Effective June 3, 2013, the Postal Service™ will revise Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, International Mail Manual (IMM®) sections 292.45, 292.46, 292.47, 292.51, 293.46, and 293.51 to reflect preparation requirements for International Priority Airmail™ (IPA®) and International Surface Air Lift® (ISAL®) mailings. We are revising the preparation requirements because of revisions to PS Tag 115, International Priority Airmail, and PS Tag 155, International Surface Air Lift, as announced in the article titled “International Mail: Revised Sack/Container Tags for International Priority Airmail and International Surface Air Lift Service” in this issue of the Postal Bulletin.
This revised text reflects preparation requirements for both the revised editions of the tags (dated February 2013) as well as the previous editions. Eventually, though, only the February 2013 editions will be acceptable, and subsequent Postal Bulletin articles will announce when the previous editions are obsolete and provide IMM revisions reflecting the preparation requirements for only the February 2013 editions of the tags.
Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, International Mail Manual (IMM)
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2 Conditions for Mailing
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290 Commercial Services
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292 International Priority Airmail (IPA) Service
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292.4 Mail Preparation
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292.45 Sortation
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292.452 Presorted Mail — Direct Country Bundle Label
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Exhibit 292.452 IPA Country Price Groups and Foreign Office of Exchange Codes
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[Revise Footnote 1 to read as follows — only some sentences in the footnote are revised, but for clarity we are including the entire footnote and, in this article, using bold font to emphasize the revised text:]
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292.46 Sacking Requirements
292.461 Direct Country Sacks (3 Pounds or More)
The following standards apply:
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[Revise the introduction to item b to read as follows:]
b. Direct Country Sack/Container Tags Issued Before February 2013. For each direct country sack, the mailer must do the following:
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[Redesignate current item c as item d, and insert new item c to read as follows:]
c. Direct Country Sack Tags Issued February 2013. For each direct country sack, the mailer must do the following:
1. Complete both sides of PS Tag 115, International Priority Airmail, which identifies the mail to ensure it receives priority handling. On the front of the tag, the mailer must check the appropriate box to indicate if the sack contains items with or without customs forms, identify the destination country, and enter the date of mailing, the 10-digit permit number, the foreign office of exchange code as listed in Exhibit 292.452, and the price group as listed in Exhibit 292.452. Also, the mailer must apply to the front side of the tag a barcode that indicates the mailer’s permit number, the product code, the service type code, the receptacle type, the destination office of exchange, and the serial number of the sack. (To request technical specifications for the barcode, send an email to
globalbusiness-sales@usps.gov.) On the reverse side of the tag, the mailer must indicate the sack/container label number and the total number of sacks/containers in the mailing.
2. Attach PS Tag 115 to the neck of the sack.
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292.462 Mixed Country Sacks (5 Pounds or More — ISC Drop Shipment Only)
The following standards apply:
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[Revise the introduction to item b to read as follows:]
b. Mixed Country Sack Tags Issued Before February 2013.***
[Insert new item c to read as follows:]
c. Mixed Country Sack Tags Issued February 2013. For each mixed country sack, the mailer must do the following:
1. Complete both sides of PS Tag 115, International Priority Airmail, which identifies the mail to ensure it receives priority handling. On the front of the tag, the mailer must identify the date of mailing, the 10-digit permit number, and the price group as listed in Exhibit 292.452 followed by the word “Mixed” (e.g., “14-Mixed”). On the reverse side of the tag, the mailer must indicate the sack/container number and the total number of sacks/containers in the mailing.
2. Attach PS Tag 115 to the neck of the sack.
292.463 Worldwide Nonpresort Mail Sacks
The following standards apply:
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[Revise the introduction to item b to read as follows:]
b. Worldwide Nonpresort Mail Sack Tags Issued Before February 2013.***
[Redesignate current item c as item d, and insert new item c to read as follows:]
c. Worldwide Nonpresort Mail Sack/Container Tags Issued February 2013. For each worldwide nonpresort mail sack/container, the mailer must do the following:
1. Complete both sides of PS Tag 115, International Priority Airmail, which identifies the mail to ensure it receives priority handling. On the front of the tag, the mailer must identify the date of mailing, the 10-digit permit number, and the foreign office of exchange code as listed in Exhibit 292.452, and must use the abbreviation “WW” (for “worldwide”) for the price group. On the reverse side of the tag, the mailer must indicate the sack/container number and the total number of sacks/containers in the mailing.
