Customer Support Ruling

The Postal Service is reminding customers that metallic mercury and devices containing metallic mercury are always prohibited in the mail stream. This includes antique items such as thermometers, barometers, blood pressure monitors and similar devices.

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Mailing Standards

Headquarters, US Postal Service

Washington DC 20260-3436

Tone Generators - Periodicals

UPDATED October 1996

PS-103 (707.3)

This CSR discusses enclosing "Tone Generators," a device that plays musical tunes, in copies of publications mailed at the Periodicals rates of postage.

By law, Periodicals publications must be formed of printed sheets. The "Tone Generators" are comprised of fabricated metal and plastic parts, wires and batteries. In view of their physical composition, even though they might be laminated between printed sheets, they do not meet the statutory test and, therefore, must be charged postage at the appropriate Standard Mail rate. The fact that the "Tone Generators" are not merchandise samples and that they will be secured to pages of publications has no bearing on this determination.

Anita J. Bizzotto

Manager