The following announcements, corrections, notices, reminders, revisions, and updates to the Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) will be incorporated into the printed version of DMM 57 and into the monthly update of the online DMM available via Postal Explorer at http://pe.usps.gov

DMM REMINDER - August 1 Deadline for CMRA Customers

Domestic Mail Manual D042.2.6e was revised August 16, 2000, to allow the use of "PMB" (private mailbox) or the alternative "#" (pound) sign, in certain conditions, as the secondary address designation in the complete delivery address for commercial mail receiving agency (CMRA) customers.

CMRA customers must be in compliance with the new address format by August 1, 2001.

— Retail Operations Support

DMM REMINDER - Flat-Size Mail Changes in Effect September 1

Effective September 1, 2001, there are several changes in the way mailers prepare some presorted and automated flat-size mail for handling and processing by the Postal Service. These changes mean better service for mailers and reduced mail processing costs for the Postal Service.

1) Mailers will be required to co-tray First-Class Mail Presorted rate flats and automation flats that are part of the same mailing job and are reported on the same postage statement.

2) Mailers will be required to co-sack packages of Standard Mail Presorted rate flats and automation rate flats that are part of the same mailing job and are reported on the same postage statement.

3) Mailers will be required to sack or palletize packages of Standard Mail Enhanced Carrier Route flats and presorted 5-digit flats using the labeling list L001 scheme sort.

4) Mailers will be required to sack or palletize packages of Bound Printed Matter Carrier Route flats and presorted 5-digit flats using the labeling list L001 scheme sort.

— Mail Preparation and Standards

DMM REMINDER - Benefits for Corporate BRM Permit Holders

Did you know that corporate Business Reply Mail (BRM) permit holders can allow other authorized representatives/agents to use their permit number to receive BRM at any post office?

All they have to do is provide representatives with a copy of the receipt showing the annual permit fee was paid and a letter of authorization showing the name, address, and telephone number of the representative.

Representatives then must present the receipt and letter of authorization at the post office where the BRM is to be returned (DMM S922.8.2).

Each year when the BRM permit is renewed, as long as the information is current, the representative may simply submit a copy of the receipt showing the annual permit fee was paid. The authorization letter is needed again only if information in the original letter has changed, in which case the permit holder must submit an amended letter.

— Core Business Marketing

DMM REVISION - Revised Rules for Bound Printed Matter Nonprint Attachments and Enclosures

Effective June 14, 2001, Domestic Mail Manual E712.1.2 was revised to include changes to the standards that govern Bound Printed Matter attachments and enclosures. The revised rule rescinds provisions concerning merchandise samples sent as enclosures with Bound Printed Matter. In its place, amended DMM E712.1.2b provides for the inclusion of "nonprint" attachments and enclosures that are incidental to the qualifying Bound Printed Matter material and have minimal commercial value.

The combined weight of all nonprint attachments and enclosures in the mailpiece must be 25 percent or less of the weight of the Bound Printed Matter in the mailpiece.

The individual cost of each nonprint attachment or enclosure must be less than or equal to the cost of a "low cost" item (currently $7.60, See DMM E670.5.11) and the combined cost of all nonprint attachments and/or enclosures in the mailpiece.

— Mail Preparation and Standards

DMM REVISION - Pallet Minimums and Requirements Eliminated for Mail Dropped at Delivery Units

Domestic Mail Manual M041.5.3a was revised to remove the minimum weight requirement for pallets of Periodicals, Standard Mail, and Package Services mail dropped at a destination delivery unit by a mailer or mailer’s agent.

Prior to this change, pallets of packages, parcels, or sacks had to contain at least 250 pounds of mail or three layers of letter trays. For pallets containing less mail, mailers were requested to obtain a written authorization from each postal facility where they were dropping mail. This requirement is eliminated. This change, effective June 14, 2001, does not apply to pallets of Parcel Post bulk mail center (BMC) Presort, origin bulk mail center (OBMC) Presort, destination sectional center facility (DSCF), or destination delivery unit (DDU) rate mail.

— Mail Preparation and Standards

DMM REVISION - Information Required on Pallet Labels

Effective June 14, 2001, Domestic Mail Manual M031.4 is amended to clarify the required information on a pallet label by providing descriptions of what must appear on the destination line (Line 1), content line (Line 2), and office of mailing or mailer information line (Line 3).

Required Line 3 information was previously omitted in the DMM. In addition, this section is amended to provide consistency with DMM M045, Palletized Mailings.

Incorporating these changes makes clear what constitutes the correct contents for a pallet label, including extraneous matter. Because the following information contains only some of the changes required for pallet labels, the DMM should be referenced for all of the standards for pallet labels.

Destination Line — Line 1 of Required Information

The destination line must be the first visible line on the label. It must be completely legible when placed on the pallet.

The destination line must contain only the information specified by standard, including the appropriate destination facility prefix (e.g., "ADC"). Two zeros may follow the 3-digit ZIP Code prefixes required by labeling standards.

On 5-digit carrier routes and 5-digit pallets for military destinations, the destination 5-digit ZIP Code of the mail contained on the pallet must be preceded by "APO" or "FPO"; and "AE" (for 090-098 ZIP Codes), "AA" (for 340 ZIPs), or "AP" (for 962-966 ZIPs).

In most cases where the destination line of a pallet label does not provide enough space for all required information, the destination ZIP Code may be placed right-justified on the line immediately below the destination line and above the content line. A standard abbreviation for the destination city name may be used.

Content Line — Line 2 of Required Information

The content line must be the second visible line on the label. This line must show the class and processing category of the mail on the pallet, and other information as specified in the DMM. If the content line does not provide enough space for all required information, the content information may be continued (right-justified) on the line immediately below the content line and above the office of mailing or mailer information line.

Office of Mailing or Mailer Information Line — Line 3 of Required Information

The office of mailing or mailer information line must be the bottom line of required information and must show either the city and state of the entry post office or the mailer’s name and the city and state of the mailer’s location. It is recommended that the mailer’s name also appear with the city and state of the entry post office. Extraneous Information is permitted on pallet labels if:

• Print size is smaller than ½-inch high.
• It does not consist of a numbered series resembling a ZIP Code or 3-digit ZIP Code prefix.
• It does not appear on or between the lines reserved for USPS-required information (blank lines are permitted). The exception: For combined mailings of Standard Mail and Package Services machinable parcels, mailer codes and extraneous information may appear between the content line and the office of mailing or mailer information line.
• It is below the office of mailing or mailer information line.
• A 1-inch clear space is maintained around the lines reserved for USPS-required information.
• On the office of mailing or mailer information line, the mailer’s name or abbreviation, "Mailer," "From" (or "FR"), "Entered at," or a similar notation precedes the required information, or mailer codes or other extraneous information appear to the right of the required information.

—Mail Preparation and Standards