Mailing and Shipping Services

International Updates: National Recertification for Mailers Privately Printing Customs Declaration Forms

The U. S. Postal Service® is mandating a national recertification for mailers and vendors who have previously been approved to privately print customs declaration forms for international and/or domestic mail that requires a customs declaration form. The recertification process includes customs barcode range validation, updated data requirements, and a new harmonized customs label format.

2015 Profile Update Was Due by May 31, 2015:

Mailers currently authorized by the USPS® to privately print customs declaration forms must complete the Mailer Profile Update Form available on RIBBS at https://ribbs.usps.gov/index.cfm?page=intcustomsforms and submit to USPS Global Trade Compliance at globaltradecompliance@usps.gov.

For mailers using Priority Mail Express International® (PMEI), all customs form numbers previously assigned for use will be phased out and replaced with new “E” series numbers designated specifically for this product.

For mailers using International Priority Airmail® (IPA®) and International Surface Air Lift® (ISAL®), all previously assigned “L” series customs form numbers will be phased out and replaced with new “U” series customs form numbers.

If a mailer fails to update his or her profile, the mailer will no longer be considered authorized by the USPS to privately print customs declaration forms.

Data Transmission Requirements are Effective
June 29, 2015:

If you are printing customs labels from a software provider, you will need to contact your provider for a software update. USPS is working with certified providers to have software updates available.

IPA and ISAL item-level electronic customs data will be required to be assigned specific receptacles. The Shipping Services File (SSF) versions 1.7 and higher are being updated to facilitate this submission.

Transmission of electronic customs data will be required for mailers shipping to Army Post Offices (APOs), Fleet Post Offices (FPOs), Diplomatic Post Offices (DPOs), and non-military addresses in overseas U.S. Possessions, Territories, and Freely Associated States.

The Electronic Data Requirements for Privately Printed Customs Declaration Forms is available on RIBBS at https://ribbs.usps.gov/index.cfm?page=intcustomsforms.

Customs Declaration Forms

Effective July 30, 2015, all mailers will be required to use the new harmonized customs declaration forms for the PS Form 2976, Customs Declaration CN-22 Sender’s Declaration; the PS Form 2976-A, Customs Declaration and Dispatch Note CP-72; and the PS Form 2976-B, Priority Mail Express International Shipping Label and Customs Form.

This new design is a cross-border effort to allow posts to offer a reliable, tracked, end-to-end delivery service with participating countries.

The release of the new harmonized label supersedes all previous notifications and exceptions.

The option to print single-ply customs declaration forms, PS Form 2976-A and PS Form 2976-B, is available for select countries and APO/FPO/DPO destinations.

Guidelines for Privately Printed Customs Declaration Forms is available on RIBBS at https://ribbs.usps.gov/index.cfm?page=intcustomsforms.

Note: As part of the certification process, you will be required to create the new forms and submit them to National Customer Support Center (NCSC) for approval before using the new forms in production.

If a mailer fails to obtain recertification to privately print USPS customs declaration forms, that mailer’s shipments may be delayed or returned to sender. If a certified mailer does not validate assigned ranges, use certified labels and barcodes, or provides incorrect or incomplete customs data, the mailer will be subject to mail refusal at a USPS acceptance facility.

Customers are encouraged to submit materials to the NCSC for certification as quickly as possible.

For technical assistance concerning the customs form certification process or electronic data transmission requirements, please contact the NCSC Customs Forms office at 877-264-9693 or by email at customsformcert@usps.gov.

For other questions related to the recertification, including requests for an extension if you are unable to meet one of the deadlines, please contact the USPS Global Trade Compliance office at globaltradecompliance@usps.gov.