FIELD INFORMATION KIT
This Global Express MailTM (GEMTM) Service European Expansion Field Information Kit contains the following items:
• Fact Sheet
• Mailing Tips
• Frequently Asked Questions - General
• Frequently Asked Questions - Retail Associates
• Rates, Fees, and Requirements
This kit replaces the information published in Postal
Bulletin 22098 (3-20-03, pages 21-31).
Effective September 6, 2003, the Postal Service is expanding its agreement with Royal Mail Group's Pan-
European parcel delivery company, General Logistics
System (GLS), for delivery of Global Express Mail
(GEM) to Europe to include Finland, Greece, and Ireland. This brings the total number of countries served by
this advanced delivery system to 18.
With these additions, GEM through GLS now serves
the following European countries:
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Austria
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Germany
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Luxembourg
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Sweden
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Belgium
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Greece
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Malta
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Switzerland
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Denmark
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Ireland
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Monaco
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Vatican City
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Finland
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Italy
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Netherlands
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France
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Liechtenstein
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San Marino
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GLS also delivers Global AirmailTM Parcel Post (air
parcels) to these countries plus Andorra, Gibraltar, Portugal, and Spain. The postal administrations in Andorra,
Gibraltar, Portugal, and Spain will continue to deliver GEM
items in those countries.
The agreement with Royal Mail/GLS will provide improved service, delivery times, and track and trace capabilities at no extra cost to the mailer. All GEM items delivered by GLS can be tracked online at www.usps.com.
Just click on Track & Confirm and then enter the label
number.
A discount program is available for Express Mail Corporate Account (EMCA) holders. All EMCA holders will
receive a minimum 5 percent discount off GEM rates.
Mailers who ship at least 600 pieces or spend $12,000 in
annual postage are eligible for greater discounts.
All GEM items delivered by GLS are automatically insured against loss, damage, or rifling for up to $100 at no
extra cost. Additional merchandise insurance is available
up to $5,000 in value ($1.00 for each additional $100 or
fraction thereof).
GEM service is designed to be delivered in 3 to 5 business days, depending on origin and destination, to more
than 190 countries, with prices to Europe starting at
$17.00.
Online options enable customers to print labels, pay
postage, arrange pick-up service, and order supplies. For
more information, visit www.usps.com (just click on Send
Mail & Packages, then International Delivery Options,
then Go under either "Send Mail" or "Send Packages,"
and then Global Express Mail), or call 800-222-1811.
Each destination country charges customs
and administrative fees on shipments containing dutiable items.
General customs information is available online at
www.usps.com/global/customs.htm. For information
about specific destination countries, go to
www.wcoomd.org, or go to the destination country web
site. For Postal Service customs information, refer to International Mail
Manual (IMM), Section 123.
GLS currently delivers GEM items to Austria, Belgium,
Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, San Marino, Sweden, Switzerland, and Vatican City.
The three additional countries to which GLS will deliver
GEM pieces effective September 6, 2003, are Finland,
Greece, and Ireland.
GLS does not deliver GEM pieces to Andorra, Gibraltar, Portugal, and Spain. The postal administrations in
those countries will deliver GEM items.
GLS cannot deliver to P.O. boxes. Therefore, items addressed to P.O. boxes for any country listed above cannot
be accepted. Please note that the Spanish notation for
post office boxes is "Apartado." Those items destined for
Spain with "Apartado" included in the address cannot be
delivered by GLS.
To ensure address verification and delivery coordination, the recipient's telephone number should always be
included on the GEM label.
Return receipt service for GEM items is not available to
European countries served by GLS, even if the item is
insured.
The weight limit for GEM items to the 18 countries
served by GLS is 70 pounds.
Postage covers delivery only. Additional charges, such
as duties, fees, and taxes, may be charged in the foreign
country, payable by the recipient.
The destination country, not the Postal Service, determines what duties, fees, and taxes will be charged for all
incoming shipments. Foreign customs have the authority
to open the package and validate the customs form with
the articles inside.
• Global AirmailTM Parcel Post and GEM shipments
mailed by consumers and valued under €45 Euros
($50.89 as of August 4, 2003) (note that "€" is the
sign for Euros) are not assessed customs duties,
taxes, or an administrative fee.
• Global Airmail Parcel Post and GEM shipments
mailed by consumers and valued at €45 and up to
but not including €350 ($395.78 as of August 4,
2003) are assessed a combined customs duty and
tax of 13.5 percent plus an administrative fee of
€9.50 ($10.74 as of August 4, 2003).
• Global Airmail Parcel Post and GEM shipments
valued at €350 or more are assessed as if the
parcel were mailed by a business. For additional information on customs requirements and
fees, visit www.usps.com/global/customs.htm and
www.wcoomd.org.
