Effective March 27, 2011, the Postal Service™ is revising Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, International Mail Manual (IMM®) sections 292.4 and 293.4 to update various mail preparation standards that are applicable when mailers are required to prepare and apply International Priority Airmail™ (IPA®) or International Surface Air Lift® (ISAL®) labels (facing slips) or sack tags to direct country bundles or direct country sacks.
These new standards will provide greater consistency for labeling IPA and ISAL direct country bundles and direct country sacks.
We are slightly revising the markings requirement for both direct country bundle labels and direct country sack tags as follows:
n On either an IPA or ISAL direct country label, the mailer must identify the destination on the first address line by using the three-letter foreign office of exchange code. (Previously, the mailer used the foreign exchange office name rather than the three-letter foreign office of exchange code.)
n On an IPA direct county sack, the mailer must identify the destination country and the three-letter foreign office of exchange code. (Previously, the mailer identified only the destination country.) The required tag for IPA direct county sacks is PS Tag 178, Airmail Bag Label LC (CN 35/AV 8) (white).
n On an ISAL direct county sack, the mailer must identify the destination country and the three-letter foreign office of exchange code. (Previously, the mailer identified only the destination country — note, though, that the requirement to specify the price group on the back of the tag remains unchanged.) The required tag for ISAL direct county sacks is PS Tag 155, Surface Airlift Mail.
Because the foreign exchange office name is no longer required for labels, we are revising IMM Exhibits 292.452 and 293.452 by removing that information.
In addition, for IPA mailings, mailers will be eligible to prepare direct country sacks and receive direct country sack pricing for 17 additional countries (e.g., Andorra). Previously, IPA mailings for these destinations were prepared in mixed country sacks, and they could qualify for the mixed country price only when the mailer drop shipped them at an International Service Center (ISC).
Finally, for IPA service, note that Bermuda and Macedonia contain new foreign office of exchange codes, and note that the price groups for Montserrat and Saint Helena are revised to price groups 15 and 13, respectively (the price groups for these countries were inadvertently reversed during the price change that was effective on May 11, 2009).
Included in this Postal Bulletin article are the revised exhibits in their entirety. To emphasize the revisions for this article, the exhibits published here include special markings — we have placed an asterisk before each country that has a change (in some cases, such as for Australia, the change is just to the footnote number), and we have used bold to indicate the revised information (excluding the removal of the “Foreign Exchange Office Name” column, which is eliminated entirely from each exhibit). When published in the IMM, the exhibits will not include these special markings.
In order to provide mailers the time needed to make necessary logistic and software changes, we are delaying the required implementation until March 27, 2011. Nonetheless, in order to expedite delivery, mailers may implement these changes immediately.
Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, International Mail Manual (IMM)
* * * * *
2 Conditions for Mailing
* * * * *
290 Commercial Services
* * * * *
292 International Priority Airmail (IPA) Service
* * * * *
292.4 Mail Preparation
* * * * *
292.45 Sortation
* * * * *
292.452 Presorted Mail — Direct Country Bundle Label
[Revise 292.452 (including the exhibit) to read as follows:]
Only direct country bundles prepared for mixed country sacks require a label (facing slip). Mailers must complete the label and place it on the address side of the top piece of each bundle in such a manner that it will not become separated from the bundle. The pressure-sensitive labels and optional endorsement lines used domestically for presort mail are prohibited for IPA service. Bundle labels must contain the following information:
Line 1: Foreign Office of Exchange Code. (See Exhibit 292.452.)
Line 2: Country Labeling Name. (See Exhibit 292.452.)
Line 3: Mailer, Mailer Location (City and State).
