The Postal Service™ will revise Publication 52, Hazardous, Restricted, and Perishable Mail (Pub 52), to incorporate new requirements, which became effective July 9, 2023, for mailers to use unique Service Type Codes (STC) and Extra Service Codes (ESC) for package shipments containing hazardous material (HAZMAT) or dangerous goods (DG).
This data must be submitted to the Postal Service electronically through a Shipping Service File (SSF) before or concurrent with tendering packages containing HAZMAT or DG. HAZMAT shipped internationally is referred to as DG.
These new requirements, published as a final rule in the Federal Register on April 21, 2023, are in addition to current Pub 52 regulations and do not exempt mailers from complying with existing standards. This rule standardizes the acceptance and handling of package shipments containing HAZMAT or DG by collecting electronic data to ensure these items are appropriately handled regarding the category of HAZMAT or DG contained within the package, and to create electronic manifests for the Postal Service’s air carrier suppliers.
Mailpieces containing only button-cell batteries installed in equipment, or no more than four lithium cells or two lithium batteries installed in equipment they operate, (i.e., cell phones, tablets, digital readers, or glucose monitors, etc.) are not required to bear the lithium-battery mark, domestically, when no more than two mailpieces are in a single consignment, according to Pub 52, part 349.
Therefore, domestic mailpieces containing new devices in original unopened packaging, or manufacturer-certified new or refurbished devices containing or packaged with lithium batteries that do not have a lithium-battery mark applied to the mailpiece, are exempt from the requirement to apply STCs.
Upon full implementation of electronic indicators on July 9, 2023, mailers may submit a request to be released from the requirement to separate hazardous materials from nonhazardous materials when tendering to the Postal Service. Internal Postal Service data will be used to validate compliance with this rule before the Postal Service approves the customer’s release from the separation requirement.
Requests must be submitted to the director, Product Classification, at 475 L’Enfant Plaza SW, Room 4446, Washington, DC 20260-5015.
This rule also clarifies that HAZMAT or DG is not eligible to be mailed in letter- or flat-sized mailpieces. Additional details about this rule are available at federalregister.gov/documents/2023/04/21/2023-08479/electronic-indicators-for-the-mailing-of-hazardous-materials.
Although the Postal Service will not publish these revisions in Publication 52 until later, these standards became effective July 9, 2023, unless otherwise specified.
Publication 52, Hazardous, Restricted and Perishable Mail
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3 Hazardous Materials
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32 General
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323 Mailer Responsibility
[Revise the text of 323 to read as follows:]
323.1 General
Full responsibility rests with the mailer to comply with all Postal Service and non-Postal Service laws and regulations in mailing hazardous material. Anyone who mails, or causes to be mailed, a nonmailable or improperly packaged hazardous material may be subject to legal penalties (i.e., fines and/or imprisonment), including but not limited to those specified in 18 U.S.C. Transporting hazardous materials before entry as U.S. Mail and after receipt from the Postal Service is subject to DOT regulations.
323.2 Service Type Codes
Mailers tendering to the Postal Service packages containing hazardous materials must use a unique Service Type Code (STC) for domestic outbound and return packages that corresponds to the product being shipped (e.g., Priority Mail, Parcel Select Lightweight, and USPS Ground Advantage). The STC is required regardless of whether mailpieces are entered at origin or for destination entry. If purchasing an eligible extra service, mailers must use the STC indicating the product and extra service. Extra services permitted with hazardous materials mailings are:
a. Signature Confirmation.
b. Insurance less than or equal to $500.
c. Insurance over $500.
d. Signature Requested for Priority Mail Express.
e. Adult Signature over 21 for Priority Mail Express (tobacco/Electronic Nicotine Delivery System [ENDS] products).
f. Adult Signature over 21 for Priority Mail (ENDS products).
A list of HAZMAT STCs and ESCs is in Appendix G and Pub 199.
323.3 Extra Service Codes
Mailers tendering to the Postal Service packages containing hazardous materials must use ESC 857. Mailers may optionally use one of 23 unique content-specific Extra Service Codes (ESC) for domestic outbound and return packages that corresponds to the specific category of hazardous material contained within the mailpiece. If one of the content-specific ESC is used, then ESC 857 may be omitted when not enough extra-service code fields are available for the package details. A list of ESCs is in Appendix G and Pub 199.
