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Postal Explorer > Publication 52 - Hazardous, Restricted, and Perishable Mail > 5 Perishable Matter > 52 Animals
The full cooperation of the mailer is essential in order to safely and effectively
transport animals through the mail. The following factors are applied to all
shipments of mailable live or dead animals:
a. Protection of Postal Service employees and the public against harm
from dangerous or diseased animals.
b. Protection of the mail and the environment against the following:
(1) Damage to the shipping container or other mailpieces from either
the animal or the refrigerant used (e.g., moisture or condensation
from melting ice, or pressure build-up from dry ice).
(2) Obnoxious odors and noise.
c. Protection of animals against death, or protection of animal specimens
against spoilage, taking into account the following:
(1) Expected time in transit.
(2) Expected temperature in transit (weather conditions).
(3) Packaging, including insulation against impact, heat, cold, and
preventing suffocation.
d. Ability of an animal to survive without food or water during transport.
Live animals must be transported without food or water, because
liquids, moisture, and loose foodstuffs can cause damage to the
shipping container, other mail, and Postal Service equipment during
transport.
e. The ability of the Postal Service to provide transportation and delivery
service. Mailers are urged to work with postmasters in providing
advance notification of shipments of live animals. The Postal Service
advises destination and transfer offices when any significant quantities
of animals are moving in the mail. Postal Service field personnel should
consider a 4-hour time limit on the period during which animals
(especially bees, day-old poultry, and adult birds) may move in a
regular, closed Postal Service vehicle.
Shipping containers for mailable live animals must, at a minimum, be made
of 275-pound test, double-wall, corrugated, weather-resistant fiberboard
(W5c) or equivalent. Additional container requirements apply to mailable
types of adult fowl and adult chickens, as specified in DMM 601.9.3.4 and
601.9.3.5.
Containers must be constructed to prevent escape of animals, prevent the
crushing of the container and contents during normal handling, and provide
adequate ventilation for the animals at all times.
Each mailpiece must bear a complete return address and be marked on the
address side with a description of the contents (e.g., "Live Animals," "Live
Honey Bees," etc.). A mailpiece marked "If Undeliverable, Abandon" may not
be accepted for mailing.
523 Acceptance for Mailing
A mailpiece containing live animals that cannot reach its destination in a
viable condition should not be accepted. Factors that can be taken into
consideration in assessing the viability of a mailpiece containing live animals
include: use of proper packaging methods that protect against suffocation
and crushing during transport; expected time in transit; and extreme weather
conditions that exceed the normal weather pattern along the transportation
route.
This provision does not give Postal Service personnel the authority to refuse
mailable animals that are properly packaged or to impose local black-out
periods based on temperature conditions, heavy mail volumes, etc.
Acceptance personnel must have reasonable justification to refuse a
mailpiece. Before refusing any mailpiece that contains a mailable type of
animal, acceptance personnel are to confer with the manager, business mail
entry, at their district office or with the PCSC, as appropriate.
Any mailpiece containing live animals that cannot be delivered to the
addressee or returned to the sender within 72 hours (for live, day-old poultry)
or within the delivery period marked on the parcel (for other mailable animals)
must be disposed of immediately. For safety reasons, dispose of mailpieces
not marked with a delivery period when it reasonably appears the articles
cannot be delivered or returned in a viable condition. See POM 691.52 for
disposal information. Also see 742.3 for the disposition of mailpieces
that are refused by air carriers.
Nonmailable types of animals discovered in the mailstream must be reported
to the PCSC in accordance with the instructions in POM 139.118.
Additionally, the mailer and the post office of mailing must be notified to
prevent future shipments from being incorrectly accepted for mailing.
Live birds, other than the type of day-old poultry specified in 526.31, are
nonmailable. In addition, day-old poultry vaccinated with Newcastle disease
(live virus) is nonmailable. The following are some examples of nonmailable
birds:
a. Canaries.
b. Cockatiels.
c. Emus.
d. Finches.
e. Parakeets.
f. Parrots.
g. Adult birds, except those specifically permitted under the conditions in
DMM 601.9.3.4 and 601.9.3.5.
