Effective June 14, 2012, the Postal Service™ will further revise Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®) sections 608.2.4 and 703.2.3 to clarify that the requirement to electronically transmit customs-related data does not apply to items mailed to “domestic destinations” (as defined under DMM 608.2.1). In addition, we are clarifying that domestic items requiring a customs form when paid with permit imprint and entered at a business mail entry unit (BMEU) may bear either a computer-generated or handwritten customs form.
In the article titled “DMM Revision: Customer Deposit and Pickup of Domestic Mailpieces Requiring a Customs Declaration Form” in Postal Bulletin 22337 (5-17-12, pages 6–7), we announced various revisions to the DMM that were effective on May 21, 2012, that included new pickup and deposit options for domestic items requiring a customs declaration form. However, we inadvertently included the requirement that the customs data for these items were required to be electronically transmitted. While this standard does apply to international mailpieces, this standard is not applicable for domestic mailpieces as defined under DMM 608.2.1. In addition, we are clarifying that domestic items requiring a customs form that are paid with a permit imprint and entered at a business mail entry unit (BMEU), may bear either a computer-generated or handwritten customs form.
Consequently, the June 24, 2012, DMM update will include these clarifications, and the entire revision is reprinted as follows:
Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM)
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600 Basic Standards for All Mailing Services
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608 Postal Information and Resources
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2.0 Domestic Mail
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2.4 Customs Form Required
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[Revise 2.4.5 and 2.4.6 to read as follows:]
2.4.5 Items Eligible for Deposit or Pickup
Items under 2.4.1 bearing a computer-generated customs form (e.g., using Click-N-Ship service, an authorized PC Postage vendor, or the USPS Web Tools system) may be deposited through any of the following methods, provided postage is paid by a means other than the use of postage stamps:
a. In a mailbox bearing a return address that matches the address at the point of pickup, when the customer or business is known to reside or do business at that location.
b. Through Pickup on Demand service.
c. Through Package Pickup service.
d. At a Postal Service retail counter.
e. Into a Postal Service lobby drop.
f. In a collection box.
g. At a Contract Postal Unit (CPU).
h. At a USPS Approved Shipper location.
2.4.6 Items Not Eligible for Deposit or Pickup
Except for items under 2.4.7, customers must present the following items requiring a customs form to an employee at a Post Office retail service counter. Deposit and pickup methods listed items under 2.4.5 are prohibited. The Postal Service will return these improperly presented items to the sender for proper entry and acceptance:
a. Any item bearing a customs form and paid with only postage stamps.
b. Any item bearing a handwritten customs form.
c. Any item bearing a customs form that was not computer-generated.
[Renumber existing 2.4.7 as 2.4.8 and insert new 2.4.7 to read as follows:]
2.4.7 Items Paid with a Permit Imprint
Items requiring a customs form and paid with permit imprint may be entered at a business mail entry unit (BMEU) regardless if the customs form is computer-generated or handwritten.
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700 Special Standards
703 Nonprofit Standard Mail and Other Unique Eligibility
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2.0 Overseas Military Mail
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2.3 General Restrictions
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[Revise 703.2.3 9 and 2.3.10 to read as follows:]
2.3.9 Items Eligible for Deposit or Pickup
Items bearing a computer-generated customs form (e.g., using Click-N-Ship service on usps.com, an authorized PC Postage vendor, or the USPS Web Tools system) may be deposited through any of the following methods, provided postage is paid by a means other than the use of postage stamps:
a. In a mailbox bearing a return address that matches the address at the point of pickup, when the customer or business is known to reside or do business at that location.
b. Through Pickup on Demand service.
c. Through Package Pickup service.
d. At a Postal Service retail counter.
e. Into a Postal Service lobby drop.
f. In a collection box.
g. At a Contract Postal Unit (CPU).
h. At a USPS Approved Shipper location.
2.3.10 Items Not Eligible for Deposit or Pickup
Except for items under 2.3.12, customers must present the following items requiring a customs form to an employee at a Post Office retail service counter. Deposit and pickup methods listed under 2.3.9 are prohibited. The Postal Service will return these improperly presented items to the sender for proper entry and acceptance:
a. Any item bearing a customs form and paid with only postage stamps.
b. Any item bearing a handwritten customs form.
c. Any item bearing a customs form that was not computer-generated.
[Revise the title to 2.3.11 to read as follows:]
2.3.11 Items Not Requiring a Customs Form
[Revise the text of 2.3.11 to read as follows:]
Items paid with online postage, postage meters, or information-based indicia (IBI) weighing less than 16 ounces and not requiring a customs form under 2.3.7 may be deposited by one of the following methods:
a. In a mailbox bearing a return address that matches the address at the point of pickup, when the customer or business is known to reside or do business at that location.
b. Through Pickup on Demand service.
c. Through Package Pickup service.
d. At a Postal Service retail counter.
e. Into a Postal Service lobby drop.
f. In a collection box.
g. At a Contract Postal Unit (CPU).
h. At a USPS Approved Shipper location.
[Insert new 2.3.12 to read as follows:]
2.3.12 Items Paid with a Permit Imprint
Items requiring a customs label and paid with a permit imprint may be entered at a business mail entry unit (BMEU) regardless if the customs form is computer-generated or handwritten.
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We will incorporate these revisions into the next update of the online DMM, which is available via Postal Explorer® at http://pe.usps.com.
— Product Classification,
Pricing, 6-14-12
