IMM Revision: Mailing Free Matter for the Blind

Effective March 3, 2014, the Postal Service™ will revise Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, International Mail Manual (IMM®) part 254, subchapter 270, and part 334, as well as the Individual Country Listings for countries that offer Registered Mail™ service, to update eligibility and mail preparation standards for Free Matter for the Blind items sent internationally.

This revision is based on current Universal Postal Union (UPU) regulations that reflect changes adopted by the Postal Operations Council of the UPU in Berne, Switzerland, in April 2013, and that became effective January 1, 2014.

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

[In the second-to-last section of the table, revise the title and text to read as follows:]

 

Type of Item

Declared Value, Weight, or Physical Characteristic

Required PS Form

Comment (if applicable)

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Free Matter for the Blind

All items.

Follow above requirements for relevant mail category, as appropriate.

Follow above requirements for relevant mail category, as appropriate.

See 270 for authorized mail classes and eligibility.

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2 Conditions for Mailing

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250 First-Class Package International Service

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254 Mail Preparation

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254.2 Markings

The following markings apply to First-Class Package International Service items:

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[Revise item 254.2b to read as follows:]

b. First-Class Package International Service items that qualify as Free Matter for the Blind must bear on the address side of the package a copy of the label shown in Exhibit 274.2.

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[Revise 270 in its entirety to read as follows:]

270 Free Matter for the Blind

271 Description and Physical Characteristics

271.1 General

Matter may be entered free of postage provided that at least one of the following criteria is met:

a. The item is sent to or by an organization for the blind.

b. The item is sent to or by a person who is registered as blind or who meets the World Health Organization’s definition of a blind person or a person with low vision.

Note: An “organization for the blind” (see 271.1a) means an institution or association serving or officially representing blind persons.

271.2 Weight Limits

The following weight limits apply to the mail classes identified in 273:

 

Maximum Weight Limit

Mail Service

4 Pounds

Priority Mail International Flat Rate Envelopes and Small Flat Rate Priced Boxes

First-Class Mail International

First-Class Package International Service

15 pounds

Priority Mail International parcels

Priority Mail International Flat Rate Medium and Large Flat Rate Boxes

272 Eligibility

272.1 Eligible Participants

Mailers may send Free Matter for the Blind free of postage provided that at least one of the following conditions is met:

a. The item is sent to or by an organization for the blind.

b. The item is sent to or by a blind person.

272.2 Eligible Matter

Mailers may send the following items as Free Matter for the Blind:

a. Letters bearing writing used by the blind and plates bearing the characters of writing used by the blind.

b. Books, periodicals, literature, and other correspondence.

c. Paper, records, tapes, musical scores, or sound recordings.

d. Equipment or materials of any kind adapted to assist blind persons in overcoming the problems of blindness, including reproducers or parts of them for sound reproductions.

e. Specially adapted CDs.

f. Braille writing equipment, typewriters, educational or other materials or devices, or parts thereof used for writing by a blind person or designed or adapted for use by a blind person.

g. Braille watches.

h. White canes.

i. Recording equipment.

272.3 Ineligible Matter

Free Matter for the Blind items are solely intended for the use of an eligible participant who is unable to read conventional materials. The following list is not inclusive, but provides guidance of ineligible items:

a. The item is for purposes of advertisement.

b. The item is intended as a profit-making transaction. There should be no charge (rental, subscription, or other associated fee) that is in excess of the actual cost.

272.4 Customs Forms Required

When required (see IMM Exhibit 123.61), the mailer must affix a fully completed PS Form 2976 or 2976-A to each item. The known mailer exemption in IMM 123.62 does not apply to Free Matter for the Blind items.

272.5 Mail Not Sealed Against Inspection

Free Matter for the Blind is not sealed against inspection (see ASM 274). Mailers must prepare items in such a way that the contents are sufficiently protected while permitting quick and easy inspection or verification of the contents.

