Domestic Mail Manual (DMM)
The following changes to the Domestic Mail Manual are incorporated into the online version available via Postal Explorer at http://pe.usps.gov.

DMM Revisions

Bound Printed Matter — Co-Sacking Requirement

Effective September 1, 2003, DMM M722.1.5, M820.1.10, and M910.4.1 are revised to require the co-sacking of all flat-size Bound Printed Matter (BPM) mailpieces from the same mailing job, whether the barcoded discount is claimed for all of the pieces in the mailing job or only for a portion of the pieces. With this revision, mailers must co-sack (i.e., sort into the same sack) packages of BPM Presorted flat-size rate pieces qualifying for the barcode discount with packages of Presorted rate flat-size pieces not claiming the barcode discount that are part of the same mailing job.

Before September 1, 2003, DMM M722.1.5 and M820.1.10 provided two preparation options for such mail:

• Co-sacking the packages from both mailings using DMM M910.
• Preparing separate sacks for the Presorted rate pieces qualifying for the barcoded discount using DMM M820 and separate sacks for the Presorted rate pieces (not claiming the barcoded discount) using DMM M722.

This revision eliminates the second option to sack each mailing separately using the applicable preparation standards in DMM M820 and M722. The elimination of this option promotes operational efficiencies by reducing the number of sacks that must be prepared by the mailer and handled by the Postal Service.

Postal Bulletin 22099 (4-3-03, pages 13-19) announced new mail preparation options for the co-packaging and co- sacking of BPM flat-size pieces. Under the co-packaging standards in DMM M950, mailers have the option to co- package (i.e., sort into the same package) BPM Presorted rate flat-size pieces qualifying for the barcoded discount and Presorted rate pieces (not qualifying for the barcoded discount). Co-packaged pieces are required to be co- sacked under DMM M910.

The revised standards that take effect on September 1, 2003, for the required co-sacking of Presorted rate BPM flat-size pieces are as follows:

• Packages prepared as part of the Presorted rate mailing qualifying for and claiming the barcoded discount and packages prepared as part of the Presorted rate mailing (not qualifying for the barcoded discount) must be co-sacked, effective September 1, 2003.
• Packages of flats qualifying for and claiming the barcoded discount that are co-sacked with packages of Presorted rate flats must be part of the same mailing job.
• Both the Presorted rate mailing qualifying for and claiming the barcoded discount and the Presorted rate mailing must separately meet the applicable rate eligibility and volume requirements.
• Packages that are co-sacked under DMM M910 are not required to be co-packaged.

New Procedures for Depositing Periodicals at Airport Mail Facilities

Effective September 4, 2003, DMM D210.2.0, D210.4.1, and D210.4.4 are revised and new D210.4.5 is added to incorporate the existing procedures for depositing Periodicals items at the airport mail centers/facilities (AMCs/AMFs) by freight forwarders. This option is available only for Periodicals mail.

With the Periodicals industry, the Postal Service has developed enhancements to the process for entering Periodicals items at AMCs/AMFs that are responsive to our customers’ needs, retain accountability, and are standardized. Network Operations Management has developed a standard operating procedure (SOP) to standardize acceptance procedures at AMCs/AMFs (available through each AMC/AMF manager).

Freight forwarders and cargo agents have unique requirements imposed by airlines when delivering Periodicals items by air to AMCs/AMFs. Regular meetings are held among the Periodicals industry, publishers, commercial airfreight forwarders, and the Postal Service to improve Periodicals entry procedures. The national SOP uses established plant-verified drop shipment (PVDS) procedures. When normal procedures are insufficient, all parties can develop and agree on customized local solutions and operational agreements.

Prohibition on Mailing Animals for Fighting Purposes

Effective September 4, 2003, DMM C022.3.0 and C031.5.7 are revised to include new text that reflects an amendment made to the Animal Welfare Act in Title 7 United States Code section 2156 (7 USC 2156). DMM C022.3.1 and C022.3.5 are revised to state that mailing live animals for fighting purposes is prohibited. DMM C031.5.7, which prohibits the mailing of written, printed, or graphic matter that promotes an animal fighting venture, is revised for clarity only.

The change to the federal law in 7 USC 2156 was enacted by Congress on May 14, 2002, as part of the 2002 Farm Bill (Public Law 107-171). This change took effect 1 year later on May 14, 2003, and it further restricted the transport of live animals for fighting purposes.

