Migratory Bird Stamp Destruction

Before April 30, 2009, all retail associates must return unsold migratory bird stamps to the unit reserve. Before May 31, 2009, all unit reserve stock custodians must ship unsold migratory bird stamps to the stamp distribution offices (SDOs)/stamp services centers (SSCs) for receipt. All postal retail units are required to return unsold migratory bird stamps annually. Only philatelic units may maintain inventories of prior-year bird stamps for sale to collectors. SDOs and SSCs must establish and communicate a schedule for postal retail units to submit all unsold migra­tory bird stamps for destruction based on the dates previ­ously mentioned and on the following requirements:

n Use PS Form 17, Stamp Requisition/Stamp Return, to return all unsold migratory bird stamps. Annotate “Returned for Destruction” and “Bird Stamps” on PS Form 17.

n Ship unsold bird stamps along with the original and two copies of PS Form 17 to the SDO/SSC. Place the original PS Form 17 in a sealed envelope and tape it to the outside of the carton clearly marked as “Bird Stamps”.

n Do not commingle international reply coupons (IRCs), redeemed stock, or saleable stock with migratory bird stamps returned for destruction.

Additional instructions for returning nonsaleable stock from the unit reserve to the SDO or SSC can be found in Handbook F-101, Field Accounting Proce­dures, part 11–6.5 at http://blue.usps.gov/accounting/_pdf/HandbookF-101.pdf.

Additional information about migratory bird hunting and conservation stamps can be found in Handbook F-101, part 11-6.7.