Effective January 26, 2014, the Postal Service™ will revise Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, International Mail Manual (IMM®) in various locations to clarify that a mailer who uses a privately printed customs form must electronically transmit the customs declaration information to the Postal Service before tendering the mailpieces to the acceptance office. This required information is essential in order to comply with specific Foreign Trade Regulations for items sent internationally. Non-compliance might result in refusal at acceptance, delay in processing, and/or return of mailpieces to the sender.
In addition, in section 123.3, we have updated the address for the website where mailers can obtain information for privately printed customs forms.
Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, International Mail Manual (IMM)
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1 International Mail Service
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120 Preparation for Mailing
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123 Customs Forms and Online Shipping Labels
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[Revise 123.3 in its entirety to read as follows:]
123.3 Privately Printed Forms
123.31 Authorization
A mailer may not use privately printed customs forms without written authorization. If authorized, a mailer may privately print PS Forms 2976 and 2976-A as specified in the Customs Form Certification Checklist, which is available by clicking on the link to that checklist at the website noted in 123.31b. In addition, each form must contain a unique barcode that can be read by Postal Service equipment. A mailer may obtain customs form and barcode specifications through the following methods:
a. By calling the NCSC at 877-264-9693 (select option 3 for barcode certification).
b. By visiting https://ribbs-dev.usps.gov/index.cfm?page=intcustomsforms
.
c. By written request to the following address:
DELIVERY CONFIRMATION
NATIONAL CUSTOMER SUPPORT CENTER
UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE
225 N. HUMPHREYS BLVD, STE 501
MEMPHIS, TN 38188-1001
Upon receipt of the request, the NCSC will send the mailer an application and specifications for preparing PS Forms 2976 and/or 2976-A.
123.32 Required Electronic Transmission of Customs Declaration Information
For an item bearing a privately printed customs form under 123.31, a mailer must electronically transmit customs declaration information by using USPS-produced Global Shipping Software (GSS) or other USPS-approved software. Failure to provide electronically transmitted customs declaration information before tendering the mailing may result in refusal at acceptance, delay in processing, and/or return of mail to the sender.
Specific options for electronically transmitting customs declaration information and additional information may be found in the Customs Form Certification Checklist, which is available by clicking on the link to that checklist at the website noted in 123.31b.
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2 Conditions for Mailing
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220 Priority Mail Express International
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223 Prices and Postage Payment Methods
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223.2 Postage Payment Methods
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223.22 Permit Imprint
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223.222 Permit Imprint — Commercial Base or Commercial Plus Prices
[Revise the introduction and item a. to read as follows:]
A mailer who pays postage with a permit imprint qualifies for the Priority Mail Express International Commercial Base or Commercial Plus prices, which are generally less than Priority Mail Express International retail prices. The Commercial Base or Commercial Plus price applies only to the postage portion of Priority Mail Express International prices. In addition, mailers must meet the following requirements:
a. Electronically transmit customs declaration information as required under 123.32 by using USPS-produced Global Shipping Software (GSS) or other USPS-approved software listed at
https://ribbs.usps.gov/index.cfm?page=internationalvendors.***
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230 Priority Mail International
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233 Prices and Postage Payment Methods
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223.2 Postage Payment Methods
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223.22 Permit Imprint
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233.222 Permit Imprint — Commercial Base or Commercial Plus Prices
[Revise the introduction and item a. to read as follows:]
A mailer who pays postage with a permit imprint qualifies for the Priority Mail International Commercial Base or Commercial Plus prices, which are less than Priority Mail Express International retail prices. The Commercial Base or Commercial Plus price applies only to the postage portion of Priority Mail International prices. In addition, mailers must meet the following requirements:
a. Electronically transmit customs declaration information as required under 123.32 by using USPS-produced Global Shipping Software (GSS) or other USPS-approved software listed at https://ribbs.usps.gov/index.cfm?page=internationalvendors
.***
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240 First-Class Mail International