Essentially, the change in the law means that live animals cannot be mailed for purposes of animal fighting, even to states where animal fighting is a legal venture. However, if a mailer wishes to mail a live animal for a purpose that does not involve an animal fighting venture and does not violate 7 USC 2156, the live animal is mailable as permitted under the applicable mailing standards in DMM C022.

Before the change, the transport of live animals for fighting purposes was largely prohibited, but did allow birds intended for fighting purposes to be shipped to states where cockfighting is legal. For example, gamecocks and similar birds could previously be mailed to New Mexico, Louisiana, Guam, and other locations where cockfighting is legal. This previously permissible practice, however, is no longer permitted due to the change in the law that took effect on May 14, 2003.

The portion of the law pertaining to the mailing of printed materials that promote an animal fighting venture did not change. Such materials continue to be nonmailable as stated in DMM C031.5.7 unless the venture involves live birds and the fight is to take place in a state where animal fighting is a legal venture.

As information, the law in 7 USC 2156(c) states that it is “...unlawful for any person to knowingly use the mail service of the United States Postal Service or any interstate instrumentality for purposes of promoting, or in any other manner furthering, an animal fighting venture except as performed outside the limits of the states of the United States.” The term states includes any state of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and any territory or possession of the United States. (See DMM G011.2.1 for a list of U.S. territories and possessions.)

Under the penalty provision in 7 USC 2156, any person who violates the law will be fined not more than $15,000 or imprisoned for not more than 1 year, or both, for each violation.

Customers are not allowed to mark a mailpiece containing live animals for fighting purposes as “For Breeding Purposes,” as “Show Animal,” or with any similar marking that may be fraudulent.

Periodicals Ride-Along Pieces

Effective September 4, 2003, DMM E260.1.2 is revised to permit the physical dimensions of a Periodicals Ride-Along piece to exceed those of the host publication when properly enclosed in a complete wrapper.

Only one Ride-Along piece may be attached to or enclosed with an individual copy of Periodicals mail. The Ride-Along rate must be paid on each copy in the mailing, not addressed pieces. If more than one Ride-Along piece is attached or enclosed, mailers have the option of paying Standard Mail postage for all the enclosures or attachments, or paying the Ride-Along rate for the first attachment or enclosure and Standard Mail rates for subsequent attachments and enclosures. Ride-Along pieces eligible under E260 must be eligible as Standard Mail pieces and must:

• Not exceed any dimension of the host publication except when the host publication and the Ride-Along piece are contained in an envelope, polybag, or other complete wrapper.
• Not exceed 3.3 ounces and must not exceed the weight of the host publication.
• Not obscure the title of the publication or the address label.

Repositionable Notes — Revised Postage Statements

The following six postage statements are revised to incorporate the additional data elements that must be completed by mailers entering mail with repositionable notes attached:

• PS Form 3600-P, Postage Statement – First-Class Mail – Postage Affixed
• PS Form 3600-R, Postage Statement – First-Class Mail – Permit Imprint
• PS Form 3602-N, Postage Statement – Nonprofit Standard Mail Letters and Flats – Permit Imprint
• PS Form 3602-NP, Postage Statement – Nonprofit Standard Mail Letters and Flats – Postage Affixed
• PS Form 3602-P, Postage Statement – Standard Mail Letters and Flats – Postage Affixed
• PS Form 3602-R, Postage Statement – Standard Mail Letters and Flats – Permit Imprint

A description of repositionable notes and the mailing standards for this service are published in DMM C810.7.0. That section explains how to prepare repositionable notes and provides information on mailpiece characteristics, mailpiece contents, mailpiece physical requirements and size standards, notes characteristics, and compliance.

Effective Date

The revised postage statements are dated August 2003. These revised postage statements include new entries for data collection for repositionable notes. All mailers preparing and entering mailings with repositionable notes must use the August 2003 statements (or approved facsimiles), which contain these additions:

• Repositionable notes data collection box on page 1.
• Privacy Notice in the Certification section on page 1.

Use of June 2002 Editions

Mailers not preparing mailings with repositionable notes may continue to use the June 2002 editions of PS Forms 3600-P, 3600-R, 3602-N, 3602-NP, 3602-P, and 3602-R until August 31, 2004. Mailers should, however, use the August 2003 editions as soon as possible. Any edition before June 2002 is obsolete and cannot be used.

