Effective July 9, 2023, the Postal Service™ will revise Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®), in various sections, to replace references to discontinued legacy extra-service labels and forms with references to the current Intelligent Mail® package barcode (IMpb®)-compliant versions.
On January 22, 2023, in Postal Bulletin 22614 (12-29-22, pages 5–6), the Postal Service revised the standards for forms and labels to add a section in the DMM regarding legacy extra-service forms. This revision will update related sections with current IMpb-compliant label and form numbers.
In addition, the Postal Service will update Quick Service Guide 503, “Extra Services,” with references to current IMpb-compliant labels and forms where applicable.
Although the Postal Service will not publish these revisions in the DMM until July 9, 2023, the standards are effective immediately.
Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM)
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500 Additional Mailing Services
503 Extra Services
1.0 Basic Standards for All Extra Services
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1.7 Forms and Labels
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1.7.5 Legacy Extra-Service Forms
[Revise the text of item 1.7.5 to read as follows:]
Certain legacy extra-service forms are no longer valid. They have been replaced with IMpb-compliant versions (listed below) for use by commercial mailers and at non-RSS sites. Mailers using noncompliant versions of the following extra-service forms will be subject to the IMpb Noncompliance Fee (see Notice 123 — Price List):
a. PS Form 153, Signature Confirmation™ Receipt.
b. PS Form 3800, Certified Mail® Receipt.
c. PS Form 3813, Insured Mail Receipt $500 and Under.
d. PS Form 3813-P, Insured Mail Receipt Over $500.
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7.0 USPS Tracking
7.1 Basic Standards
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7.1.2 Electronic Option USPS Tracking for USPS Marketing Mail Parcels
[Revise the second sentence of 7.1.2 to read as follows:]
***Electronic-option USPS Tracking may be purchased for USPS Marketing Mail parcels by mailers using privately printed forms or labels, or Label 888, and who establish an electronic link with the USPS to exchange acceptance and delivery data.***
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7.2 Labels
7.2.1 Types of Labels
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[Revise the text of item a. to read as follows:]
a. Label 888 may be used by electronic-option mailers; USPS retail associates when affixed to mailpieces at a Post Office, station, or branch; or by mailers when affixed to mailpieces with postage and fees prepaid by metered indicia or ordinary stamps. A mailing receipt is provided to mailers who present mailpieces with an affixed Label 888 at a Post Office, branch, or station, or to their USPS carrier (except under 507.7.2.2). A mailer may also present mailpieces to a retail employee at a Post Office, station, or branch; the retail associate will affix a USPS Tracking label to the item.
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7.2.2 Label Placement
[Revise the first sentence of 7.2.2 to read as follows:]
The barcoded label section of Label 888 or USPS Tracking label must be placed completely on the address side of the mailpiece, above the delivery address and to the right of the return address, or to the left of the delivery address.***
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8.0 USPS Signature Services
8.1 Basic Standards
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8.1.2 Standards for Signature Confirmation
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[Revise 8.1.2d(3) to read as follows:]
3. Label 889, Electronic Signature Confirmation, is available to electronic-option mailers.
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[Revise the first sentence of item e. to read as follows:]
e. The barcoded label section of Label 889 or PS Form 153 (see “Forms” at pe.usps.com) must be placed completely on the address side, either above the delivery address and to the right of the return address, or to the left of the delivery address.***
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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,
Product Solutions, 5-18-23