272.6 Extra Services

Mailers must pay for any extra services requested for Free Matter for the Blind items. The Postal Service authorizes only the following extra services:

a. Registered Mail service for First-Class Mail International items, First-Class Package International Service items, and Priority Mail International Flat Rate Envelopes or Small Flat Rate Priced Boxes.

b. Insurance service for Priority Mail International parcels up to 15 pounds.

273 Postage Prices and Fees

Postage is provided at no charge for Free Matter for the Blind items only for the following classes of mail and products:

a. First-Class Mail International.

b. First-Class Package International Service.

c. Priority Mail International Flat Rate Envelopes.

d. Priority Mail International Small Flat Rate Priced Boxes.

e. Priority Mail International parcels weighing up to 15 pounds.

The sender must pay the applicable total postage based on the weight and destination price group of the article when sending eligible free matter as a Priority Mail International parcel weighing more than 15 pounds.

The sender must pay the applicable fees for Registered Mail or insured services (see 272.6).

274 Mail Preparation

274.1 Addressing

All international addressing standards apply. See 122.

274.2 Markings

In addition to the markings required in 234.2 for Priority Mail International parcels, in 244.2 for First-Class Mail International items, and in 254.2 for First-Class Package International Service items, the mailer must mark the item “Free Matter for the Blind” in the upper right-hand corner of the address side of the mailpiece. In addition, the mailer must affix to the address side of the mailpiece a copy of the label depicted in Exhibit 274.2. The mailer may photocopy the image and apply it to the item.

Exhibit 274.2 Free Matter for the Blind Label

Exhibit 274.2, Free Matter for the Blind Label (graphic)

275 Mail Entry and Deposit

275.1 Items Eligible for Deposit or Pickup

Eligible Free Matter for the Blind items bearing a computer-generated customs form with customs data that has been electronically transmitted may be deposited through any of the following methods provided any extra service fees have been paid by a means other than the use of postage stamps:

a. In a private 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. At a Postal Service retail counter.

c. Into a Postal Service lobby drop.

d. In a collection box.

e. At a Contract Postal Unit (CPU).

f. At a USPS Approved Shipper location.

Note: The following items may also be deposited through the aforementioned methods:

a. Priority Mail International Flat Rate Envelopes weighing 13 ounces or less, bearing “Free Matter for the Blind” as postage, and not requiring a customs form (see 123.6).

b. First-Class Mail International letter-size and flat-size items weighing 13 ounces or less, bearing “Free Matter for the Blind” as postage, and not requiring a customs form (see 123.6).

275.2 Items Not Eligible for Deposit or Pickup

Customers must present the following eligible Free Matter for the Blind items requiring a customs form to an employee at a Post Office retail service counter. Deposit and pickup methods listed in 275.1 are prohibited. The Postal Service will return improperly presented items to the sender for proper entry and acceptance.

a. Any item bearing a handwritten customs form.

b. Any item bearing a customs form that was not computer-generated.

c. Any item for which the customs data was not electronically transmitted.

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3 Extra Services

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330 Registered Mail

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334 Processing Requests

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334.4 Sealing

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[Revise the title and text of 334.42 to read as follows:]

334.42 Registered Mail Service With Free Matter for the Blind

Registered Mail service is available when the mailer has paid all applicable Registered Mail service fees. Free Matter for the Blind items sent by Registered Mail service are not sealed against inspection.

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Individual Country Listings

Country Conditions for Mailing

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[For all countries that offer Free Matter for the Blind service (currently referred to in each ICL as “Matter for the Blind or Other Physically Handicapped Persons”), revise the heading to read as follows:]

Free Matter for the Blind (270)

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Extra Services

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Registered Mail (330)

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[For all countries that offer Registered Mail service, revise the statement following the maximum indemnity price to read as follows (revising the last item in the text):]

Available only for First-Class Mail International, including postcards, First-Class Package International Service, Priority Mail International Flat Rate Envelopes, Priority Mail International Small Flat Rate Priced Boxes, and Free Matter for the Blind.

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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.