Domestic Mail

DMM REVISION

Labeling List Changes

Effective February 2, 2006, we are revising Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®) Labeling Lists L001, L007, and L606 to reflect changes in mail processing operations. Mailers are encouraged to label according to these revised lists immediately, but must comply with these changes no later than April 16, 2006.

Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM)

* * * * *

Index and Appendices

* * * * *

Labeling Lists

L000 General Use

L001 5-Digit Scheme-Periodicals, Standard Mail, and Package Services Flats and Irregular Parcels

* * * * *

* * * * *

L007 5-Digit Scheme-Periodicals, Standard Mail, and BPM Flats in Bundles

* * * * *

* * * * *

L600 Standard Mail and Package Services

* * * * *

L606 5-Digit Scheme-Standard Mail and Package Services Parcels

* * * * *

* * * * *

We will incorporate these revisions into the monthly update of the online DMM available via Postal Explorer® at http://pe.usps.com.

— Logistics,
Network Operations Management, 2-2-06

DMM REVISION

Manufacturer's Recall of Prescription Drugs

Effective February 2, 2006, we are revising Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®) to allow the return of prescription drugs by mail when the return is initiated by a drug manufacturer or the manufacturer's registered agent.

Up to now, only drug manufacturers, their agents, pharmacies, and other authorized dispensers could mail prescription drugs; consumers could not. The new standards in DMM 601 allow for the mailing of prescription drugs by consumers only when returning them to drug manufacturers or their agents, pharmacies, and other authorized dispensers and only when the authorized entity provides the consumer with a mailing container bearing a merchandise return service permit indicia.

Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM)

* * * * *

600 Basic Standards for All Mailing Services

601 Mailability

* * * * *

11.0 Other Restricted and Nonmailable Matter

* * * * *

11.11 Controlled Substances

* * * * *

[Add new 11.11.5 as follows:]

11.11.5 Return of Prescription Drugs

Mailers may use merchandise return service to return prescription drugs for purposes of drug recalls; voluntary manufacturer withdrawals; and dispensing errors such as incorrect drug, dosage, or strength, as permitted by 21 CFR 1307.12 or other applicable law. The mailpiece must be addressed to the manufacturer or its registered agent. Manufacturers or their registered agents must furnish mailing containers to their customers for the purpose of mailing back the identified drugs. Manufacturers or their registered agents must use merchandise return service (see 507.9.0) with First-Class Mail or Priority Mail for these mailpieces. Manufacturers or their agents continue to be responsible for maintaining records in compliance with any regulation of the Drug Enforcement Administration and/or the Food and Drug Administration.

* * * * *

We will incorporate this revision into the February 2, 2006, update of the online DMM on Postal Explorer® at http://pe.usps.com and into the next printed edition following that update.

— Mailing Standards,
Pricing and Classification, 2-2-06

NOTICE

Clarification of the Nonmachinable Surcharge for Shrubs, Trees, and Other Nursery Stock

Each spring, Postal ServiceTM personnel have to determine whether to assess a nonmachinable surcharge for shrubs, trees, and other nursery stock in the mailstream. We offer the following information for clarification and to promote consistency.

The nonmachinable surcharge in 453 of the Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®) applies to Parcel Post® mailpieces that do not meet the machinable criteria in DMM 401.1.5 or that meet the nonmachinable criteria in DMM 401.2.3.2. These pieces cannot be processed mechanically and require more costly manual sortation.

• DMM 401.1.5 defines a machinable parcel, in part, as follows (see the DMM for complete details):

• Length: Minimum 6 inches, maximum 34 inches.

• Height: Minimum 3 inches, maximum 17 inches.

• Thickness: Minimum 1/4 inch, maximum 17 inches.

• Weight: Minimum 6 ounces, maximum 35 pounds.

• DMM 401.2.3.2 lists nonmachinable criteria for Parcel Post items, including the following: "j. Parcels with characteristics (such as inadequate packaging) that could result in damage to the contents of the mailpiece, other parcels, or postal machinery if mechanical sortation is used."

Use the following guidelines to determine whether to assess a nonmachinable surcharge for shrubs, trees, and other nursery stock items:

• Assess a nonmachinable surcharge if the item does not meet the machinable criteria in DMM 401.1.5 or if the item meets any of the nonmachinable criteria in DMM 401.2.3.2 - for example, nursery stock mailed with inadequate packaging, such as plastic, vinyl, or paper bags (sealed or unsealed).

• Don't assess a nonmachinable surcharge if an item meets either one of the following criteria:

1. The item meets the machinable criteria in DMM 401.1.5 and is completely enclosed in a box or carton that constitutes adequate packaging.

2. The item is mailed as follows:

• At Express Mail® rates.

• At Priority Mail® rates.

• At Parcel Post oversized rates.

• With special handling service.

• At the following Parcel Select® discount rates:

• Destination sectional center facility (DSCF) discount rates sorted to 5-digit containers.

• Destination delivery unit (DDU) discount rates.

— Mailing Standards,
Pricing and Classification, 2-2-06