Example:
Exhibit 292.452 IPA Country Price Groups and Foreign Office of Exchange Codes
Country Labeling Name
|
Foreign Office of Exchange Code
|
Price
Group
|
Afghanistan
|
KBL
|
15
|
Albania
|
TIA
|
12
|
Algeria
|
ALG
|
15
|
* Andorra, via Spain
|
MAD
|
11
|
Angola
|
LAD
|
15
|
Anguilla
|
AXA
|
13
|
Antigua and Barbuda
|
ANU
|
13
|
Argentina
|
BUE
|
13
|
Armenia
|
EVN
|
15
|
Aruba
|
AUA
|
13
|
* Ascension, via Great Britain
|
LON
|
12
|
* Australia 1
|
SYD
|
9
|
Austria
|
VIE
|
11
|
Azerbaijan
|
BAK
|
15
|
Bahamas
|
NAS
|
13
|
Bahrain
|
BAH
|
15
|
Bangladesh
|
DAC
|
15
|
Barbados
|
BGI
|
13
|
Belarus
|
MSQ
|
12
|
Belgium
|
BRU
|
11
|
Belize
|
BZE
|
13
|
Benin
|
COO
|
15
|
* Bermuda
|
SGE
|
13
|
* Bhutan, via Great Britain
|
LON
|
15
|
Bolivia
|
LPB
|
13
|
Bosnia-Herzegovina
|
SJJ
|
12
|
Botswana
|
GBE
|
15
|
Brazil
|
CWB
|
13
|
British Virgin Islands
|
RAD
|
13
|
Brunei Darussalam
|
BWN
|
14
|
Bulgaria
|
SOF
|
12
|
Burkina Faso
|
OUA
|
15
|
Burma (Myanmar)
|
RGN
|
15
|
Burundi
|
BJM
|
15
|
Cambodia
|
PNH
|
14
|
Cameroon
|
DLA
|
15
|
* Canada
|
See 292.47
Canadian Labeling Information
|
1
|
Cape Verde
|
RAI
|
15
|
Cayman Islands
|
GCM
|
13
|
Central African Republic
|
BGF
|
15
|
Chad
|
NDJ
|
15
|
Chile
|
SCL
|
13
|
China
|
BJS
|
14
|
Colombia
|
BOG
|
13
|
* Comoros Islands, via France
|
CDG
|
15
|
Congo, Dem. Rep. of the
|
FIH
|
15
|
Congo, Rep. of the
|
BZV
|
15
|
Cook Islands
|
RAR
|
11
|
Costa Rica
|
SJO
|
13
|
Cote d’Ivoire
|
ABJ
|
15
|
Croatia
|
ZAG
|
12
|
Cuba
|
HAV
|
13
|
Cyprus
|
LCA
|
15
|
Czech Republic
|
PRG
|
12
|
Denmark
|
CPH
|
11
|
Djibouti
|
JIB
|
15
|
Dominica
|
DOM
|
13
|
Dominican Republic
|
SDQ
|
13
|
Ecuador
|
UIO
|
13
|
Egypt
|
CAI
|
15
|
El Salvador
|
SAL
|
13
|
Equatorial Guinea
|
SSG
|
15
|
Eritrea
|
ASM
|
15
|
Estonia
|
TLL
|
12
|
Ethiopia
|
ADD
|
15
|
* Falkland Islands, via Great Britain
|
LON
|
13
|
* Faroe Islands, via Denmark
|
CPH
|
12
|
Fiji
|
NAN
|
14
|
Finland
|
HEL
|
11
|
* France 2
|
CDG
|
5
|
French Guiana
|
CAY
|
13
|
French Polynesia
|
FAA
|
14
|
Gabon
|
LBV
|
15
|
Gambia
|
BJL
|
15
|
Georgia, Republic of
|
TBS
|
15
|
Germany
|
FRA
|
4
|
Ghana
|
ACC
|
15
|
Gibraltar
|
GIB
|
11
|
Great Britain (includes England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Guernsey, Jersey, Alderney, Sark, and The Isle of Man)
|
LON
|
3
|
Greece
|
ATH
|
11
|
* Greenland, via Denmark
|
CPH
|
11
|
Grenada
|
GND
|
13
|
Guadeloupe
|
PTP
|
13
|
Guatemala
|
GUA
|
13
|
Guinea
|
CKY
|
15
|
Guinea-Bissau
|
OXB
|
15
|
Guyana
|
GEO
|
13
|
Haiti
|
PAP
|
13
|
Honduras
|
TGU
|
13
|
Hong Kong
|
HKG
|
14
|
Hungary
|
BUD
|
12
|
Iceland
|
REK
|
11
|
India
|
DEL
|
15
|
Indonesia
|
JKT
|
14
|
Iran
|
THR
|
15
|
Iraq
|
BGW
|
15
|
Ireland
|
DUB
|
11
|
Israel
|
TLV
|
11
|
Italy
|
MIL
|
7
|
Jamaica
|
KIN
|
13
|
Japan
|
NRT
|
10
|
Jordan
|
AMM
|
15
|
Kazakhstan
|
ALA
|
15
|
Kenya
|
NBO
|
15
|
Kiribati
|
TRW
|
14
|
* Korea, Democratic People’s Republic of (North), via Hong Kong
|
HKG
|
14
|
Korea, Republic of (South)
|
SEL
|
14
|
Kosovo, Republic of
|
PRN
|
12
|
Kuwait
|
KWI
|
15
|
Kyrgyzstan
|
FRU
|
12
|
Laos
|
VTE
|
14
|
Latvia
|
RIX
|
12
|
Lebanon
|
BEY
|
15
|
Lesotho
|
MSU
|
15
|
Liberia
|
MLW
|
15
|
Libya
|
TIP
|
15
|
* Liechtenstein, via Switzerland
|
ZRH
|
11
|
Lithuania
|
VNO
|
12
|
Luxembourg
