Effective September 12, 2019, the Postal Service™ is revising the International Country Listing for Australia in Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, International Mail Manual (IMM®) to note that Australia Post is adding new prohibitions and restrictions for mail destined to and transiting through Australia.
These revisions are based on a formal request received from Australia Post dated July 29, 2019.
Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, International Mail Manual (IMM)
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Individual Country Listings
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Australia
Country Conditions for Mailing
Prohibitions
[Add entries in alphabetical order to read as follows:]
Antiquities, art fossils, historical documents, numismatic material, specimens of flora and fauna, and similar cultural heritage objects that are significant to a nation’s identity.
Dog collars with protrusions designed to puncture or bruise an animal’s skin.
Fur, including raw, tanned, or processed furs or pelts, and goods that may contain such fur that are derived from domesticated cat and dog breeds.
Laser pointers and similar handheld devices designed or adapted to emit a laser beam with an accessible emission level greater than 1 megawatt (MW).
Replica firearms, including any article that has the appearance of a firearm that could reasonably be mistaken as a firearm.
Signal jammers capable of preventing or disrupting mobile telephone and satellite navigation services.
Restrictions
[Add entries in alphabetical order to read as follows:]
Airsoft (BB) guns that do not have the appearance of fully automatic firearms require prior approval granted by relevant police representatives. The addressee must submit an application to import the item via the police certification test.
Drugs, medicines, and therapeutic substances such as antibiotics, growth hormones, kava, psychoactive substances, and steroids require an import permit from the Australian Department of Health, Office of Drug Control.
Fish or parts of fish, including all species of bony fish, sharks, rays, crustaceans, mollusks, and other marine organisms (but not including marine mammals, marine reptiles, or toothfish), whether fresh, frozen, smoked, or preserved in airtight containers, require an import permit from the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA).
Knives (such as daggers and throwing knives), throwing blades, or throwing axes require written Police Certification (B709B form or B709X form) from the Australian Police Firearms Registry.
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Although effective on September 12, 2019, the Postal Service will incorporate these revisions into the next edition of the online IMM, which is available via Postal Explorer® at pe.usps.com.
— Product Classification, Marketing, 9-12-19