2. Attach PS Tag 115 to the neck of the sack.
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292.47 Mail Preparation for Canada
***Mailers must prepare presorted IPA mail (full-service price and ISC drop shipment price) to Canada as follows:
[Revise items a and b to read as follows:]
a. Letter-Size and Flat-Size Mail. For each direct country tray of letter-size or flat-size mail, the mailer must do the following:
1. Mail Preparation. Prepare letter-size items in letter trays, either 1-foot or 2-foot, depending on volume. Prepare flat-size items in flat trays. Face all letter-size items and flat-size items in the same direction. Ensure that all trays are full enough to keep the mail from mixing during transportation. Cover (i.e., “sleeve”) all letter-size and flat-size trays and secure them with strapping. Do not prepare the content of trays in bundles.
2. Tray Tags for Tags Issued Before February 2013. The mailer must complete PS Tag 115, International Priority Airmail, and must write “Canada” on the front side of the tag, In addition, the mailer must apply to the tag a barcode that indicates the mailer’s permit number, the product code, the service type code, the receptacle type, the foreign office of exchange code, and the serial number of the tray. To request technical specifications for the barcode, send an email to globalbusiness-sales@usps.gov. Finally, the mailer must tape PS Tag 115 to the tray sleeve.
3. Tray Tags for Tags Issued February 2013. The mailer must complete both sides of PS Tag 115, International Priority Airmail, which identifies the mail to ensure it receives priority handling. On the front of the tag, the mailer must check the appropriate box to indicate if the tray contains items with or without customs forms, indicate the destination country as “Canada,” indicate the price group as “1,” and enter the date of mailing, the 10-digit permit number, and the foreign office of exchange code as listed in Exhibit 292.47. In addition, mailers must apply to the front side of the tag a barcode that indicates the mailer’s permit number, the product code, the service type code, the receptacle type, the foreign office of exchange code, and the serial number of the sack. To request technical specifications for the barcode, send an email to globalbusiness-sales@usps.gov. On the reverse side of the tag, the mailer must indicate the tray number and the total number of sacks/containers in the mailing. Finally, the mailer must tape the PS Tag 115 to the tray sleeve.
b. Packages. For each direct country tray of letter-size or flat-size mail, the mailer must do the following:
1. Mail Preparation. Prepare package-size items (i.e., items that cannot be prepared in trays because of their size or shape) loose in sacks.
2. Sack Tags for Tags Issued Before February 2013. On PS Tag 178, Airmail Bag Label LC (CN 35/AV 8) (white), the mailer must write “Canada” in the “To” block of the tag. On PS Tag 115, International Priority Airmail, the mailer must write “Canada” on the back of the tag and must apply to PS Tag 115 a barcode that indicates the mailer’s permit number, the product code, the service type code, the receptacle type, the foreign office of exchange code, and the serial number of the sack. To request technical specifications for the barcode, send an email to globalbusiness-sales@usps.gov. Finally, the mailer must affix both PS Tag 178 and PS Tag 115 to the neck of the sack.
3. Sack Tags for Tags Issued February 2013. The mailer must complete both sides of PS Tag 115, International Priority Airmail, which identifies the mail to ensure it receives priority handling. On the front of the tag, the mailer must check the appropriate box to indicate if the tray contains items with or without customs forms, indicate the destination country as “Canada,” indicate the price group as “1,” and enter the date of mailing, the 10-digit permit number, and the foreign office of exchange code as listed in Exhibit 292.497. In addition, mailers must apply to the front side of the tag a barcode that indicates the mailer’s permit number, the product code, the service type code, the receptacle type, the foreign office of exchange code, and the serial number of the sack. To request technical specifications for the barcode, send an email to globalbusiness-sales@usps.gov. On the reverse side of the tag, the mailer must indicate the sack number and the total number of sacks/containers in the mailing. Finally, the mailer must attach PS Tag 115 to the neck of the sack.