|
LUX
|
11
|
Macao
|
MFM
|
12
|
* Macedonia
|
FRA
|
12
|
Madagascar
|
TNR
|
15
|
Malawi
|
LBE
|
15
|
Malaysia
|
KUL
|
14
|
Maldives
|
MLE
|
15
|
Mali
|
BKO
|
15
|
Malta
|
MAR
|
15
|
Martinique
|
FDF
|
13
|
Mauritania
|
NKC
|
15
|
Mauritius
|
MRU
|
15
|
Mexico
|
MEX
|
2
|
Moldova
|
KIV
|
15
|
Monaco
|
MON
|
5
|
Mongolia
|
ULN
|
14
|
Montenegro
|
TGD
|
13
|
* Montserrat
|
MNI
|
13
|
Morocco
|
CAS
|
15
|
Mozambique
|
MPM
|
15
|
Namibia
|
WDH
|
15
|
Nauru
|
INU
|
14
|
Nepal
|
KTM
|
14
|
Netherlands
|
AMS
|
8
|
* Netherlands Antilles
|
CUR 3
|
13
|
SXM 4
|
13
|
New Caledonia
|
NOU
|
14
|
* New Zealand 5
|
AKL
|
11
|
Nicaragua
|
MGA
|
13
|
Niger
|
NIM
|
15
|
Nigeria
|
LOS
|
15
|
Norway
|
OSL
|
11
|
Oman
|
MCT
|
15
|
Pakistan
|
ISB
|
15
|
Panama
|
PTY
|
13
|
Papua New Guinea
|
BOR
|
14
|
Paraguay
|
ASU
|
13
|
Peru
|
LIM
|
13
|
Philippines
|
MNL
|
14
|
* Pitcairn Island, via New Zealand
|
AKL
|
14
|
Poland
|
WAW
|
12
|
Portugal (includes Azores and Madeira Islands)
|
LIS
|
11
|
Qatar
|
DOH
|
15
|
Reunion
|
RUN
|
15
|
Romania
|
BUH
|
12
|
Russia
|
MOW
|
12
|
Rwanda
|
KGL
|
15
|
Saint Christopher and Nevis
|
SKB
|
13
|
* Saint Helena, via Great Britain
|
LON
|
15
|
Saint Lucia
|
SLU
|
13
|
* Saint Pierre and Miquelon, via Canada
|
See 292.47
Canadian Labeling Information
|
13
|
Saint Vincent and The Grenadines
|
KTN
|
13
|
* San Marino, via Italy
|
MIL
|
11
|
* Sao Tome and Principe, via Portugal
|
LIS
|
12
|
Saudi Arabia
|
DMM
|
15
|
Senegal
|
DKR
|
15
|
Serbia, Republic of
|
BEG
|
12
|
Seychelles
|
SEZ
|
15
|
Sierra Leone
|
FNA
|
15
|
Singapore
|
SIN
|
14
|
Slovak Republic (Slovakia)
|
BTS
|
12
|
Slovenia
|
LJU
|
12
|
Solomon Islands
|
HIR
|
14
|
* Somalia
|
Service Suspended
|
15
|
South Africa
|
JNB
|
15
|
Spain (includes Canary Islands)
|
MAD
|
11
|
Sri Lanka
|
CMB
|
15
|
Sudan
|
KRT
|
15
|
Suriname
|
PBM
|
13
|
Swaziland
|
MTS
|
15
|
Sweden
|
STO
|
11
|
Switzerland
|
ZRH
|
6
|
Syria
|
DAM
|
15
|
Taiwan
|
TPE
|
14
|
Tajikistan
|
DYU
|
15
|
Tanzania
|
DAR
|
15
|
Thailand
|
BKK
|
14
|
Togo
|
LFW
|
15
|
Tonga
|
TBU
|
14
|
Trinidad and Tobago
|
POS
|
13
|
* Tristan da Cunha, via South Africa
|
JNB
|
15
|
Tunisia
|
TUN
|
15
|
Turkey
|
IST
|
12
|
Turkmenistan
|
ASB
|
12
|
Turks and Caicos Islands
|
GDT
|
13
|
* Tuvalu, via Fiji
|
NAN
|
14
|
Uganda
|
KLA
|
15
|
Ukraine
|
IEV
|
15
|
United Arab Emirates
|
DXB
|
15
|
Uruguay
|
MVD
|
13
|
Uzbekistan
|
TAS
|
15
|
Vanuatu
|
VLI
|
14
|
Vatican City
|
VAT
|
11
|
Venezuela
|
CCS
|
13
|
Vietnam
|
SGN
|
14
|
* Wallis and Futuna Islands, via New Caledonia
|
NOU
|
14
|
Western Samoa
|
APW
|
14
|
Yemen
|
SAH
|
15
|
Zambia
|
LUN
|
15
|
Zimbabwe
|
HRE
|
15
|
1 At the mailer’s option, a finer sortation for IPA items addressed to Australia may be used. If this option is chosen, items addressed with postal codes beginning with 0, 1, 2, 4, and 9 and uncoded mail should be sorted and packaged to Sydney. Direct country sacks should be tagged to Sydney as well. Both the three-letter exchange office code (“SYD”) and the country name (“Australia”) should be entered in the “To” block of PS Tag 178, Airmail Bag Label LC (CN 35/AV 8) (white). Items addressed with postal codes beginning with 3, 5, 6, 7, and 8 should be sorted and packaged to Melbourne. Direct country sacks should be tagged to Melbourne as well. Both the three-letter exchange office code (“MEL”) and the country name (“Australia”) should be entered in the “To” block of PS Tag 178.
