Effective January 26, 2020, the Postal Service™ will revise Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®), sections 113.3.0 and 213.2.0, to clarify the standards regarding mailing cremated remains.
To provide security and timely delivery, the Postal Service requires that cremated remains be shipped domestically via Priority Mail Express®, and internationally, where applicable, via Priority Mail Express International®. The Postal Service will revise the DMM to clarify that under this standard, the term “Cremated Remains” includes the original form (ashes) and any other form (e.g., keepsakes and jewelry).
In addition, the Postal Service will revise Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, International Mail Manual (IMM®), and Publication 52, Hazardous, Restricted, and Perishable Mail, to include this clarification.
Although the Postal Service will not publish these revisions in the DMM until January 26, 2020, the standards are effective immediately.
Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM)
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100 Retail Mail Letters, Cards, Flats, and Parcels
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110 Priority Mail Express
113 Prices and Eligibility
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3.0 Content Standards for Priority Mail Express
[Revise the text of 3.0 to read as follows:]
All mailable matter may be sent via Priority Mail Express, except matter prohibited by standards (e.g., certain hazardous materials). Items mailed containing cremated remains in their original form (ashes) and any other form (e.g., keepsakes and jewelry) must be sent via Priority Mail Express. (See Publication 52, section 451.22.)
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200 Commercial Mail Letters, Cards, Flats, and Parcels
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210 Priority Mail Express
213 Prices and Eligibility
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2.0 Content Standards for Priority Mail Express
[Revise the text of 2.0 to read as follows:]
All mailable matter may be sent via Priority Mail Express, except matter prohibited by standards (e.g., certain hazardous materials). Items mailed containing cremated remains in their original form (ashes) and any other form (e.g., keepsakes and jewelry) must be sent via Priority Mail Express. (See Publication 52, section 451.22).
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The Postal Service will incorporate these revisions into the next edition of the online DMM, which is available via Postal Explorer® at pe.usps.com.
— Product Classification, Marketing, 1-2-20