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292.5 Mail Entry and Deposit
292.51 Separation by Price Group
[Revise 292.51 to read as follows:]
The mailer must physically separate the sacks by price group at the time of mailing as indicated on the sack/container tag.
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293 International Surface Air Lift (ISAL) Service
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293.4 Mail Preparation
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293.46 Sacking Requirements
293.461 Direct Country Sack (3 Pounds or More)
The following standards apply:
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[Revise the introduction to item b to read as follows:]
b. Direct Country Sack Tags Issued Before February 2013. For each direct country sack, the mailer must do the following:
* * * * *
[Redesignate current item c as item d, and insert new item c to read as follows:]
c. Direct Country Sack Tags Issued February 2013. For each direct country sack, the mailer must do the following:
1. Complete both sides of PS Tag 155, International Surface Air Lift, which identifies the mail to ensure it receives priority handling. On the front of the tag, the mailer must check the appropriate box to indicate if the sack contains items with or without customs forms, identify the destination country, and enter the date of mailing, the 10-digit permit number, the foreign office of exchange code as listed in Exhibit 293.452, and the price group as listed in Exhibit 293.452. In addition, the mailer must apply to the front side of the tag a barcode that indicates the mailer’s permit number, the product code, the service type code, the receptacle type, the foreign office of exchange code, and the serial number of the sack. To request technical specifications for the barcode, send an email to globalbusiness-sales@usps.gov. On the reverse side of the tag, the mailer must indicate the sack/container label and the total number of sacks/containers in the mailing.
2. Attach PS Tag 155 to the neck of the sack.
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293.462 Mixed Country Sacks (5 Pounds or More —
ISC Drop Shipment Only)
The following standards apply:
* * * * *
[Revise the introduction to item b to read as follows:]
b. Mixed Country Sack Tags Issued Before February 2013.***
[Insert new item c to read as follows:]
c. Mixed Country Sack/Container Tags Issued February 2013. For each mixed country sack, the mailer must do the following:
1. Complete both sides of PS Tag 155, International Surface Air Lift, which identifies the mail to ensure it receives priority handling. On the front of the tag, the mailer must identify the date of mailing, the 10-digit permit number, and the price group as listed in Exhibit 293.452 followed by the word “Mixed” (e.g., “14-Mixed”). On the reverse side of the tag, the mailer must indicate the sack/container label and the total number of sacks/containers in the mailing.
2. Attach PS Tag 155 to the neck of the sack.
293.463 Worldwide Nonpresort Mail Sacks
The following standards apply:
* * * * *
[Revise the introduction to item b to read as follows:]
b. Worldwide Nonpresort Mail Sack/Container Tags Issued Before February 2013.***
[Redesignate current item c as item d, and insert new item c to read as follows:]
c. Worldwide Nonpresort Mail Sack Tags Issued February 2013. For each worldwide nonpresort mail sack, the mailer must do the following:
1. Complete both sides of PS Tag 155, International Surface Air Lift, which identifies the mail to ensure it receives priority handling. On the front of the tag, the mailer must identify the date of mailing, the 10-digit permit number, and the foreign office of exchange code as listed in Exhibit 293.452, and must use the abbreviation “WW” (for “worldwide”) for the price group. On the reverse side of the tag, the mailer must indicate the sack/container number and the total number of sacks/containers in the mailing.
2. Attach PS Tag 155 to the neck of the sack.
* * * * *
293.5 Mail Entry and Deposit
293.51 Separation by Price Group
[Revise 293.51 to read as follows:]
The mailer must physically separate the sacks by price group at the time of mailing as indicated on the sack/container tag.
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We will incorporate this revision into the next update of the online IMM, which is available via Postal Explorer® at http://pe.usps.com.
— Product Classification,
Pricing, 5-16-13
