International Mail

IMM REVISION

Change in U.S. Dollar and Special Drawing Right Conversion Rates

Effective January 8, 2006, International Mail Manual (IMM) 324.22 and Exhibit 324.22 are revised to reflect a change in the U.S. dollar and special drawing right (SDR) conversion rates. Postal ServiceTM retail employees use this information when an insured parcel is presented for mailing. Employees must write the insured amount, stated in terms of both U.S. dollars and SDR values, in the designated blocks on PS Form 2976-A, Customs Declaration and Dispatch Note - CP 72.

International Mail Manual (IMM)

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3 Special Services

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320 Insurance

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324 Processing Requests

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324.2 Marking

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324.22 Retail Employee's Responsibility

[Revise 324.22 to read as follows:]

The retail employee must:

a. Indicate on the parcel the amount for which the parcel is insured. Write the amount in ink, and express the amount in U.S. currency and special drawing right (SDR) values, indicating both amounts in figures only. For example:

INSURED VALUE
$100 (U.S.)
66.87 SDR

b. See Exhibit 324.22 for a table showing the conversion of U.S. dollar values up to $600 to SDR equivalents. To determine SDR equivalents above $600, multiply the insured amount, rounded up to the next full dollar, by the conversion factor of 0.6687.

Note: Use the following formulas in the conversion of U.S. dollars and SDR equivalents:

1 U.S. $ = 0.6687 SDR
1 SDR = $1.50 (1.4954)

c. Enter the insured number, insured amount, and SDR equivalent on PS Form 2976-A, Customs Declaration and Dispatch Note CP - 72.

Exhibit 342.22
Conversion Table: U.S. Dollars to Special Drawing Right (SDR)

[Revise Exhibit 324.22 by inserting the new conversion formulas before the table as well as the new table to read as follows:]

1 US $ = 0.6687 SDR 1 SDR = $1.50 [1.4954]

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We will incorporate this revision into the printed version of IMM 32 and also into the online IMM 32 available on Postal Explorer® at pe.usps.com.

— Mailing Standards,
Pricing and Classification, 12-22-05

IMM REVISION

PS Form 2976-A, Customs Declaration and Dispatch Note - CP 72

Effective January 8, 2006, International Mail Manual (IMM) Exhibit 123.721 is revised to reflect changes to PS Form 2976-A, Customs Declaration and Dispatch Note - CP 72. We have revised the form by adding a notice of parcel post indemnity coverage in the instructions on the reverse of the Sender's Copy (copy 6). An image of the instructions page appears on page 24 of this issue of the Postal Bulletin.

At its September 2004 Congress, the Universal Postal Union (UPU) voted to implement significant changes in parcel post service. Indemnity coverage is now provided for all ordinary, uninsured international airmail and economy mail parcel post. This new coverage is provided at no additional charge and protects mailers against loss, damage, or rifling. We have redesigned PS Form 2976-A to meet these new requirements.

For more information on changes to international parcel post service (as well as other changes), see the article titled "IMM Revision: Changes in International Mail" on pages 18-25 in Postal Bulletin 22169 (12-8-05).

For information on ordering copies of PS Form 2976-A, see the article titled "Revised Form: PS Form 2976-A Available at the MDC" on page 23 in this issue of the Postal Bulletin.

International Mail Manual (IMM)

1 International Mail Services

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120 Preparation for Mailing

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123 Customs Forms

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123.7 Completing Customs Forms

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123.72 PS Form 2976-A, Customs Declaration and Dispatch Note - CP 72

123.721 Sender's Preparation of PS Form 2976-A

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Exhibit 123.721
PS Form 2976-A, Customs Declaration and Dispatch Note - CP 72 (Copies 1 and 4 and instructions only)

[Replace the image of the instructions page from the June 2005 edition of PS Form 2976-A with the image of the instructions page from the January 2006 edition.]

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We will incorporate this revision into the printed version of IMM 32 and also into the online IMM 32 available on Postal Explorer® at pe.usps.com.

— Mailing Standards,
Pricing and Classification, 12-22-05

REVISED FORM

PS Form 2976-A Available at the MDC

The January 2006 edition of PS Form 2976-A, Customs Declaration and Dispatch Note - CP 72, is now available from the Material Distribution Center (MDC).

You can order PS Form 2976-A from the MDC and use touch tone order entry (TTOE): call 800-332-0317, option 2.

Note: You must be registered to use TTOE. To register, call 800-332-0317, option 1, extension 2925, and follow the prompts to leave a message. (Wait 48 hours after registering before placing your first order.)

Use the following information to order PS Form 2976-A:

PSIN: PS2976A
PSN: 7530-01-000-9834
Unit of measure: SE
Minimum Order Quantity: 125
Quick Pick Number: 154
Bulk Pack Quantity: 1,500
Price: $0.0617

For information on the revisions to PS Form 2976-A, see the article titled "IMM Revision: PS Form 2976-A, Customs Declaration and Dispatch Note - CP 72" on page 22 in this issue of the Postal Bulletin.

— Mailing Standards,
Pricing and Classification, 12-22-05

NOTICE

Japan's Redesigned International Postal Money Order Includes New Security Features

Japan Post has redesigned its International Postal Money Order. It will be payable in the United States effective January 4, 2006. An image of the new Japanese International Postal Money Order is shown below.

The new Japanese International Postal Money Order includes the following security features:

• A spot hologram that repeats the word "OK" as the document is held at different angles.

• The word "COPY" across the top of a presented money order if it is not genuine.

Japan Post will destroy all old money orders and issue only the redesigned money orders from January 2006. However, some old money orders may still be in circulation and must be honored until their expiration date. The validity of money orders issued in Japan and payable in the United States will extend for 3 months after the month of issue - for example, money orders issued in December 2005 will expire March 31, 2006.

The latest date an old money order can be cashed in the United States is March 31, 2006. Starting April 1, 2006, the United States will honor only the newly redesigned Japanese International Postal Money Order.

— Value Added and Special Services,
Product Development, 12-22-05