Publications

Publication 52 Revision: Mailing Cremated Remains

Effective November 7, 2019, the Postal Service™ is revising Publication 52, Hazardous, Restricted, and Perishable Mail, in various sections to:

n Require the use of Label 139, Cremated Remains, on all domestic or international mailpieces containing cremated remains.

n Eliminate the use of Labels 11-B, 11-F, and 11-HFPU for domestic shipments containing cremated remains.

n Limit the additional mailing services to insurance and return receipt for mailpieces containing cremated remains.

The Postal Service now requires Label 139 to be affixed to each side (including the top and bottom) of a Priority Mail Express^® or Priority Mail Express International^® mailpiece containing cremated remains (USPS-produced or customer supplied) to increase the visibility of these mailpieces to Postal Service employees and ensure more secure processing and timely delivery. As an alternative, the Postal Service is introducing a special Priority Mail Express cremated remains branded box (BOX-CRE) for domestic or international shipments of cremated remains. New BOX-CRE is available in two kits that can be ordered online at The Postal Store^® on usps.com. Kits include the following items:

n One kit contains the box and a roll of tape.

n The other kit contains the box, a self-sealing plastic bag, bubble wrap, tape, and Publication 139, How to Package and Ship Cremated Remains.

Additionally, the Postal Service is providing an option for retail customers to present a mailpiece containing cremated remains at a Post Office^® location where they can have a shipping label printed and affixed. Customers will still have the option to use a single-ply Priority Mail Express label generated through Click-N-Ship^® or other USPS-approved method. If customers generate a single-ply label, the Postal Service will require an Intelligent Mail^® package barcode (IMpb^®) shipping label with the appropriate service type code and banner text above the barcode used for cremated remains domestic shipments. The shipping services file must include the appropriate cremated remains 3-digit Extra Service code for domestic and international shipments (see Publication 199). Priority Mail Express Labels 11-B, 11-F, and 11-HFPU will no longer be accepted for domestic shipments of cremated remains.

As a result of improved service with the new shipping label requirements, the Postal Service is limiting additional mailing services to insurance and return receipt for mailpieces containing cremated remains. Hold for Pickup service will be discontinued, but customers will still have the option to request a signature.

The Postal Service plans to update Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM^®) and International Mail Manual (IMM^®), as well as Publication 139, How to Package and Ship Cremated Remains, under separate cover to reflect these changes. The revisions will help the Postal Service provide an improved customer experience from sender to receiver.

Although the Postal Service will publish these revisions in Publication 52 at a later date, the standards are effective immediately.

Publication 52, Hazardous, Restricted, and Perishable Mail

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4 Restricted Matter

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45 Other Restricted Materials

451 Liquids, Powders, and Odor-Producing Materials

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451.22 Cremated Remains

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[Revise the text of items a. and b. to read as follows:]

a. Domestic:

1. Permitted for cremated remains (human or animal) only when sent via Priority Mail Express service. The item must be packaged as required in 451.3b and Packaging Instruction 10C.

2. The Priority Mail Express mailpiece (USPS-produced or customer supplied) must be marked with Label 139, Cremated Remains, affixed to all sides (including top and bottom), or a mailer may use the special Priority Mail Express cremated remains branded box (BOX-CRE) available on usps.com.

3. Mailers may have a shipping label printed and affixed at a Post Office location or mailers may generate single-ply Priority Mail Express labels through Click-N-Ship or other USPS-approved methods. Mailer generated labels must bear an Intelligent Mail package barcode (IMpb) with the proper cremated remains service type code and include the proper Extra Services code in the Shipping Services File (see Publication 199 on PostalPro at postalpro.usps.com).

4. Priority Mail Express mailpieces containing cremated remains are limited to additional insurance and return receipt extra services.

b. International:

1. When permitted by the destination country, cremated remains (human or animal) may only be sent via Priority Mail Express International service. Mailers must verify that the destination country accepts Priority Mail Express International and cremated remains before mailing. The contents must be indicated on the applicable customs declaration form. The item must be packaged as required in 451.3b and Packaging Instruction 10C.

2. The Priority Mail Express International mailpiece (USPS-produced or customer supplied) must be marked with a Label 139, Cremated Remains, affixed to all sides (including top and bottom), or a mailer may use the special Priority Mail Express cremated remains branded box (BOX-CRE) available on usps.com.

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Appendix C

USPS Packaging Instructions for Mailable Hazardous Materials

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Category 10: Other Packaging Instructions

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USPS Packaging Instructions 10C