If mailing internationally has presented you with headaches when you tried to decide what services you needed, fret no more.

The Postal Service has delivered a timely remedy with the recent restructuring of its international services.

As a result, customers now have simple choices when they mail their international letters and packages.

Instead of a content-based system, which charged the customer based on what was inside the mailpiece, the system has changed to reflect speed-based pricing.

“Traditionally, we classified international mail by content — with over a dozen ways to send a four-pound package,” explained International Business Vice President James P. Wade.

“Simplified product offerings now make it easier for everybody — our customers and our employees.”

Outbound international postal products and services represent about $1.4 billion in annual USPS revenue.

The rate adjustments reflect changes in foreign delivery charges (terminal dues) that were adopted by the Universal Postal Union and became effective January 1.

The simplified structure has resulted in five levels of international service — Global Express Guaranteed® (GXG), Global Express Mail™ (GEM), Global Priority Mail (GPM), Global Airmail (Letter-post and Parcel Post) and Global Economy, which provides surface service (Letter-post and Parcel Post).

According to Wade, these product offerings are easy to understand, which will help mailers more easily choose the right service.

For instance, Global Airmail has only two subcategories: Letter-post and Parcel Post. Other distinctions, such as small packets, printed matter, sheet music and books will be incorporated into the Letter-post service.

And the half-ounce rate is eliminated for Letter-post, making the starting weight the same as domestic — one ounce.

For customers who used printed matter rates for books, sheet music and related merchandise samples, the M-Bag option is now offered with no minimum weight restrictions. (An M-Bag is a single mail bag which can hold up to 66 pounds and can be sent to one addressee only.)

The Global Economy Letter-post rate begins at one pound and the Parcel Post rate begins at five pounds.

These starting rates reflect the costs attributed to Economy service that would price Economy rates above Global Airmail at the lower weight levels.

Two outdated and rarely used special services have also been eliminated: Special Delivery and Special Handling.

For commercial services, International Surface Air Lift (ISAL) is now available to Canada, replacing the current VALUEPOST/CANADA service.

The number of rate groups for ISAL increase from four to eight and include a separate rate group for Canada.

Under the speed-based classification system, all ISAL and International Priority Airmail (IPA) items are classified as Letter-post and must conform to those size and weight limits.

Items in excess of four pounds are not mailable as Letter-post. However, printed matter items weighing more than 4 pounds are mailable as M-Bags, subject to a minimum 11-pound charge.

In addition, the number of rate groups for IPA will expand from five to eight.

Customers can learn more about the international rate structure by visiting the Postal Service Web site at www.usps.com.