Changes in International Mail

On January 8, 2006, we revised the International Mail Manual (IMM) to reflect decisions made by the Bucharest Congress of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) and by the Postal Operations Council (POC). These changes were announced in the December 8, 2005 Postal Bulletin, with additional information and clarification appearing in the January 5, 2006 Postal Bulletin.

Indemnity Coverage

Indemnity coverage is now provided for all ordinary, uninsured international airmail and economy (surface) mail parcel post. This new coverage is provided at no additional charge and protects mailers against loss, damage, or rifling. Coverage is limited to the actual value of the contents or the maximum indemnity based on the weight of the article, whichever is less.

The January 2006 edition of PS Form 2976-A, Customs Declaration and Dispatch Note - CP 72, is modified to accommodate this change. Mailers may still purchase additional insurance to many countries. When international insured service is purchased, it replaces the indemnity coverage provided on ordinary parcel post. Revised Form 2976-A, as well as other Customs forms, are available at webapps.usps.com/customsforms/.

Additional Changes/Clarifications

• The addressee is the payee on claims for international registered letter-post items and international ordinary and insured parcel post items delivered in damaged condition or with contents missing.

• Mailers must package the contents of a shipment to prevent deterioration or degradation (see IMM 121).
• Mailers may place only one addressee’s address on envelopes or wrappings.
• We have updated the list of “valuable articles” to include watches (see IMM 134).
• We clarified that additional protection and security for registered mail items is provided in the United States and that registered mail items are handled in destination countries according to their own internal procedures.
• Insurance for parcel post is no longer available to the Philippines.
• We will accept inquiries on international registered items, recorded delivery items, insured parcel post items, and ordinary parcel post items. We will not accept inquiries for ordinary letter-post items, including Global Priority Mail® (GPM) items.
• The maximum indemnity for registered mail items to Canada is now $44.86.
• Great Britain limits the weight of mail bags to 20 kg (approximately 44.092 pounds).
• Address of post restante items (hold for pickup at post office) must show country of destination,

For more information on changes to international parcel post service (as well as other changes), see the article “IMM Revision: Changes in International Mail” in the December 8, 2005 Postal Bulletin. Additionally, International Mail Manual (IMM), Issue 32, January 8, 2006, is available on Postal Explorer at pe.usps.com.

Products Mailable at Nonprofit Standard Mail Rates

At the beginning of each calendar year, the Internal Revenue Service adjusts the value (based on cost of living) of low-cost products mailable at Nonprofit Standard Mail rates. Effective January 1, 2006, the standard is established that the cost of such products cannot exceed $8.60 (up from $8.30 in 2005). This cost, is the actual cost to the authorized nonprofit organization that mails the products or on whose behalf the items are mailed.

Effective immediately, section 703.1.6.11 of Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) is revised.