Effective April 1, 2024, the Postal Service™ will revise Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®), in various sections, to reflect the new Postal Service requirement that the correct service indicator composed of the service icon and service banner be included when a shipping address label is used.
In addition, revisions will reflect the Postal Service requirement that the hazardous materials icon (in lieu of the service icon) be included when a shipping address label is used on items containing mailable hazardous materials.
Any variance in the physical aspect of the label affixed to a parcel presented for mailing may require the mailer to pay an Intelligent Mail® package barcode (IMpb®) noncompliance fee.
The Postal Service believes these revisions will enable us to provide customers with a more efficient mailing experience.
Although these standards become effective January 21, 2024, the Postal Service will allow a grace period from January 21 through May 31, 2024, before these standards are implemented. These revisions will be incorporated into the April 4, 2024, edition of the DMM.
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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102 Elements on the Face of a Mailpiece
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3.0 Placement and Content of Mail Markings
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3.2 Priority Mail Marking
[Revise the introductory text of 3.2 to read as follows:]
Priority Mail pieces must have the basic price marking of “Priority Mail” printed in a prominent location on the address side. When a shipping address label is used, the basic required price marking must be printed as provided under 202.3.9.
[Delete items a. and b. and Exhibit 3.2 in their entirety.]
3.3 First-Class Mail and USPS Ground Advantage — Retail Markings
[Revise the text of 3.3 to read as follows:]
Each single-piece price First-Class Mail and USPS Ground Advantage — Retail piece must have a delivery address, but is not required to bear a price marking. When a shipping address label is used, the basic required price marking must be printed as provided under 202.3.9.
3.4 Media Mail and Library Mail Markings
[Revise the last sentence of the introductory text of 3.4 to read as follows:]
***When a shipping address label is used, the basic required price marking must be printed as provided under 202.3.9.
[Delete items a. and b. and Exhibit 3.4 in their entirety.]
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200 Commercial Mail Letters, Cards, Flats, and Parcels
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202 Elements on the Face of a Mailpiece
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3.0 Placement and Content of Mail Markings
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3.3 Priority Mail Express and Priority Mail Markings
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3.3.2 Priority Mail
[Revise the introductory text of 3.3.2 to read as follows:]
Priority Mail pieces must have the basic price marking of “Priority Mail” printed in a prominent location on the address side. When a shipping address label is used, the basic required price marking must be printed as provided under 3.9.
[Delete items a. and b. and Exhibit 3.3.2 in their entirety.]
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3.5 First-Class Mail and USPS Marketing Mail Markings
3.5.1 Types of Markings
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[Revise the text of item d. to read as follows:]
d. When a shipping address label is used, the basic required price marking must be printed as provided under 3.9.
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3.6 USPS Ground Advantage — Commercial Markings
3.6.1 Basic Markings
[Revise the last sentence of 3.6.1 to read as follows:]
***When a shipping address label is used, the basic required price marking must be printed as provided under 3.9.
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3.7 Parcel Select, Bound Printed Matter, Media Mail, and Library Mail Markings
3.7.1 Basic Markings
[Revise the last sentence of the introductory text of 3.7.1 to read as follows:]
***When a shipping address label is used, the basic required price marking must be printed as provided under 3.9.
[Delete items a. and b. and Exhibit 3.7.1 in their entirety.]
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[Revise the title and text of 3.9 to read as follows:]
3.9 Shipping Address Label Markings
3.9.1 General
When a shipping address label is used, it must include the correct service indicator composed of two elements: the service icon (except as provided under 3.9.2) and a service banner. Failure to comply may require the mailer to pay an IMpb noncompliance fee. For information on the markings and specifications, see the Parcel Labeling Guide on the PostalPro website at postalpro.usps.com/parcellabelingguide.
3.9.2 Hazardous Materials
When a shipping address label is used on items containing mailable hazardous materials, it must include the hazardous materials icon in lieu of the service icon as provided in the Parcel Labeling Guide.
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[Add new 9.0 to read as follows:]
9.0 Hazardous Materials
9.1 General
Mailers must ensure that their packages meet all applicable markings under 3.0, and ancillary service endorsement requirements under 507.1.5.
9.2 Shipping Address Labels
When a shipping address label is used, the basic required price marking must be printed as provided under 3.9.
9.3 Additional Elements
All mailable hazardous materials must also include the applicable labels, markings, and tags, as required in Publication 52, Hazardous, Restricted, and Perishable Mail.
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600 Basic Standards for All Mailing Services
601 Mailability
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8.0 Hazardous, Restricted, and Perishable Mail
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[Add new 8.5 to read as follows:]
8.5 Hazardous Materials Labeling
All mailable hazardous materials must be marked as provided under 202.9.0 and include the applicable labels, markings, and tags, as required in Publication 52, Hazardous, Restricted, and Perishable Mail.
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The Postal Service will incorporate these revisions into the April 1, 2024, edition of the online DMM, which is available via Postal Explorer® at pe.usps.com.
— Product Classification,
Product Solutions, 1-25-24