Availability of Revised Statements

The revised postage statements — along with all other postage statements — are available on the Postal Service website at www.usps.com (click Find a Form, then All Online PDF Forms in Numeric Order). These forms can be printed locally and completed manually. Mailers with questions about the use and availability of postage statements should contact the Post Office where they usually enter their mailings.

Polywrap — Selvage Maximums for AFSM 100 Flats

Effective September 4, 2003, DMM C820.4.3 is revised to clarify polywrap standards for the maximum amount of overhang (selvage) permitted for automated flat sorting machine (AFSM) 100-compatible flat-size pieces. Current mailing standards for polywrap, reorganized and published in Postal Bulletin 22106 (7-10-03, pages 25-27), provide maximum limits on the amount of polywrap overhang (selvage) beyond the size of the enclosed mailpiece.

The overhang standards for AFSM 100-compatible flat- size pieces currently reflect the standards for the FSM 881, which the Postal Service has discontinued using for processing flat-size pieces. The actual maximum selvage limits for the AFSM 100 are the reverse of those used for the FSM 881 and are amended as follows:

• Overhang at Top. When the contents of an AFSM 100-compatible mailpiece are positioned completely at the bottom of the polywrap, the overhang must be 1/2 inch or less above the top of the mailpiece.
• Overhang on Side. When the contents of an AFSM 100-compatible mailpiece are positioned completely to the left or to the right side of the polywrap, the overhang must be 1-1/2 inches or less on the opposite side.

DMM Notice

Customized MarketMail Pieces — Attachments and Enclosures

This notice clarifies the use of attachments and enclosures with mailpieces prepared and entered under DMM E660 as Customized MarketMail (CMM) pieces. The mailing standards for this new service, which took effect at 12:01 a.m. on Sunday, August 10, 2003, were published in Postal Bulletin 22106 (7-10-03, pages 27-38).

The following standards apply to attachments and enclosures for CMM pieces:

• First-Class Mail Attachments and Enclosures. First-Class Mail pieces or any matter required under DMM E110 to be mailed as First-Class Mail may not be attached to or enclosed within CMM pieces.
• Standard Mail Attachments. Standard Mail or any matter that qualifies as Standard Mail pieces under DMM E610 may not be attached to CMM pieces. For example, repositionable notes or merchandise samples may not be attached to CMM pieces. Permanently affixed address labels, however, are not considered attachments for this standard. DMM E610.4.5 presents the mailing standards and restrictions that apply to Standard Mail attachments for other types of Standard Mail pieces.

For clarification, Standard Mail pieces or any matter that qualifies as Standard Mail under DMM E610 may be included within CMM pieces if completely contained within the CMM host piece. For example, if a CMM piece is constructed as a triangular envelope, Standard Mail matter such as coupons or small merchandise samples may be placed and sealed within the envelope, provided that the total weight of the CMM piece with the enclosures does not exceed 3.3 ounces and the CMM piece is no thicker than 3/4 inch at its thickest point.

Mailers or Postal Service employees who have additional questions or need further clarification about attachments or enclosures with CMM pieces should contact their local business mail entry unit for guidance on these mailing standards.

DMM Reminder

New Symbology for Parcel Barcodes

The U.S. Postal Service is updating symbology requirements to make parcel delivery more efficient. The required symbology, called Uniform Code Council/European Article Number Code 128 (UCC/EAN Code 128), will replace all other barcode formats used by parcel mailers and is expected to improve processing of parcels.

The UCC/EAN Code 128 symbology is more flexible, and enables us to better satisfy customer needs,” said Package Services Manager Jim Cochrane.

When this change is fully implemented, the Postal Service will be using the same barcode system that has been adopted by many other parcel shippers. This more efficient symbology will enhance the Postal Service’s efforts to barcode every parcel processed at bulk mail centers.

The transition period for mailers to update their barcode symbology comes to an end January 10, 2004. At that time, all machinable parcels must be printed with the UCC/EAN Code 128 symbology.

For more information about the switch to the UCC/EAN Code 128 symbology, please refer to DMM C850, Barcoding Standards for Parcels, at http://pe.usps.gov.