Effective January 4, 2010, the Postal Service™ is revising Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, International Mail Manual (IMM®) part 136 to include additional items that are nonmailable in outbound international mail, regardless of mail classification.
As adopted by the 24th Congress of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) in Geneva, Switzerland, from July 23–August 12, 2008, and consistent with Proposals 20.15.2 and 20.15.6, which amend Article 15 of the UPU Convention, we are revising IMM 136 by renaming the title from “Nonmailable Dangerous Goods” to “Nonmailable Goods.” The previous information contained in IMM 136 is redesignated as 136.1, and we are inserting two new sections — 136.2, “Inert Replica and Explosive Devices,” and 136.3, “Counterfeit and Pirated Items.”
Consistent with UPU Resolution 20.15.2, the revision to IMM 136.2 to make inert replica and explosive devices nonmailable is intended to apply to devices that were originally designed for military or combative use (including training) and is also extended to replicas of such items. However, this prohibition does not extend to children’s toys or such articles that do not represent the items in a realistic manner. Consequently, IMM 136.2 codifies that replica and inert explosive devices and military ordnance, including inert grenades, inert shells, and the like, are nonmailable in any classification of outbound international mail.
Consistent with UPU Resolution 20.15.6, the revision to IMM 136.3 to make counterfeit and pirated articles nonmailable is intended to reduce the circulation of such articles between UPU members. The prohibition also illustrates that UPU members actively support the World Customs Organization’s current campaign to thwart production and circulation of counterfeited and pirated products such as dangerous toys and electrical items, dangerous counterfeit medicines, and those counterfeit branded goods that do economic harm to domestic and international companies. Consequently, IMM 136.3 codifies that counterfeit or pirated articles are nonmailable in any classification of outbound international mail.
Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, International Mail Manual (IMM)
1 International Mail Services
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130 Mailability
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[Revise 136 in its entirety to read as follows:]
136 Nonmailable Goods
136.1 Dangerous Goods
The following dangerous goods (hazardous materials, as defined in DMM 601) are prohibited in outbound international mail:
a. Explosives or explosive devices.
b. Flammable materials.
1. Pyrophoric, flammable, or combustible liquids with a closed cup flash point below 200°F.
2. Flammable solids, including matches.
c. Oxidizers.
d. Corrosives, liquid or solid.
e. Compressed gases.
1. Flammable.
2. Nonflammable with an absolute pressure exceeding 40 psi at 70°F or 104 psi at 130°F.
f. Poisons, irritants, controlled substances, and drug paraphernalia.
g. Magnetized material with a magnetic field strength of 0.002 gauss or more at a distance of 7 feet.
h. Dry ice (carbon dioxide solid).
136.2 Inert Replica and Explosive Devices
The following types of replica or inert explosive devices are prohibited in outbound international mail:
a. Military ordnance, ammunition, and shells.
b. Grenades.
c. Similar devices that were originally designed for military or combative use (including training).
This prohibition does not extend to items such as children’s toys or articles that do not represent the above items in a realistic manner.
136.3 Counterfeit and Pirated Items
Any type of counterfeit or pirated article is prohibited in outbound international mail.
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We will incorporate these revisions into the next printed version of the IMM and into the monthly update of the online IMM, which is available via Postal Explorer® at http://pe.usps.com.
— Mailing Standards, Pricing, 9-10-09