Note: While using the content-specific ESC is currently a recommended practice, the Postal Service may make this requirement mandatory in the future.
323.4 Additional GS1 DotMatrix (2D) IMpb
Effective January 21, 2024, in addition to including the appropriate STC in the one-dimensional GS1-128 IMpb barcode on the address label, the Postal Service requires adding two (2) supplemental GS1-DataMatrix (2D) IMpbs to domestic shipping labels for mailpieces containing hazardous materials — one in the address block to the left of the delivery address and one in the lower right corner of the shipping label. For more information on the GS1-DataMatrix (2D) IMpbs, see GS1 (2D) information and barcode specifications at gs1.org/docs/barcodes/GS1_DataMatrix_Guideline.pdf and postalpro.usps.com/shipping/impb/2d-impb-guide
323.5 Shipping Service File
Mailers shipping hazardous materials domestically utilizing PC Postage, eVS, USPS Ship, and/or ePostage platforms must incorporate the applicable Service Type Code (STC) and/or Extra Service Code (ESC) listed in Appendix G and Pub 199, and transmit a Shipping Services File (SSF) using Version 1.7 or higher or Shipping Partner Event File (SPEF) using Version 5.0 or higher to the Postal Service before, or concurrent with, tendering any hazardous materials shipments.
323.6 Legacy Postage and Hard-Copy Postage Statements
Mailers using legacy postage meters or hard-copy postage forms must present hazardous materials mailings to a Postal Service retail or business mail entry unit for acceptance.
323.7 USPS-Generated Shipping Labels
At the time of label generation, mailers using a label that USPS generated (including but not limited to USPS APIs, WebTools, Click-n-Ship, or Merchant Returns Application) must indicate whether the shipment contains hazardous materials.
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6 International Mail
62 Hazardous Materials: International Mail
621 General Requirements
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[Add new section 621.5 to read as follows:]
621.5 Extra Service Codes and Shipping Service Files
Mailers shipping dangerous goods internationally, including to APO/FPO/DPO destinations utilizing PC Postage, eVS, USPS Ship, and ePostage platforms, must include ESC 857 and incorporate the applicable content-specific Extra Service Code (ESC) listed in Appendix G and Pub 199, and transmit a Shipping Services File (SSF) using Version 1.7 or higher or Shipping Partner Event File (SPEF) using Version 5.0 or higher to the Postal Service before, or concurrent with, tendering dangerous goods shipments.
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[Add new Appendix G to read as follows:]
Appendix G
Hazardous Materials Service Type Codes (STCs) and Extra Service Codes (ESCs)
This appendix contains a complete list of Service Type Codes (STCs) and Extra Service Codes (ESCs) to be applied within the tracking barcodes and electronic data submission for shipments containing hazardous materials or dangerous goods (See 323.2 and 323.3):
STCs Domestic Outbound (Required)
The following STCs are required when shipping domestic hazardous materials, unless an STC from the STCs Domestic Outbound “Optional” table is used:
:
STCs Domestic Outbound (Optional)
The following STCs are optional unless one of the applicable Extra Services is selected when shipping domestic hazardous materials:
STCs Domestic Returns (Required)
The following STCs for domestic hazardous materials returns packages are required, unless an STC from the STCs Domestic Returns “Optional” list is used:
STCs Domestic Returns (Optional)
The following STCs are optional for domestic hazardous materials returns packages unless the applicable Extra Service is selected:
ESCs Domestic (Optional)
The following is a list of category-specific ESCs that may be used in conjunction with an STC if the mailer chooses:
ESCs Domestic and International, including APO/FPO/DPO (Required)
The following ESCs must be provided for all shipments containing hazardous materials or dangerous goods:
ESCs International and APO/FPO/DPO (Required)
The following is a list of ESCs required for use in the mailers Shipping Service File, when tendering the following dangerous goods internationally with the Postal Service:
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The Postal Service will incorporate these revisions into the next edition of Publication 52, which is available via Postal Explorer® at pe.usps.com.
— Product Classification,
Product Solutions, 9-7-23
