DMM Revision: Priority Mail Express Open and Distribute and Priority Mail Open and Distribute

Effective January 17, 2016, the Postal Service™ will revise Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®) 223 and 708.18.5.7 to clarify the barcodes and service type codes that must be used on Priority Mail Express Open and Distribute® and Priority Mail Open and Distribute® address labels.

Although this revision will not be published in the DMM until January 17, 2016, these standards are effective immediately.

Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM)

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200 Commercial Letters, Cards, Flats, and Parcels

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220 Priority Mail

223 Prices and Eligibility

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1.0 Prices and Fees

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1.2 Commercial Base Prices

[Revise the first sentence of item d to read as follows:]

d. Priority Mail Open and Distribute customers using permit imprint with a qualifying address label under 705.18.5.7.***

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700 Special Standards

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705 Advanced Preparation and Special Postage Payment Systems

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18.0 Priority Mail Express Open and Distribute and Priority Mail Open and Distribute

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18.5 Preparation

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18.5.7 Address Label Service Barcode Requirement

[Revise the introductory text of 18.5.7 to read as follows:]

An electronic service barcode must include USS 128 or USS 39 for USPSCA payment, or Intelligent Mail package barcode (IMpb) (eVS approved mailers) symbology for Priority Mail Express Open and Distribute, and the IMpb symbology for Priority Mail Open and Distribute in the address label. Mailers must prepare address labels using the formats in 18.5.8 through 18.5.12. Priority Mail Express Open and Distribute IMpb labels must include service type code “723.” USS 128 or USS 39 (USPSCA payment) Priority Mail Express Open and Distribute label ranges are assigned, upon certification, with a “DB” prefix. For Priority Mail Open and Distribute the IMpb must include service type code “123.” The human-readable text “USPS SCAN ON ARRIVAL” must appear above the barcode. USPS certification is required from the National Customer Support Center (NCSC) for each printer used to print barcoded open and distribute address labels, except for barcodes created using USPS webtools or a USPS meter label solution. NCSC contact information, formatting specifications for barcodes and electronic files, and certification, are included in Publication 199, available on https://ribbs.usps.gov/. Mailers can use the following options available to create a label with a service barcode for Priority Mail Express Open and Distribute and Priority Mail Open and Distribute address labels:

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We will incorporate these revisions into the January 17, 2016, update of the online DMM, which is available via Postal Explorer® at http://pe.usps.com.