Effective June 16, 2022, the Postal Service™ is revising Publication 52, Hazardous, Restricted, and Perishable Mail (Pub 52), to incorporate new requirements for mailers to separate, into identifiable containers, all hazardous material (HAZMAT) requiring hazardous marks or labels from other mail when tendering to the Postal Service. The Postal Service is also adopting related standard operating procedures for the Postal Service’s acceptance, dispatch, and mail processing personnel to maintain the integrity of HAZMAT separation.
Additionally, the Postal Service is revising Pub 52 to reflect new Postal Service requirements that pre-owned, damaged, or defective electronic devices (such as cell phones, laptops, tablets, cameras, etc.) packaged with or containing lithium batteries be mailed only via surface transportation (USPS Retail Ground®, Parcel Select®, Parcel Return Service, or Ground Return Service) and bear specified markings.
Although the Postal Service will not publish these revisions in Publication 52 until a future edition, the standards are effective immediately.
Publication 52, Hazardous, Restricted, and Perishable Mail
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2 General Guidelines
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[Revise the title of subchapter 25 to read as follows:]
25 Basic Guidelines for Postal Service Personnel
251 Guidelines for Acceptance Personnel
[Revise the text of 251 to read as follows:]
Postal Service personnel may not open mail sealed against inspection except under the circumstances described in ASM 274. Accordingly, knowledge of the content of such mail may be obtained directly from the mailer (e.g., a mailer may ask questions about mailing requirements or mark the outside of the mailpiece to indicate the contents) or indirectly through leakage or other escape of the contents. Subject to the applicable restrictions, acceptance personnel must:
a. Determine the mailability of all hazardous materials, perishable matter, or otherwise restricted matter offered for mailing at a retail unit or business mail entry unit (BMEU). This process must include a thorough inspection of all sides of the mailpiece for evidence of hazardous materials (e.g., markings). At retail units, mailers must be asked the question: “Does this parcel contain anything fragile, liquid, perishable, or potentially hazardous, including lithium batteries and perfume?”
b. If the contents are mailable, determine the specific quantity limitations, labeling, and packaging requirements that apply.
c. With the exception of mail entered at a Destination Delivery Unit (DDU), Destination Sectional Center Facility (DSCF), or Destination Network Distribution Center (DNDC), verify that all mailpieces containing mailable hazardous materials are presented separately from mailpieces not containing hazardous materials.
d. Refuse (as permitted in POM 139) to accept any material that does not meet the applicable requirements for mailing and refer the circumstances to the local postmaster or PCSC for a mailability ruling under 213 or 215, as appropriate.
e. If a mailpiece containing a diagnostic (clinical) specimen is in a sack or tub, PS Tag 44 must be attached to ensure that the sack will be emptied at the processing point.
f. With the exception of mail entered at a DDU, DSCF, or DNDC, ensure that mailpieces containing hazardous materials remain separated from other mailpieces and are placed into labeled containers further separated by transportation type (see 327.1a and 327.1b).
g. See 253 for guidance regarding hazardous materials found in lobby drops or retail collection boxes.
See Chapter 7 for guidelines that Postal Service acceptance personnel must follow when handling hazardous materials, restricted matter, or perishable matter to be transported by air.
252 Guidelines for Dispatch Personnel
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[Add new item b. to read as follows and renumber current item b. as item c.:]
b. Ensure that all mailpieces with a hazardous-materials mark or label are separated from all other mail and are placed into labeled containers further separated by transportation type (see 327.1a and 327.1b).
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[In renumbered item c., revise bullet (5) to read as follows:]
(5) If the mailpiece contains a material believed to be nonmailable, remove it from the mailstream and treat it in accordance with POM 139.117-118, as appropriate.
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[Add new part 253 to read as follows:]
253 Guidelines for Delivery and Collection Personnel
Delivery and collection personnel must follow these procedures when delivering and collecting mail:
a. Conduct a thorough examination of all sides of the mailpiece for hazardous material labels and markings or any nonmailable hazardous characteristics (e.g., prohibited marks or labels). If the mailpiece is nonmailable, leaking or stained, do not collect it; notify the customer, if present, and contact a supervisor.
b. Ensure that mailable hazardous materials are separate from all other mail upon loading on the delivery and collection personnel’s vehicle and that mailable hazardous materials remain separated at all times.
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3 Hazardous Materials
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32 General
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327 Transportation Requirements
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327.1 General
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[Revise item b. to read as follows:]
b. Surface Transportation. All mailable hazardous materials eligible to be sent as USPS Marketing Mail, USPS Retail Ground, Parcel Select, or Parcel Return Service must be prepared under the requirements that apply to surface transportation. A mailpiece containing mailable hazardous material with postage paid at USPS Marketing Mail, USPS Retail Ground, Parcel Select, or Package Return Service prices must not, under any circumstance, be transported on air transportation.
327.2 Air Transportation Prohibitions
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[Add new item g. to read as follows, and renumber current item g. as item h.:]
g. Pre-owned, damaged, or defective electronic devices containing or packaged with lithium batteries (see 349.12e).
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[Add new part 329 to read as follows:]
329 Presentation of Hazardous-Materials Mailings
With the exception of mail entered at a DDU, DSCF, or DNDC, each mailer of mailable hazardous materials requiring a label or marking must:
a. Present such mailpieces separately from any mailpieces not containing hazardous materials. Where mailpieces are tendered in containers, pallets, or other mail transport equipment (see Handbook PO-502, Mail Transport Equipment), hazardous-materials mailpieces must be presented in a separate receptacle from non-hazardous-materials mailpieces.
b. Clearly mark an exterior side of all receptacles containing hazardous-materials mailpieces as “HAZMAT.”
