Effective November 15, 2012, the Postal Service™ is revising Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, International Mail Manual (IMM®) section 123.6 to reflect eligibility standards for items that can be mailed under the “known mailer” standards. The primary revisions are as follows:
n Package-size items (as defined in 241.24) are now eligible subject to certain conditions as to content and preparation. Previously, only letter-size and flat-size items were authorized.
n Certain items (e.g., periodicals and recorded media devices) defined as merchandise are now eligible (see the revised 123.62). Previously, only documents were authorized. However, a mailer must use transparent packaging for such package-size items (see 241.24) to allow full visibility of the contents.
n The Postal Service has added a provision to stipulate that it may suspend or revoke a known mailer’s privilege to forgo use of a customs form if the mailer fails to comply with these or other applicable laws, regulations, and policies.
We will incorporate these revisions into the next update of the online IMM, which is available via Postal Explorer at http://pe.usps.com.
Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, International Mail Manual (IMM)
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1 International Mail Services
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120 Preparation for Mailing
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123 Customs Forms and Online Shipping Labels
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123.6 Required Usage
123.61 Conditions
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Exhibit 123.61 Customs Declaration Form Usage by Mail Category
[Revise the heading in the fourth column, revise the second entry under “Priority Mail International Flat Rate Envelopes (Maximum weight limit: 4 pounds),” revise the second entry under “First-Class Mail International Letters and Large Envelopes (Flats), Including International Priority Airmail (IPA) Items and International Surface Air Lift (ISAL) Items (Maximum weight limit: 4 pounds),” and revise the first entry and add a second entry under “First-Class Mail International Packages (Small Packets), Including IPA Items and ISAL Items (Maximum weight limit: 4 pounds),” to read as follows:]
Type of Item
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Declared Value, Weight, or Physical Characteristic
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Required PS Form
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Comment (if applicable)
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Priority Mail International Flat Rate Envelopes (Maximum weight limit: 4 pounds)
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All Priority Mail International Flat Rate Envelopes that are entered by a known mailer as defined in 123.62 and items that qualify under 123.63.
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Must not exceed $400
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None
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Not applicable.
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First-Class Mail International Letters and Large Envelopes (Flats), Including International Priority Airmail (IPA) Items and International Surface Air Lift (ISAL) Items (Maximum weight limit: 4 pounds)
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All letter-size and flat-size items, as defined in 241.2, that are entered by a known mailer as defined in 123.62 and items that qualify under 123.63.
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Must not exceed $400
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None
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Not applicable.
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First-Class Mail International Packages (Small Packets), Including IPA Items and ISAL Items
(Maximum weight limit: 4 pounds)
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All First-Class Mail International packages (small packets), as defined in 241.2, regardless of contents except for the known mailer exemption described in the entry below.
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$400 or less
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2976
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Merchandise is permitted unless prohibited by the destination country.
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Over $400
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Prohibited
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Items over $400 must be mailed using Global Express Guaranteed service, Express Mail International service, or Priority Mail International service (other than Flat Rate Envelopes or Small Flat Rate Priced Boxes).
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All package-size items, as defined in 241.2, that are entered by a known mailer as defined in 123.62 and items that qualify under 123.63.
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Must not exceed $400
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None
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Not applicable.
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123.62 Known Mailers
123.621 Overview
[Revise the first sentence of 123.621 to read as follows:]
A “known mailer” may be exempt from the customs form requirement that would otherwise apply to letter-, flat-, or package-size mailpieces as defined in 241.2.***
123.622 Definition
A “known mailer” must meet one of the following definitions:
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c. ***For this purpose, the categories of mail that qualify are as follows:
[Revise item c1 to read as follows:]
1. Priority Mail International Flat Rate Envelopes, except for contents allowed under 123.623b.
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123.623 Conditions
The following conditions apply to “known mailers”:
[Revise the list in 123.623 to read as follows (note, for clarity, we have used bold text in this article to indicate revised items, but the text in the actual revised IMM will not appear in bold):]
a. The mailpieces must contain no merchandise or goods, except as provided in 123.623b.
b. The mailpieces may contain hard copy printed or recorded media (e.g., CDs, DVDs, flash drives, video and cassette tapes), for which no customs form is required in the destination country. Authorization to mail items under this subsection without a customs form is subject to the following conditions:
1. The mailpiece must not require an export license as described in 510, 520, 530, or 540.
2. Any packaging used for package-sized items under this subsection must be transparent, such as shrinkwrap or polywrap material, so that the contents are fully visible for inspection.
c. If the mailpieces are mailed with a postage statement, the mailer must certify on the postage statement that the mailpieces contain no dangerous materials that are prohibited by postal regulations.
d. The import regulations of the destination country must allow individual mailpieces without a customs form affixed.
e. For IPA and ISAL mailings, the mailer must pay with a permit imprint or with a combination postage method (meter postage affixed to the piece and additional postage by permit imprint). IPA and ISAL mailpieces that are paid for by postage solely with a meter do not qualify for the “known mailer” exemption.
f. Failure to comply with the conditions in this section, or with any other applicable regulations or policies of the Postal Service or other relevant governmental authorities, may result in the suspension or revocation of eligibility to mail items without a customs form affixed pursuant to this section. For example, a suspension or revocation may result when the mailer fails to ensure his or her compliance with 510, 520, 530, or 540, such as ensuring that no informational materials are sent to persons blocked from transacting in such items by the federal agencies described in those IMM sections.
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— Product Classification,
Pricing, 11-15-12
