Effective November 17, 2022, the Postal Service™ is revising Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, International Mail Manual (IMM®) in Chapter 5 and in the Individual Country Listings for Belarus and Russia. These revisions update information based on recent U.S. government sanctions concerning the export, reexport, or transfer (in country) to and within Belarus and Russia for certain items subject to the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) identified under specific Schedule B numbers corresponding to categories of exported goods for which the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) of the United States Department of Commerce (Commerce Department) requires a license.
A Schedule B number is a 10-digit code used in the United States to classify physical goods for export to another country. There is a Schedule B number for every physical product. Based on the international Harmonized System (HS) of 6-digit commodity classification codes (which serve as the foundation for the import and export classification systems used in the United States), Schedule B numbers are administered by the U.S. Census Bureau of the Commerce Department.
To help ensure compliance, the Postal Service is requiring that, for all items containing goods destined to Belarus and Russia, the associated 10-digit Schedule B number must appear in the HS Tariff Number block on the customs declaration form, along with a detailed description of the goods. In addition, a mailer using an electronic customs form must transmit the Schedule B number electronically.
Although mail service to Belarus and Russia has been temporarily suspended, the Postal Service is issuing this directive now to help mailers with compliance once service is restored.
Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, International Mail Manual (IMM)
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5 Nonpostal Export Regulations
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530 Commodities and Technical Data
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[Revise the title of 533 to read as follows:]
533 Luxury Goods to Belarus and Russia
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[Add part 534 to read as follows (renumbering current 534 and 535 as 535 and 536, respectively):]
534 Schedule B Number Requirement for Belarus and Russia
In alignment with U.S. government sanctions and the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) of the United States Department of Commerce, the 10-digit Schedule B number must appear in the HS Tariff Number block on the customs declaration form for each item containing goods mailed to Belarus or Russia, along with a detailed description of the goods. Also, a mailer using an electronic customs form must transmit the Schedule B number electronically.
This rule reflects the addition to 15 CFR, Section 746.5(a)(1)(ii) of the “Russian Industry Sector Sanctions List” (and the expansion of those requirements to Belarus), which identifies certain Schedule B numbers corresponding to categories of exported goods (as well as certain modified or designed components, parts, accessories, and attachments of such goods) for which BIS requires a license. For the latest requirements, the mailer is responsible for consulting the current, authoritative provisions in the applicable BIS rules, including those that might be available at bis.doc.gov/index.php/regulations/export-administration-regulations-ear (click on the link for “Part 746”) as updated periodically. For further guidance on BIS license requirements, see the BIS guide “Resources on Export Controls Implemented in Response to Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine” at bis.doc.gov/index.php/policy-guidance/country-guidance/russia-belarus. An item’s inclusion in or exclusion from the Russian Industry Sector Sanctions List does not necessarily imply mailability, because other rules or regulations might also render any item nonmailable. For certain other prohibited and restricted items, see the Individual Country Listings for Belarus and Russia, as well as Publication 52, Hazardous, Restricted, and Perishable Mail.
Note: A Schedule B number is a 10-digit code used in the United States to classify physical goods for export to another country. There is a Schedule B number for every physical product. Based on the international Harmonized System (HS) of 6-digit commodity classification codes (which serve as the foundation for the import and export classification systems used in the United States), Schedule B numbers are administered by the U.S. Census Bureau of the United States Department of Commerce. Further information on Schedule B numbers is available at trade.gov/harmonized-system-hs-codes. Schedule B numbers are available via the U.S. Census Bureau’s Schedule B search engine at uscensus.prod.3ceonline.com or via any similar successor source.
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535 Additional Standards
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535.2 Mailer and USPS Responsibilities for Completing and Processing Forms
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535.22 USPS Responsibilities
[Revise the text to read as follows (changing the cross reference):]
Postal Service personnel must verify that the submitted form is complete and in accordance with 535.21.
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Individual Country Listings
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Belarus
Country Conditions for Mailing
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[Before “Prohibitions,” add a second paragraph in bold text to read as follows:]
The 10-digit Schedule B number must appear in the HS Tariff Number block on the customs declaration form for each good exported, reexported, or transferred (in country) to and within Belarus. See 534.
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Russia
Country Conditions for Mailing
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[Before “Prohibitions,” add a second paragraph in bold text to read as follows:]
The 10-digit Schedule B number must appear in the HS Tariff Number block on the customs declaration form for each good exported, reexported, or transferred (in country) to and within Russia. See 534.
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Although effective November 17, 2022, the Postal Service will incorporate these revisions into the next edition of the online IMM. The online IMM is available via Postal Explorer® at pe.usps.com.
— Product Classification,
Product Solutions, 11-17-22
