Effective September 7, 2023, the Postal Service™ is revising Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, International Mail Manual (IMM®), section 135.62, to reflect current lithium battery mailing requirements. This revision aligns the policy with parts 349, 622, and 623 of Publication 52, Hazardous, Restricted, and Perishable Mail, as published in the article titled “Publication 52 Correction: Required Hazardous Materials Separations” in Postal Bulletin 22617 (2-9-23, pages 8–15).
Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, International Mail Manual (IMM)
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1 International Mail Services
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130 Mailability
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135 Mailable Dangerous Goods
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135.6 Batteries
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135.62 General
[Revise the text to read as follows:]
Only new lithium cells and batteries under 135.63 and 135.64 that are properly installed in the equipment they are intended to operate may be sent internationally or to, from, or between APO, FPO, or DPO locations when not restricted or prohibited by the destination country or APO, FPO, or DPO location. For specific country restrictions, see the applicable Individual Country Listing. For specific APO, FPO, or DPO restrictions, see the information for the destination ZIP Code in the article titled “Overseas Military/Diplomatic Mail” published in each issue of the Postal Bulletin.
The following items are prohibited and may not be mailed internationally or to, from, or between APO, FPO, or DPO locations under any circumstances:
n New lithium batteries packed with or sent separately from equipment.
n Used, damaged, defective, or recalled lithium batteries installed in, packed with, or sent separately from equipment.
n Used, damaged, or defective electronic devices (excluding devices that are new in original packaging, and manufacturer-certified new or refurbished devices) containing or packaged with lithium batteries.
For more information, see Publication 52, parts 349, 622, and 623.
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Although effective September 7, 2023, the Postal Service will incorporate this revision into a later edition of the online IMM (after the one scheduled for September 11, 2023). The IMM is available via Postal Explorer® at pe.usps.com.
— Product Classification,
Product Solutions, 9-7-23