2 For all destinations to France other than Monaco. For Monaco, see the entry for Monaco in this exhibit.
3 Includes Bonaire and Curacao.
4 Includes Saba and Saint Eustatius.
5 For all destinations to New Zealand other than Cook Islands. For Cook Islands, see the entry for Cook Islands in this exhibit.
|
* * * * *
292.46 Sacking Requirements
292.461 Direct Country Sack (5 Pounds or More)
The following standards apply:
* * * * *
[Revise 292.461b to read as follows:]
b. Direct Country Sack Tags. For each direct country sack, the mailer must do the following:
1. Complete PS Tag 178, Airmail Bag Label LC (CN 35/AV 8) (white), which is a white tag designed to route the sack to a specific country. The mailer must complete the “To” block showing the destination country and the foreign office of exchange code as listed in Exhibit 292.452. Postal Service personnel — not the mailer — must complete the blocks for date, weight, and dispatch information.
2. Complete PS Tag 115, International Priority Airmail, which is a pink tag that identifies the mail to ensure it receives priority handling. On the back of PS Tag 115, the mailer must specify the price group as listed in Exhibit 292.452.
3. Attach both PS Tag 178 and PS Tag 115 to the neck of the sack.
* * * * *
293 International Surface Air Lift (ISAL) Service
* * * * *
293.4 Mail Preparation
* * * * *
293.45 Sortation
* * * * *
293.452 Presorted Mail — Direct Country Bundle Label
[Revise 292.452 (including the exhibit) to read as follows:]
Only direct country bundles prepared for mixed country sacks require a label (facing slip). Mailers must complete the label and place it on the address side of the top piece of each bundle in such a manner that it will not become separated from the bundle. The pressure-sensitive labels and optional endorsement lines used domestically for presort mail are prohibited for ISAL service. Bundle labels must contain the following information:
Line 1: Foreign Office of Exchange Code. (See Exhibit 293.452.)
Line 2: Country Labeling Name. (See Exhibit 293.452.)
Line 3: Mailer, Mailer Location (City and State).
Example:
Exhibit 293.452 ISAL Country Price Groups and Foreign Office of Exchange Codes
* * * * *
293.46 Sacking Requirements
293.461 Direct Country Sack (5 Pounds or More)
The following standards apply:
* * * * *
[Revise 293.461b to read as follows:]
b. Direct Country Sack Tags. For each direct country sack, the mailer must do the following:
1. Complete both sides of PS Tag 155, Surface Airlift Mail, which identifies the mail to ensure it receives priority handling. On the front of the tag, the mailer must identify the destination country and the foreign office of exchange code as listed in Exhibit 293.452. On the back of the tag, the mailer must specify the price group as listed in Exhibit 293.452.
2. Attach PS Tag 155 to the neck of the sack.
* * * * *
We will incorporate these revisions into the next printed version of the IMM and into the monthly update of the online IMM, which is available via Postal Explorer® at http://pe.usps.com.
— Mailing Standards,
Pricing, 1-13-11
