Effective January 26, 2023, the Postal Service™ is revising the Individual Country Listing for Belgium in Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, International Mail Manual (IMM®) to reflect an additional prohibition.
This revision is based on a formal request that bpost (the designated postal operator of Belgium) made through the Universal Postal Union via International Bureau Circular 107, dated June 27, 2022.
Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, International Mail Manual (IMM)
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Individual Country Listings
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Belgium
Country Conditions for Mailing
Restrictions
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[Add an entry in alphabetical order to read as follows:]
Plastic wrap of any kind regardless of its chemical composition, including biodegradable or compostable materials, is not allowed on mailed items containing free press, free magazines, commercial mailings, and catalogues addressed to postcodes in the Walloon Region (postcodes 1300–1499 and 4000–7999). To comply with the new environmental legislation in the Walloon Region, bpost (the designated postal operator of Belgium) recommends that the sender use paper to wrap such items mailed to these areas. Plastic wrap is permitted for merchandise, newspapers, and magazines subject to paid subscriptions to all addresses. Window envelopes are still permitted, provided that plastic is not the main component of the wrapping. Parcels are not affected by this restriction.
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Although effective January 26, 2023, the Postal Service will incorporate this revision into a later edition of the online IMM, which is available via Postal Explorer® at pe.usps.com.
— Product Classification,
Product Solutions, 1-26-23
