Effective January 21, 2024, the Postal Service™ will revise Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®), parts 207, 245, and 705, to reflect minor changes related to Periodicals and USPS Marketing Mail® flat-tray preparation and to Bound Printed Matter flats comailing requirements.
These revisions are effective January 21, 2024.
Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM)
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200 Commercial Mail Letters, Cards, Flats, and Parcels
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207 Periodicals
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22.0 Preparing Nonbarcoded (Presorted) Periodicals
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22.2 Bundle Preparation
[Revise the first sentence of the introductory text of 22.2 to read as follows:]
Bundling in flat trays is optional, and any bundles must be trayed and labeled separately from loose flats prepared in flat trays.***
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22.7 Tray Preparation — Flat-Size Nonbarcoded Pieces
[Revise the introductory text of 22.7 to read as follows:]
Mailers must place machinable and nonmachinable (26.0) flat-sized pieces in flat trays (203.5.6) instead of sacks, unless prepared as the following: Direct carrier route; 5–digit scheme carrier route; 5-digit carrier route (23.4.1, 705.9.0, and 705.10.0); Nonpalletized residual 5-digit entered at a DDU along with carrier-route flats; Nonpalletized 5-digit flats entered at the DSCF (origin); or nonpalletized 3-digit/SCF entered at the DSCF (origin). Bundling in flat trays is optional, and any bundles must be trayed and labeled separately from loose flats prepared in flat trays. The trays are subject to a container charge and any bundles are subject to a bundle charge. Tray preparation, sequence, and labeling:***
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23.0 Preparing Carrier Route Periodicals
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23.4 Preparation — Flat-Size Pieces and Irregular Parcels
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23.4.1 Flat Tray and Sacking Preparation and Labeling
[Revise the introductory text of 23.4.1 to read as follows:]
Flats in carrier-route bundles may be prepared and placed in sequence in flat trays or sacks. Preparation sequence, sack/tray size, and labeling:
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25.0 Preparing Flat-Size Barcoded (Automation) Periodicals
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25.5 Tray Preparation — Flat-Size Barcoded Pieces
[Revise the introductory text of 25.5 to read as follows:]
Mailers must place machinable flats (under 201.6.0) in flats trays (see 24.0) instead of sacks, unless prepared as the following: Direct carrier route; 5-digit scheme carrier route; 5-digit carrier route; Nonpalletized residual 5-digit and entered at a DDU along with carrier route flats; Nonpalletized 5-digit flats entered at the DSCF (origin); or nonpalletized 3–digit/SCF entered at the DSCF (origin). Mailers must group together all pieces for each 5-digit scheme, 5-digit, 3-digit scheme, 3-digit, SCF, and ADC destination. Bundling in flat trays is optional, and any bundles must be trayed and labeled separately from loose flats prepared in flat trays. The trays are subject to a container charge, and any bundles are subject to a bundle charge. Tray preparation, sequence, and labeling:***
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245 Mail Preparation
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8.0 Preparing Nonautomation Flats
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8.2 Bundle Preparation
[Revise the first sentence of 8.2 to read as follows:]
Bundling in flat trays is optional, and any bundles must be trayed and labeled separately from loose flats prepared in flat trays.***
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10.0 Preparing Automation Flats
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10.4 USPS Marketing Mail Bundle and Flat Tray Preparation
10.4.1 Bundling and Labeling
[Revise the first sentence of the introductory text of 10.4.1 to read as follows:]
Bundling in flat trays is optional, and any bundles must be trayed and labeled separately from loose flats prepared in flat trays.***
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700 Special Standards
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705 Advanced Preparation and Special Postage Payment Systems
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9.0 Combining Bundles of Automation and Nonautomation Flats in Flat Trays and Sacks
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9.2 Periodicals
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9.2.5 Flay Tray Preparation — Flat-Size Machinable Pieces
[Revise the introductory text of 9.2.5 to read as follows:]
See 207.20.0 for use of flat trays. For machinable pieces meeting the criteria in 201.6.0, mailers must bundle or group all pieces as specified in 207.25.0 and 207.22.0 for each 5-digit scheme, 5-digit, 3-digit scheme, 3-digit, SCF, and ADC destination. Bundling in flat trays is optional, and any bundles must be trayed and labeled separately from loose flats prepared in flat trays. The trays are subject to a container charge, and any bundles are subject to a bundle charge. Tray preparation, sequence, and labeling:***
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15.0 Combining USPS Marketing Mail Flats, Bound Printed Matter Flats, and Periodicals Flats
15.1 Basic Standards
[Insert the title “15.1.1 General” immediately after the title for 15.1 and renumber current 15.1.1 through 15.1.10 as 15.1.2 through 15.1.11.]
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[Add new item h. to the text of renumbered 15.1.1 to read as follows:]
h. Each comailing containing Bound Printed Matter flats must meet the following requirements:
1. Except under 15.1.1h2, BPM flat-sized pieces must not weigh more than 20 ounces when combined in applicable bundles and must be entered at a destination sectional center facility (DSCF) on 5–digit or 3-digit/sectional center facility (SCF) level pallets, or at a destination delivery unit (DDU).
2. BPM flat-sized pieces may weigh up to 24 ounces when combined in carrier-route (CR) level bundles on a pallet included in no less than SCF/3D sortation entered at an SCF. BPM flat-sized pieces must not exceed 20 ounces if prepared in the CR level bundle with certain Periodicals pieces that may weigh more than 20 ounces. The maximum number of BPM pieces weighing more than 20 ounces up to the maximum of 24 ounces must not exceed 50 percent of each mailing.
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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, 1-11-24
