Effective August 27, 2020, the Postal Service™ is revising Publication 52, Hazardous, Restricted, and Perishable Mail, to centralize the requirements for Adult Bird container approvals, add new Packaging Instruction 10D for clarity, and eliminate redundancy. Previously, this information was only found on the Postal Pro website; however, relocating the requirements and adding the new packaging instructions to one source will eliminate confusion and maintain consistency with current standards. For convenience, the Postal Pro web page will have a direct link to Publication 52.
In addition, the Postal Service will add the Animal Welfare Act to the list of federal statutes in section 52. This revision requires that mailers of certain animals comply with standards set forth in the Animal Welfare Act, and reflects Postal Service policy against violations relating to the care and treatment of mailable animals.
Publication 52, Hazardous, Restricted, and Perishable Mail
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5 Perishable Matter
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51 Definition
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512 Federal Statutes
[Revise the last sentence of 512 to read as follows:]
***Additional information on these restrictions and prohibitions can be found in the Lacey Act and in the Endangered Species Act, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, the Animal Welfare Act, and the Plant Protection Act under the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
52 Animals
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522 Packaging and Markings
522.1 Container Construction
[Delete the second sentence in the second paragraph.]
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526 Mailable Live Animals
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526.4 Adult Birds
526.41 General
[Delete the first sentence and revise the second sentence of 526.41 to read as follows:]
Mailers must be in compliance and may ship disease-free adult birds domestically under all applicable governmental laws and regulations, including the Lacey Act, the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the Animal Welfare Act, regulations of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and any state, municipal, or local ordinances.***
526.42 Mailability Requirements
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[Revise current item e. and add item f. to read as follows:]
e. The mailer must obtain authorization from the Manager of Product Classification (see 214 for address) and meet the requirements in Packaging Instruction 10D in Appendix C.
f. The mailer must provide evidence of a test conducted by competent authorities using a full container of live birds throughout a 3-day period of challenge. The test must satisfy the following:
1) Confinement of live birds in the container must neither endanger the health of the birds nor subject them to inhumane treatment.
2) Environmental temperatures as high as 99 degrees Fahrenheit must pose no greater physiological stress on birds confined in the container than on birds in containers with conventional ventilation.
3) Environmental temperatures of 0 degrees Fahrenheit and lower for extended periods must pose no greater physiological stress on birds confined in the container than on birds in containers with conventional ventilation.
4) A reduced level of light and absence of visual stimuli should be evident in the container design in order to reduce the birds’ awareness of being moved or sense of alarm due to the presence of humans or other animals nearby, and reduce their psychological stress.
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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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[Add new last bullet with link and title to read as follows:]
n 10D Adult Bird Boxes
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[Add new USPS Packaging Instruction 10D to read as follows:]
USPS Packaging Instruction 10D
Adult Bird Boxes
Disease-free adult birds may be mailed domestically when shipped under all applicable governmental laws and regulations, including the Lacey Act, the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the Animal Welfare Act, regulations of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and any state, municipal, or local ordinances. Each container must meet container specifications. See 521, 522, and 526.4.
Proper Shipping Name
Not applicable.
ID Number
Not applicable.
Mailability
n International Mail: Prohibited.
n Domestic Mail: Permitted via Priority Mail Express service only.
Required Packaging
Containers must be designed with consideration of the birds’ comfort, awareness, health, and welfare, including possible temperature fluctuations that may occur during transport. In addition, the container must:
n Remain intact and withstand crushing during transportation.
n Prevent the birds from puncturing or breaking any part of the container with their own force, or escaping from the container.
n Contain shavings or similar absorbent material to prevent damage to the bottom of the container.
n Have a secure window (covered and sturdy) designated for a visible inspection of the birds.
n Provide sufficient exposure to air to allow the birds to breathe normally through filter-covered ventilation that minimizes the chance of handler contact with solid or aerosolized waste.
Marking
Each container must be marked with the following information:
n “Live Birds — USPS Approved Container # (once issued).”
n Complete sender’s and recipient’s addresses (including phone numbers) on the outer packaging for the necessary notification by Postal Service personnel.
n Directional arrows indicating "up" position (on at least two sides of the container).
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The Postal Service will incorporate this revision into the next edition of online Publication 52, Hazardous, Restricted, and Perishable Mail, which is available via Postal Explorer® at pe.usps.com.
— Product Classification, Marketing, 8-27-20
