Effective January 22, 2017, the Postal Service™ will revise Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®), sections 703.2.3.6, 703.2.3.7, and 703.2.3.8, to make mandatory the use of PS Form 2976-B, Priority Mail Express International Shipping Label and Customs Form, on all Priority Mail Express® items, regardless of weight, value, or contents, to and from APO/FPO/DPO addresses.
We are simultaneously revising sections 123.61, 222.4, and the Individual Country Listings in the International Mail Manual (IMM®) to make PS Form 2976-B mandatory for all Priority Mail Express International® shipments; see separate article titled “IMM Revision: Preparation Requirements for Priority Mail Express International Shipments” in this issue of the Postal Bulletin.
Also, while our stated intention with the article titled “DMM Revision: New PS Form 2976-R, USPS Customs Declaration and Dispatch Note” in Postal Bulletin 22448 (8–18-16) was to phase in the use of PS Form 2976-R, USPS Customs Declaration and Dispatch Note, at retail, and phase out the use of hard copy PS Form 2976, 2976–A, and 2976-B for APO/FPO/DPO addresses, systems are not ready yet for these changes. To avoid confusion for mailers and Postal Service employees, we are stating the regulations to reflect the current situation. We will revise them again once the systems can handle APO/FPO/DPO addresses on PS Form 2976-R.
Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM)
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700 Special Standards
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703 Nonprofit Standard Mail and Other Unique Eligibility
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2.0 Overseas Military and Diplomatic Post Office Mail
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2.3 General Restrictions
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2.3.6 Customs Declarations
[Delete reference to PS Form 2976-R in the first sentence, and add new second sentence prohibiting use of the PS Form 2976-R to read as follows:]
A hard copy or electronically generated PS Form 2976, PS Form 2976-A, or PS Form 2976-B must be applied to mailpieces sent to or from APO, FPO, and DPO addresses as required in the “Overseas Military/Diplomatic Mail” section of the Postal Bulletin. At this time, PS Form 2976-R may not be used for any mail going to or from APO/FPO/DPO addresses.
2.3.7 Customs Declarations — Required Usage
[Remove the known mailer exception for Priority Mail Express to read as follows:]
Customs declarations forms required for use to or from APO/FPO/DPO addresses are as follows:
a. Mailpieces addressed to or from an APO, FPO, or DPO location must bear a properly completed PS Form 2976-B, Priority Mail Express International Shipping Label and Customs Form, if mailed using Priority Mail Express service, regardless of weight, value, or contents.
2.3.8 Customs Declarations — Exceptions
[Add the requirement for a customs form for Priority Mail Express to the first sentence of item a. and to items b. and c. to read as follows:]
The following exceptions to the customs declaration requirement are provided for items addressed to an APO, FPO, or DPO destination ZIP Code:
a. Known mailers are exempt from providing customs documentation on non-dutiable letters, and printed matter weighing 16 ounces or more, except for Priority Mail Express, which requires a customs form for all contents and weights.***
b. All federal, state, and local government agencies whose mailings are regarded as “Official Mail” are exempt from providing customs documentation on mail addressed to an APO, FPO, or DPO except for those APO, FPO, and DPOs to which restriction “B2” applies as required in the Restriction Legend of the “Overseas Military/Diplomatic Mail” section of the Postal Bulletin and except for Priority Mail Express, which requires a customs form from all mailers.
c. Prepaid mail from military contractors is exempt, providing the mailpiece is endorsed “Contents for Official Use — Exempt from Customs Requirements, except for Priority Mail Express, which requires a customs form from all mailers.
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We will incorporate these revisions into the next update of the online DMM, which is available via Postal Explorer® at http://pe.usps.com.
— Product Classification,
Marketing, 12-22-16
