consumer protection agencies.
The expectation is that refusals will decrease with the full implementation of interoperability, although occasional failures may still occur during adaptation to the new system.
Can the establishment charge an extra fee or require a minimum amount?
No. Charging an extra fee for the use of meal vouchers or food vouchers, or requiring a minimum amount to accept payment, is considered an abusive practice.
The rule applies to cards from all operators. The consumer cannot be harmed by choosing to pay for a purchase with meal vouchers or food vouchers.
If this happens, the advice is to keep evidence of the charge or requirement and contact consumer protection agencies.
Will the benefit amount change?
No. The changes do not alter the amounts that companies deposit on meal voucher and food voucher cards.
The value of benefits will continue to be defined by companies or by collective conventions and agreements for each professional category.
What changes for traders?
Representatives of restaurants, supermarkets and other establishments have complained for years about the fees charged by operators and the delay in receiving amounts paid with meal vouchers and food vouchers.
These costs meant that many small establishments considered it little advantageous to accept cards from certain operators.
The new rules limited the fees charged by establishment operators to 3.6% and determined that sales amounts be transferred within 15 calendar days.
Furthermore, interoperability reduces the need to hire different payment solutions and allows establishments to serve workers who use cards from various operators.
According to experts, the changes can improve the cash flow of establishments, making it easier to pay day-to-day expenses, and make accepting benefits more advantageous for merchants.
Can anyone who breaks the rules be fined?
Yes. According to the Labor Tax Audit, anyone who fails to comply with the rules set out in the legislation and program regulations may suffer administrative penalties.
Penalties can be applied to operators, commercial establishments and other system participants, depending on the type of irregularity.
The objective is to ensure that the money allocated to feed workers is used correctly and that the other rules of the program are respected.
Law No. 6,321 provides for fines ranging from R$5,000 to R$50,000. Fines can be doubled in case of repeat offense or when there is an attempt to hinder inspection.
In addition to fines, other administrative penalties may be applied, depending on the severity of the irregularity.
Do companies registered with PAT need to make any updates?
Yes. In addition to the new rules for cards, companies and professionals registered with PAT also need to be aware of an obligation to update their registration.
According to the Labor Tax Audit, nutritionists, beneficiary companies, suppliers and facilitators registered with PAT have until November 9, 2026 to update their data in the program's new system.
