Effective October 1, 2019, the Postal Service™ revised Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, International Mail Manual (IMM®) in various sections to update the provision for mail bearing postage stamps or the Free Matter for the Blind endorsement that are eligible for deposit or pickup (e.g., through a collection box or private mailbox).
To enhance the safety and security of Postal Service employees and customers, the Postal Service is updating the Aviation Security Program (also known as the Anonymous Mail Program) to restrict how mailers may deposit mailpieces bearing postage stamps or the Free Matter for the Blind endorsement as the only postage payment method. Under the revised standards, a mailer may not deposit into a collection receptacle (including a street, lobby, or apartment box, or other unattended location) any mailpiece that bears only postage stamps or the Free Matter for the Blind endorsement as the postage payment method, and that has either of the following characteristics:
n Weighs more than 10 ounces.
n Measures more than one-half inch in thickness.
A city, rural, or highway contract letter carrier may not pick up these mailpieces for delivery, either from an individual or through Pickup on Demand® service. Instead, a mailer must present such a mailpiece to an employee at a Post Office™ retail service counter.
These restrictions do not apply to any mailpiece that weighs 10 ounces or less and that measures one-half inch or less in thickness. The restrictions also do not affect any mailpiece, regardless of weight or thickness, for which postage is paid with a method other than stamps or the Free Matter for the Blind endorsement, such as a permit imprint or a postage evidencing system (a meter or PC Postage® product).
Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, International Mail Manual (IMM)
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2 Conditions for Mailing
210 Global Express Guaranteed
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215 Mail Entry and Deposit
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215.2 Place of Mailing
215.21 Items Eligible for Deposit or Pickup
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[Revise the note to read as follows:]
Note: A mailer may use the aforementioned methods to deposit a Global Express Guaranteed item that bears only postage stamps when the item meets both of the following characteristics:
a. Does not exceed 10 ounces.
b. Does not exceed one-half inch in thickness.
215.22 Items Not Eligible for Deposit or Pickup
[Revise the text to read as follows:]
A customer must present to an employee at a participating Global Express Guaranteed Post Office retail service counter a Global Express Guaranteed item that bears only postage stamps when the item meets either of the following characteristics:
a. Weighs more than 10 ounces.
b. Measures more than one-half inch in thickness.
The Postal Service will return improperly presented items to the sender for proper entry and acceptance.
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240 First-Class Mail International
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245 Mail Entry and Deposit
245.1 Place of Mailing
245.11 Items Eligible for Deposit or Pickup
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[Revise the note to read as follows:]
Note: A mailer may use the aforementioned methods to deposit a First-Class Mail International letter-size or flat-size item that bears only postage stamps when the item meets both of the following characteristics:
a. Does not exceed 10 ounces.
b. Does not exceed one-half inch in thickness.
245.12 Items Not Eligible for Deposit or Pickup
[Revise the text to read as follows:]
Customers must present the following First-Class Mail International items to an employee at a Post Office retail service counter:
a. Any mailpiece bearing a customs form and paid with only postage stamps.
b. Any mailpiece bearing a handwritten customs form.
c. Any mailpiece bearing a customs form that was not computer-generated.
d. Any mailpiece for which the customs data was not electronically transmitted.
e. Any item that bears only postage stamps when the item meets either of the following characteristics:
1. Weighs more than 10 ounces.
2. Measures more than one-half inch in thickness.
Deposit and pickup methods listed in 245.11 are prohibited. The Postal Service will return improperly presented items to the sender for proper entry and acceptance.
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270 Free Matter for the Blind
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275 Mail Entry and Deposit
275.1 Items Eligible for Deposit or Pickup
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[Revise the note to read as follows:]
Note: A mailer may use the aforementioned methods to deposit a First-Class Mail International letter-size or flat-size item that meets all of the following characteristics:
a. Does not exceed 10 ounces.
b. Does not exceed one-half inch in thickness.
275.2 Items Not Eligible for Deposit or Pickup
[Revise the text to read as follows:]
A customer 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:
a. Any mailpiece bearing a handwritten customs form.
b. Any mailpiece bearing a customs form that was not computer-generated.
c. Any mailpiece for which the customs data was not electronically transmitted.
d. Any First-Class Mail International letter-size or flat-size mailpiece that does not require a customs form and that meets either of the following characteristics:
1. Weighs more than 10 ounces.
2. Measures more than one-half inch in thickness.
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.
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Although effective October 1, 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, 10-10-19