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243 Prices and Postage Payment Methods
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243.3 Permit Imprint — General
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[In the second paragraph, revise the first sentence to read as follows:]
In addition, for items requiring PS Form 2976 (see Exhibit 123.61), mailers must electronically transmit customs declaration information as required under 123.32 by using USPS-produced Global Shipping Software (GSS) or other USPS-approved software.***
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250 First-Class Package International Service
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253 Prices and Postage Payment Methods
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253.2 Postage Payment Methods
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253.22 Permit Imprint
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253.222 Permit Imprint — Commercial Base or Commercial Plus Prices
[Revise the introduction and item a. to read as follows:]
A mailer who pays postage with a permit imprint qualifies for the First-Class Package International Service Commercial Base or Commercial Plus prices, which are less than First-Class Package International Service retail prices. The Commercial Base or Commercial Plus price applies only to the postage portion of First-Class Package International Service prices. In addition, mailers must meet the following requirements:
a. Electronically transmit customs declaration information as required under 123.32 by using USPS-produced Global Shipping Software (GSS) or other USPS-approved software listed at https://ribbs.usps.gov/index.cfm?page=internationalvendors
.***
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260 Direct Sacks of Printed Matter to One Addressee (M-bags)
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264 Mail Preparation
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264.3 Customs Forms Required
[Revise the third sentence to read as follows:]
***When paying with a permit imprint, mailers must electronically transmit customs declaration information as required under 123.32 by using USPS-produced Global Shipping Software (GSS) or other USPS-approved software listed at https://ribbs.usps.gov/index.cfm?page=internationalvendors.***
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290 Commercial Services
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292 International Priority Airmail (IPA) Service
292.1 Description
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292.13 IPA M-bags
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292.132 IPA M-bags — Customs Forms
[Revise the second sentence to read as follows:]
***Mailers must electronically transmit customs declaration information as required under 123.32 by using USPS-produced Global Shipping Software (GSS) or other USPS-approved software listed at https://ribbs.usps.gov/index.cfm?page=internationalvendors.***
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292.20 Eligibility
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[Because of the addition of a new section 292.24 (see the article titled “IMM Revision: Changes to Pricing and Mailing Standards for International Shipping Services” in this issue of the Postal Bulletin), the section previously designated 292.25 and titled “Customs Forms Requirements” will now be designated 292.26, as follows:]
292.26 Customs Forms Requirements
[Revise the first sentence to read as follows:]
For items requiring PS Form 2976, mailers must electronically transmit customs declaration information as required under 123.32 by using USPS-produced Global Shipping Software (GSS) or other USPS-approved software listed at https://ribbs.usps.gov/index.cfm?page=internationalvendors.***
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293 International Surface Air Lift (ISAL) Service
293.1 Description
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293.13 ISAL M-bags
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293.132 ISAL M-bags — Customs Forms
[Revise the second sentence to read as follows:]
***Mailers must electronically transmit customs declaration information as required under 123.32 by using USPS-produced Global Shipping Software (GSS) or other USPS-approved software listed at https://ribbs.usps.gov/index.cfm?page=internationalvendors.***
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293.2 Eligibility
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[Because of the addition of a new section 293.24 (see the article titled “IMM Revision: Changes to Pricing and Mailing Standards for International Shipping Services” in this issue of the Postal Bulletin), the section previously designated 293.25 and titled “Customs Forms Requirements” will now be designated 293.26, as follows:]
293.26 Customs Forms Requirements
[Revise the first sentence to read as follows:]
For items requiring PS Form 2976, mailers must electronically transmit customs declaration information as required under 123.32 by using USPS-produced Global Shipping Software (GSS) or other USPS-approved software listed at https://ribbs.usps.gov/index.cfm?page=internationalvendors.***
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We will incorporate these revisions into the next update of the online IMM, which is available via Postal Explorer® at http://pe.usps.com.
— Product Classification,
Pricing, 12-12-13