If the shipment is valued at more than $300, the mailer
must place two copies of an invoice inside PS Form
2976-E, Dispatch Note Envelope, containing PS Form
2976-A, Customs Declarations and Dispatch Note CP 72.
A customer who does not have an invoice must write "Pro
Forma Invoice" on the customs form.
Encourage customers to retain their receipts. If the receipt does not contain the custom form number, Postal
Service personnel should record the GEM number and
customs barcoded number on the receipt.
Effective September 6, 2003, the Postal Service is expanding its agreement with Royal Mail Group's Pan-
European parcel delivery company, General Logistics
System (GLS), for delivery of Global Express Mail Service
(GEM) items to include Finland, Greece, and Ireland,
bringing the total number of European countries served
by this transportation system to 18.
On October 31, 2001, the Postal Service entered into
an agreement with the Royal Mail Group for the delivery of
GEM in 6 countries in Europe and delivery of Global Air
Parcel in 22 countries in Europe. GLS, a wholly owned
subsidiary of the Royal Mail Group, makes the actual
deliveries.
The Postal Service's agreement with GLS offers a better combination of service, price, and tracking capability to
customers mailing packages to Europe. The agreement
provides an integrated network for the delivery of GEM
and Air Parcels in Europe and for the first time offers the
ability to track and trace air parcels in addition to GEM.
The Postal Service transports all parcels from the
United States to GLS's hub in Neuenstein, Germany.
From there, GLS distributes the parcels to network countries in Europe for delivery.
The countries covered by the agreement are as
follows:
• GEM: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France,
Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, San Marino, Sweden, Switzerland, and Vatican City.
• Global Airmail Parcel Post: Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Portugal, San
Marino, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and Vatican
City.
All items entering a foreign country are subject to
customs inspection and assessment of duties, taxes, and
fees in accordance with that country's national laws.
This is not new. Customs duties and taxes are assessed,
generally, if the item sent is dutiable and if the value
of the item is above the threshold set by the country's
laws. Each country assesses customs, duties, and taxes.
Check www.wcoomd.org for general information, or visit
the web site of that country's customs service. In addition,
GLS can charge administrative fees to facilitate customs
inspection and deliveries. It is important to understand
that, if duties and taxes are assessed on an item mailed
via the Postal Service, they are collected from the recipient. Postage is charged to cover the cost of delivery only.
Postage does not cover charges assessed by customs in
the destination country.
Consumer air parcels delivered by GLS to European
countries in the European Union (EU) are subject to the
following standards:
• Airmail Parcel Post and GEM shipments mailed by
consumers valued under €45 ($50.89 as of August
4, 2003) are not assessed customs duties, taxes, or
an administrative fee.
• Global Airmail Parcel Post and GEM shipments
mailed by consumers valued at €45 and up to but
not including €350 ($395.78 as of August 4, 2003)
are assessed a combined customs duty and tax of
approximately 13.5 percent plus an administrative
fee of €9.50 ($10.74 as of August 4, 2003) for customs clearance.
• Global Airmail Parcel Post and GEM shipments
mailed by consumers valued at €350 or more are
assessed as if the parcel were mailed by a business.
Shipments worth more than $300 must have a commercial invoice, in duplicate, just like business shipments.
Each destination country charges customs
and administrative fees on shipments containing dutiable items.
General customs information is available online at
www.usps.com/global/customs.htm. For information
about specific destination countries, go to
www.wcoomd.org, or go to the destination country website. For Postal Service
customs information, refer to International Mail Manual (IMM), Section
123, Individual
Country Listings.
For Malta and Switzerland, countries that are not members of the EU, all items enter as high value and may be
assessed duties and taxes.
For most countries, if duties or taxes are assessed,
there also is an administrative fee, in addition to duties
and taxes, that is collected from the recipient to cover the
costs of clearing the item through customs.
In order for recipients in European countries served by
GLS to initiate a claim or inquiry, they must contact the
mailer, who will initiate an inquiry, and, if required, a claim.
The mailer is responsible for completing the appropriate customs declaration. It is essential that mailers using
PS Form 2976-A, Customs Declaration and Dispatch
Note CP 72, properly complete it. The customs declaration form is used by foreign authorities to clear mail for
entry into their country and, when appropriate, assess duties and taxes. Failure to fully and accurately complete the
customs declaration form may result in the delay of the
mail, inconvenience to the recipient, or the incorrect assessment of duties and taxes.
All business air parcels must include a commercial invoice, in duplicate, in addition to the postal customs declaration form. The mailer must place this invoice inside PS
Form 2976-E, Dispatch Note Envelope, with the customs
declaration. Shipments not having commercial invoices
may be delayed or returned to the mailer.
