MEDIA STATEMENT

On Nov. 15, the Postal Service updated international mailing standards concerning international mail shipments containing certain lithium batteries, see links:  http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2012-11-15/pdf/2012-27842.pdf and http://about.usps.com/postal-bulletin/2012/pb22350/pdf/pb22350.pdf.

Specific quantities of lithium batteries are now allowed to be mailed when installed in the equipment they are intended to operate. However, some countries may decide to prohibit the acceptance of mail shipments containing any lithium metal or lithium-ion batteries.

The postal operator of Germany has notified the Postal Service it will not accept packages containing lithium metal or lithium-ion batteries destined to addresses in Germany.

This does not apply to shipments to and from APO (Army Post Office), FPO (Fleet Post Office) and DPO (Diplomatic Post Office) locations in Germany.

Updates to the Individual Country Listings in the International Mail Manual will be issued with the next scheduled online update.

Postal employees will advise customers of this prohibition and will decline any shipments of electronic items containing lithium batteries addressed to Germany.

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