Effective November 6, 2023, the Postal Service™ will revise Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®), in various sections, to clarify requirements for using USPS®-produced packaging for Priority Mail Express®, Priority Mail®, and USPS Connect™ Local mail.
Currently, USPS-produced packaging, including Flat Rate containers, is not eligible for shipping live animals. The Postal Service is clarifying that in addition to live animals, USPS-produced packaging is not eligible for shipping mailable hazardous material. This clarification will provide consistency within the DMM and other Postal Service publications.
In addition, the Postal Service will update the applicable Quick Service Guides (QSGs) to reflect this revision.
Although the Postal Service will not publish these revisions in the DMM until November 6, 2023, the standards are effective immediately.
Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM)
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100 Retail Mail Letters, Cards, Flats, and Parcels
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110 Retail Mail Priority Mail Express
113 Prices and Eligibility
1.0 Prices and Fees
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1.4 Flat Rate Packaging
[Revise the first sentence of 1.4 to read as follows:]
Only USPS-produced Flat Rate Envelopes are eligible for the Flat Rate price, and only customers when using them are charged a flat rate, regardless of the domestic destination or actual weight (up to 70 pounds) of the mailpiece.***
[Revise the last sentence of 1.4 to read as follows:]
***Restrictions apply for using USPS-produced packaging (see 601.6.1).
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115 Mail Preparation
1.0 Priority Mail Express Supplies
1.1 Packaging Provided by USPS
[Revise the text of 1.1 by adding a new second sentence to read as follows:]
***The mailer of any material mailed in USPS-provided Priority Mail Express packaging, regardless of how the packaging is reconfigured or how markings may be obliterated, is charged the appropriate Priority Mail Express price.***
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120 Retail Mail Priority Mail
123 Prices and Eligibility
1.0 Prices and Fees
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1.4 Flat Rate Packaging
[Revise the first sentence of 1.4 to read as follows:]
Only USPS-produced Flat Rate Envelopes or Flat Rate Boxes are eligible for the Flat Rate price, and only customers when using them are charged a flat rate, regardless of the domestic destination or actual weight (up to 70 pounds) of the mailpiece.***
[Revise the last sentence of 1.4 to read as follows:]
***Restrictions apply for using USPS-produced packaging (see 601.6.1).
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125 Mail Preparation
1.0 Preparation
1.1 Priority Mail Packaging Provided by USPS
[Revise the second sentence of 1.1 to read as follows:]
***The mailer of any material mailed in USPS-provided Priority Mail packaging, regardless of how the packaging is reconfigured or how markings may be obliterated, is charged the appropriate Priority Mail price.***
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200 Commercial Mail Letters, Cards, Flats, and Parcels
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210 Commercial Mail Priority Mail Express
213 Prices and Eligibility
1.0 Prices and Fees
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1.5 Flat Rate Packaging
[Revise the first sentence of 1.5 to read as follows:]
Only USPS-produced or approved Flat Rate Envelopes are eligible for the Flat Rate price, and only customers when using them are charged a flat rate, regardless of the domestic destination or actual weight (up to 70 pounds) of the mailpiece.***
[Revise the last sentence of 1.5 to read as follows:]
***Restrictions apply for using USPS-produced packaging (see 601.6.1).
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220 Commercial Mail Priority Mail
223 Prices and Eligibility
1.0 Prices and Fees
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1.5 Flat Rate Packaging
[Revise the first sentence of 1.5 to read as follows:]
Only USPS-produced Flat Rate Envelopes or Flat Rate Boxes are eligible for the Flat Rate price, and only customers when using them are charged a flat rate, regardless of the domestic destination or actual weight (up to 70 pounds) of the mailpiece.***
[Revise the last sentence of 1.5 to read as follows:]
***Restrictions apply for using USPS-produced packaging (see 601.6.1).
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250 Commercial Mail Parcel Select Parcels
253 Prices and Eligibility
1.0 Prices and Fees
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1.6 USPS Connect Local Flat Rate Packaging
[Revise the last sentence of 1.6 to read as follows:]
***Restrictions apply for using USPS-produced packaging (see 601.6.1).
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600 Basic Standards for All Mailing Services
601 Mailability
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6.0 Mailing Containers — Special Types of Envelopes and Packaging
[Revise the title and text of 6.1 to read as follows:]
6.1 USPS-produced Packaging
USPS-produced packaging (including Flat Rate packaging) must be used only for Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail, or USPS Connect Local mail, as applicable. USPS-produced packaging is not eligible for shipping mailable hazardous material or live animals. The mailer of any matter mailed in USPS-produced packaging, regardless of how the packaging is reconfigured or how markings may be obliterated, is charged the appropriate Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail, or USPS Connect Local price.
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700 Special Standards
703 Nonprofit USPS Marketing Mail and Other Unique Eligibility
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2.0 Overseas Military and Diplomatic Post Office Mail
2.1 Basic Standards
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2.1.2 APO/FPO Priority Mail Flat Rate Boxes
[Revise the text of 2.1.2 by adding a new last sentence to read as follows:]
***Restrictions apply for using USPS-produced packaging (see 601.6.1).
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The Postal Service will incorporate these revisions into the November 6, 2023, edition of the online DMM, which is available via Postal Explorer® at pe.usps.com.
— Product Classification,
Product Solutions, 7-27-23