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34 Mailability by Hazard Class
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349 Miscellaneous Hazardous Materials (Hazard Class 9)
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349.1 Definition
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349.12 Lithium Battery — Definitions
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[Add new item e. to read as follows:]
e. Pre-owned, damaged, or defective electronic device means an electronic device containing or packaged with one or more lithium cells or batteries and that the electronic device:
(1) Is not new and contained in new, unopened packaging; and/or
(2) Has some form of damage or defect.
349.2 Mailability
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349.21 Nonmailable Class 9 Materials
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[Add new items g. and h. to read as follows:]
g. Damaged, defective, or recalled batteries unless approved by the director, Product Classification (see 214 for address).
h. All pre-owned, damaged, or defective electronic devices in international mail or domestic air transportation.
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Exhibit 349.222
Domestic Lithium Battery Mailability
[Add new footnote “1” reference to the column title “Air Transportation,” revise the footnote reference to “2” in column title “Mailpiece Limitations,” add new footnote 1 at the bottom of the table, renumber current footnote entries 1 through 7 as 2 through 8, revise the footnote references in the row titles to read as follows, and the title in the last row to read as follows:]
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6 International Mail
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62 Hazardous Materials: International Mail
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622 Mailable Hazardous Materials
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622.5 Lithium and Lithium-ion Cells and Batteries — General
[Revise the first paragraph of 622.5 to read as follows:]
Only lithium batteries under 622.51 and 622.52 that are properly installed in the equipment they operate may be sent internationally or to and from an APO, FPO, or DPO location (subject to the conditions prescribed by the Department of Defense listed in Overseas Military/Diplomatic Mail in the Postal Bulletin). Damaged, defective, or recalled lithium batteries and pre-owned, damaged, or defective electronic devices containing or packaged with lithium batteries are prohibited and must not be mailed internationally or to and from APO, FPO, or DPO locations under any circumstances (see 349.21).
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Exhibit 622.5
International Lithium Battery Mailability
[Add new footnote reference “2” to the column title “International APO/FPO/DPO,” revise the footnote reference to “3” in the column title “Mailpiece Battery Limit,” add new footnote 2 text at the bottom of the table to read as follows, renumber current footnote entries 2 through 8 as 3 through 9, and revise the footnote references in the row titles to read as follows:]
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623 Nonmailable Hazardous Materials
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[Add new items m. and n. to read as follows:]
m. All damaged, defective, or recalled lithium batteries (see 349.21).
n. All pre-owned, damaged, or defective electronic devices containing or packaged with lithium batteries (see 349.21).
Appendix C
USPS Packaging Instructions for Mailable Hazardous Materials
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USPS Packaging Instruction 9D
Lithium Metal and Lithium-Ion Cells and Batteries — Domestic
[Revise the first paragraph to read as follows:]
Except under 349.21, lithium metal (non-rechargeable) cells and batteries and lithium-ion (rechargeable) cells and batteries are mailable in limited quantities domestically via air or surface transportation when they are installed in or packed with the equipment they are intended to operate. Unless otherwise excepted, lithium metal and lithium-ion batteries (without equipment) are mailable in limited quantities domestically via surface transportation only. Lithium metal and lithium-ion batteries installed in or packed with pre-owned, damaged, or defective electronic devices meeting all mailability requirements in 349 are mailable via surface transportation only.
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Mailability
[Revise the text of the first bullet to read as follows:]
n Lithium metal and lithium-ion cells and batteries installed in or packed with equipment (except for pre-owned, damaged, or defective electronic devices) are mailable via air or surface transportation.
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[Add new fourth bullet to read as follows:]
n Pre-owned, damaged, or defective electronic devices containing or packaged with lithium batteries (see 349.12e) must be mailed via domestic surface transportation only, provided they meet eligibility requirements in accordance with 349.
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Markings
[Revise the first main bullet to read as follows:]
n Lithium metal batteries properly installed in the equipment they are intended to operate (including pre-owned, damaged, or defective electronic devices):
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[Revise the second main bullet to read as follows:]
n Lithium metal batteries packed with the equipment they are intended to operate (including pre-owned, damaged, or defective electronic devices):
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[Revise the fourth main bullet to read as follows:]
n Lithium-ion batteries properly installed in the equipment they are intended to operate (including pre-owned, damaged, or defective electronic devices):
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[Revise the fifth main bullet to read as follows:]
n Lithium-ion batteries packed with the equipment they are intended to operate (including pre-owned, damaged, or defective electronic devices):
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[Add new bullet at end of section to read as follows:]
n Pre-owned, damaged, or defective electronic devices: In addition to any other applicable marking requirements listed above, packages containing pre-owned, damaged, or defective electronic devices containing or packaged with lithium batteries must be marked with the text “Restricted Electronic Device” and “Surface Transportation Only” on the address side of the package (see 221.1 and 325.1).
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USPS Packaging Instruction 9E
Lithium Metal and Lithium-ion Cells and Batteries — International and APO/FPO/DPO
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Mailability
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[Add new third and fourth bullets to read as follows:]
n Pre-owned, damaged, and defective electronic devices containing or packaged with lithium batteries are prohibited (see 623).
n Lithium batteries that are packed with equipment, lithium batteries sent separately from equipment, or lithium batteries installed in equipment they intend to operate that are damaged, defective, or recalled are prohibited (see 623).
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The Postal Service will incorporate these revisions into a future edition of online Publication 52, which is available via Postal Explorer® at pe.usps.com.
— Product Classification,
Product Solutions, 6-16-22
