Postal Inspection Service

Revised Standards for Mail Deposit

To increase security of the mail, the Postal Ser­vice™ is revising standards for depositing mail bear­ing postage stamps as postage.

Currently, all Priority Mail^®, International Mail, and APO/FPO mail items bearing only postage stamps as post­age and weighing 16 ounces or more must be presented to an employee at a Post Office™ or may be picked up by a mail carrier during a delivery stop or during a sched­uled stop made to collect other mail not subject to a pickup fee.

As of July 30, 2007, the following procedures take effect:

• All mail bearing postage stamps as postage and weighing more than 13 ounces must be presented to an employee at a Postal Service retail service counter for acceptance. This mail may not be deposited in collection boxes or lobby drops.
• Carriers will no longer pick up any mail weighing more than 13 ounces bearing only postage stamps as postage from customers, customer’s mailboxes, or at a business’ outgoing mail collection point.

To ensure that this message is communicated to our customers, postmasters and station managers should pro­vide copies of the attached letter (see page 46) to carriers and collectors for distribution to customers.

— Office of National Preparedness,
U.S. Postal Inspection Service, 7-19-07

Attention Postal Customer

Due to heightened security, the Postal Service™ is revising standards for depositing mail bearing only postage stamps as postage. Currently, all Priority Mail, International Mail, and APO/FPO mail bearing only postage stamps as postage and weighing 16 ounces or more may be:

• Presented to an employee at a Post Office™.
• Picked up by a mail carrier during a delivery stop or during a scheduled stop made to collect other mail not subject to a pickup fee.

Effective July 30, 2007:

• All mail bearing only postage stamps as postage and weighing more than 13 ounces must be presented to an employee at a Postal Service retail service counter for acceptance. This mail may not be deposited in collection boxes or lobby drops.
• Carriers will no longer pick up any mail weighing more than 13 ounces bearing only postage stamps as postage from customer mailboxes or at a business’ outgoing mail collection point.
• Mail bearing only postage stamps as postage and weighing more than 13 ounces that is not presented to an employee at a Postal Service retail service counter will be returned to the customer.

If you have any additional questions, please call 800-ASK-USPS or contact your local postmaster.