Effective June 6, 2011, the Postal Service™ will revise Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, International Mail Manual (IMM®) parts 422 and 423 for the proper disposition of outbound international unpaid and shortpaid mail.
These revisions provide for consistent handling of unpaid and shortpaid items at USPS® facilities (including the International Service Centers). These revisions reflect updated procedures for the proper disposition of unpaid and shortpaid items for the following categories of mail: Express Mail International®, Priority Mail International®, First-Class Mail International®, and Airmail M-bags.
Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, International Mail Manual (IMM)
* * * * *
4 Treatment of Outbound Mail
* * * * *
[Revise the heading of 420 to read as follows (to match the order of 422 and 423):]
420 Unpaid and Shortpaid Mail
* * * * *
422 Unpaid Mail
[Revise 422 in its entirety to read as follows:]
422.1 Unpaid Mail With a Return Address
Regardless of mail class, return to the sender each unpaid mailpiece that has a return address. Endorse the mailpiece with rubber stamp R-1300-230, Return For…Additional Postage.
422.2 Unpaid Mail Without a Return Address
Regardless of mail class, forward each unpaid mailpiece that doesn’t have a return address to the Mail Recovery Center for proper disposition.
423 Shortpaid Mail
* * * * *
423.2 Disposition
* * * * *
423.22 Express Mail International Items
[Revise 423.22 through 423.24 to read as follows:]
423.221 Items Paid With Permit Imprint, USPS-Produced PVI Label, or EMCA
Regardless of the amount of deficiency, consider as paid in full each shortpaid Express Mail International item that is paid with a permit imprint, a USPS-produced postage validation imprinter (PVI) label, or Express Mail corporate account (EMCA), and dispatch it to the appropriate International Service Center (ISC).
423.222 Items Paid With Any Other Postage Payment Method
The disposition of a shortpaid Express Mail International item paid with a postage payment method other than a permit imprint, USPS-produced PVI label, or EMCA is based on the amount of the deficiency, as follows:
a. Shortpaid $3.50 or less: Consider the item paid and dispatch it to the country of destination.
b. Shortpaid more than $3.50: Base the disposition on whether or not the item has a return address, as follows:
1. With a return address: Return the item to the sender. Endorse the item with rubber stamp R-1300-230, Return For…Additional Postage.
2. Without a return address: Forward the item to the Mail Recovery Center for proper disposition.
423.23 Priority Mail International Parcel Items (Other Than Priority Mail International Flat Rate Envelopes and Small Flat Rate Boxes)
423.231 Items Paid With a Permit Imprint or USPS-Produced PVI Label
Regardless of the amount of deficiency, consider as paid in full each shortpaid Priority Mail International parcel item that is paid with a permit imprint or USPS-produced postage validation imprinter (PVI) label, and dispatch it to the appropriate International Service Center (ISC).
423.232 Items Paid With Any Other Postage Payment Method
The disposition of a shortpaid Priority Mail International parcel item paid with a postage payment method other than a permit imprint or USPS-produced PVI label is based on the amount of the deficiency, as follows:
a. Shortpaid $3.50 or less: Consider the item paid and dispatch it to the country of destination.
b. Shortpaid more than $3.50: Base the disposition on whether or not the item has a return address, as follows:
1. With a return address: Return the item to the sender. Endorse the item with rubber stamp R-1300-230, Return For…Additional Postage.
2. Without a return address: Forward the item to the Mail Recovery Center for proper disposition.
Note: For Priority Mail International Flat Rate Envelopes and Small Flat Rate Priced Boxes, see 423.24.
423.24 First-Class Mail International Items (including Postcards), Airmail M-bags, Priority Mail International Flat Rate Envelopes, and Priority Mail International Small Flat Rate Priced Boxes
423.241 Items Paid With a Permit Imprint or USPS-Produced PVI Label
Regardless of the amount of deficiency, consider as paid in full each shortpaid First-Class Mail International item (including a postcard), Airmail M-bag, Priority Mail International Flat Rate Envelope, and Priority Mail International Small Flat Rate Priced Box that is paid with a permit imprint or USPS-produced postage validation imprinter (PVI) label, and dispatch it to the appropriate International Service Center (ISC).
423.242 Items Paid With Any Other Postage Payment Method
The disposition of a shortpaid First-Class Mail International item (including a postcard), Airmail M-bag, Priority Mail International Flat Rate Envelope, and Priority Mail International Small Flat Rate Priced Box that is paid with a postage payment method other than a permit imprint or USPS-produced PVI label is based on the amount of the deficiency, as follows:
a. Shortpaid $1.00 or less: Consider the item paid and dispatch it to the appropriate International Service Center (ISC). Endorse the item with a T-stamp in accordance with section 451.4 of Handbook T-5, International Mail Operations. If a T-stamp is not available, endorse the item with a Postage Due stamp and enter the amount of the deficiency on the mailpiece.
b. Shortpaid more than $1.00: Base the disposition on whether or not the item has a return address, as follows:
1. With a return address: Return the item to the sender. Endorse the item with rubber stamp R-1300-230, Return For…Additional Postage.
2. Without a return address: Forward the item to the Mail Recovery Center for proper disposition.
* * * * *
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.
— Product Classification,
Pricing, 4-21-11