Return receipt service for GEM items is no longer
available to Finland, Greece, and Ireland. Depending on
the country, the maximum size and weight dimensions
may have changed. We will provide service descriptions
and postage rates for these new countries through POS
and IRT and through International Mail Manual (IMM) updates and Postal Bulletin announcements. The administrative fee for GEM items delivered into Finland, Greece,
and Ireland will be €9.50 ($10.74 as of August 4, 2003),
the same as other European countries covered under the
GLS agreement.
Also, it is important to remind customers to read and
complete the customs declaration form, and that applicable duties and fees are assessed by customs in the destination country and are due at delivery.
Customers have experienced more reliable and consistent service. They now also have the ability to track
GEM items delivered by GLS at www.usps.com. Just click
on Track & Confirm and then enter the label number.
• GEM: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France,
Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, San Marino, Sweden, Switzerland, and Vatican City.
• Global Airmail Parcel Post: Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Portugal, San
Marino, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and Vatican
City.
Each GEM item is insured against loss, damage, or
rifling for up to $100 at no extra cost. Customers can purchase additional merchandise insurance up to a maximum value of $5,000 (the cost is $1.00 for each $100 or
fraction thereof above the first $100 in value), but document reconstruction insurance above $100 is not available. No return receipt service is offered to the 18 European countries served by GLS.
No.
No.
GEM can be delivered to P.O. boxes in all countries except those served by GLS. GLS is a postal delivery agent
and as such cannot deliver to P.O. boxes. Only postal administrations can deliver to P.O. boxes. Please note that
the Spanish notation for post office boxes is "Apartado."
Those items destined for Spain with "Apartado" included
in the address cannot be delivered by GLS.
GEM service is designed to be delivered in 3 to 5 business days, depending on origin and destination. GEM
Service is not guaranteed.
There will be no rate changes for GEM items delivered
by GLS.
The weight limit for GEM items to all 18 European
countries served by GLS will be 70 pounds.
GLS is delivering only GEM and Global Airmail Parcels.
Customers with an Express Mail Corporate Account
(EMCA) receive 5 percent off postage on all GEM shipments paid by their EMCA. With the Global Package
Discount Program, mailers who ship at least 600 pieces
or $12,000 in postage annually might be eligible for even
higher discounts. Customers can get more information at
800-843-8777 (800-THE-USPS), ext. GD2449.
• Weight limit: 70 pounds
• Maximum length: 79 inches
• Maximum length and girth combined: 108 inches
• Delivery cannot be made to P.O. boxes.
• A local telephone number for the addressee should
be provided.
• An invoice, in duplicate, is required for all commercial shipments regardless of value and for all personal shipments valued at $300 or more.
• The mailer must affix an invoice to the outside of the
parcel or enclose it in PS Form 2976-E with the customs declaration.
• Depending on the country, maximum size and
weight dimensions and the need for commercial invoices may have changed.
• Return receipt service for GEM items is no longer
available to Finland, Greece, and Ireland.
Countries: France, Ireland, and Luxembourg.
Global Express Mail (See IMM 220)
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Weight
Not Over
(lbs.)
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Rate
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Weight
Not Over
(lbs.)
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Rate
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Weight
Not Over
(lbs.)
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Rate
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0.5
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$17.00
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6
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$34.95
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12
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$53.55
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1
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19.15
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7
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38.05
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13
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56.65
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2
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21.65
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8
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41.15
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14
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59.75
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3
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24.95
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9
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44.25
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15
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62.85
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4
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28.15
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10
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47.35
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16
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65.95
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5
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31.85
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11
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50.45
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17
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69.05
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For each additional pound or fraction add: $3.10
Weight Limit: 70 lbs.
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Countries: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Greece, Italy, Liechtenstein, Malta, Netherlands,
San Marino, Sweden, Switzerland, and Vatican City.
Global Express Mail (See IMM 220)
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Weight
Not Over
(lbs.)
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Rate
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Weight
Not Over
(lbs.)
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Rate
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Weight
Not
Over
(lbs.)
|
Rate
|
|
0.5
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$23.00
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6
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$41.20
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12
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$60.40
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1
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26.00
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7
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44.40
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13
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63.60
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2
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29.00
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8
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47.60
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14
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66.80
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3
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32.00
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9
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50.80
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15
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70.00
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4
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35.00
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10
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54.00
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16
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73.20
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5
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38.00
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11
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57.20
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17
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76.40
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For each additional pound or fraction add: $3.20
Weight Limit: 70 lbs.
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For detailed information for GEM service for each
country, see the Individual Country Listing in the IMM.
- International Marketing,
International Business, 8-21-03
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