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MailPro
News for Mailing Professionals

In 2007, we processed and delivered 25.6 billion pounds of mail — about 85 million pounds per day.

GETTING THE BIG PICTURE

The Strategic Transformation Plan 2006–2010, the Postal Service roadmap for the future, has been updated to reflect changes from passage of the Postal Act of 2006. The law makes a number of changes to postal oversight and regulation but does not alter the Postal Service’s mission — providing trusted, affordable and universal service.

The 2007 update is available at usps.com/strategicplanning/2006-2010.htm.

In addition, the 2007 Annual Report and the Comprehensive Statement on Postal Operations can be viewed online.

The Annual Report discusses the events that shaped fiscal year 2007 and provides a detailed analysis of the Postal Service’s finances. Go to usps.com/financials/_pdf/AR2007_final_AA2.pdf.

The Postal Service publishes its Comprehensive Statement on Postal Operations to keep lawmakers and stakeholders informed about operations, programs and achievements from the past fiscal year. Go to usps.com/strategicplanning/cs07/cs2007.pdf.

HAY, DON'T MAIL THAT TO IRELAND

No cultured pearls to Bahrain, American cotton to Bangladesh or “musical” cards to Bulgaria. All are prohibited items that can’t be shipped to these countries. If your business is expanding its reach into the global marketplace, be aware of prohibited items in destination countries before you ship.

Since international mail moves through our domestic system first, items that can’t be mailed domestically can’t be mailed internationally. But that doesn’t mean all items that can be mailed within the United States will be accepted in destination countries. Canada, for example, prohibits replica weapons and inert munitions.

In addition to obvious restrictions against shipping explosives and firearms and infectious disease materials, many countries prohibit or restrict lottery tickets, currency and coins, medicines and vitamins, food products, live plants and tobacco products.

There also may be restrictions depending on the class of mail you use. For instance, coins, jewelry, watches and other valuables are prohibited in Express Mail International shipments.

Beyond these, here are just a few of the items not accepted by certain countries:

• Australia: Goods bearing the name “Anzac.”
• Costa Rica: Blank invoices.
• Ireland: Hay, straw, including articles made of straw.
• Latvia: Live animals except bees and leeches.
• Russia: Color copiers.
• Switzerland: Mini-spies (miniature wireless transmitters).
• Tunisia: Playing cards.

The International Mail Manual Index of Countries and Localities lists major prohibited items at http://pe.usps.com/text/imm/immctry.htm#ep809632. A complete list of restricted and prohibited items by nations is published by the Universal Postal Union at upu.int.

Customers who have items that are not listed or are questionable should contact the embassy of the destination country prior to mailing.