Be aware that the preceding list is not all-inclusive. Generally, all types of
birds not listed in DMM 601.9 are nonmailable.
The following are examples of other live, warm-blooded animals that are
nonmailable:
a. Cats or kittens.
b. Dogs or puppies.
c. Guinea pigs.
d. Hamsters.
e. Mice.
f. Rabbits.
g. Rats.
h. Squirrels and flying squirrels.
All snakes, turtles, and poisonous reptiles are nonmailable.
All poisonous insects and all spiders, except scorpions under limited
circumstances (see 526.5), are nonmailable. Other nonpoisonous and
non-disease-conveying insects are permitted as stated in DMM 601.9.3.9
and in Exhibit 526.6.
Some animals are mailable under proper conditions. See the specific
instructions as noted for the following kinds of animals:
a. Live bees, 526.2 and Exhibit 526.21.
b. Live, day-old poultry, 526.3 and Exhibit 526.32.
c. Live adult fowl, 526.4.
d. Live scorpions (only under limited circumstances), 526.5 and Exhibit
526.5.
e. Other small, harmless, cold-blooded animals, 526.6 and Exhibit 526.6.
Note: Regarding dead animals or parts of animals, see 526.7 and
Exhibit 526.7.
526.21 Mailability Requirements
Bees, including honeybees and queen honeybees, must be free of disease,
as required under federal and state regulations. The following additional
conditions apply:
a. Honeybees. Honeybees are acceptable in the continental United States
only via surface transportation (i.e., Parcel Post rates). Parcels of
honeybees sent at Parcel Post rates must bear special handling
postage. Mailpieces must be plainly marked on the address side with
"Live Bees" and "Surface Only" or "Surface Mail Only."
b. Queen Honeybees. Queen honeybees may be sent via air
transportation (i.e., Express Mail, Priority Mail, or First-Class Mail
rates) or surface transportation at Parcel Post rates. When sent at
Parcel Post rates, the mailpiece must bear special handling postage.
Mailpieces containing queen honeybees must be plainly marked on the
address side with "Live Queen Bees."
Refer to Exhibit 526.21 for a general summary of the requirements for
mailing live bees. Also see DMM 601.9.3.8.
Exhibit 526.21
Requirements for Mailing Live Bees
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Live Bees
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Air Transportation
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Surface Transportation
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• Only queen honeybees may be
shipped by air transportation (i.e.,
Express Mail, Priority Mail, or
First-Class Mail rates).
• Alert personnel to ensure the queen
honeybees' timely and safe dispatch
to, and arrival at, the destination.
• Equipment must be available for
transportation up to the 4th zone.
Advance arrangements must be
made for shipment to addresses
beyond the 4th zone.
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• Any type of live honeybees may be
shipped in the continental United
States by surface transportation at
Parcel Post rates.
• Alert personnel to ensure the
honeybees' timely and safe dispatch
to, and arrival at, the destination.
• Equipment must be available for
transportation up to the 4th zone.
Advance arrangement must be made
for shipment beyond the 4th zone.
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526.22 Claims for Bee Shipments
Indemnity claims (see DMM 609) for damage, partial loss, and loss of
insured shipments of mailable bees are accepted only in the following
situations:
a. Death of the bees resulted from Postal Service handling after
conditions for mailability were met and when there was strong
likelihood that the shipment could have been safely transported.
b. Contents were lost because of damage to the container while in Postal
Service custody.
c. The complete package was lost in the mail.
d. Special handling was purchased as required under DMM 601.9.3.8.
526.3 Live, Day-Old Poultry
526.31 General
The following live, day-old animals are acceptable for mailing when properly
packaged: chickens, ducks, geese, partridges, pheasants (only during April
through August), guinea fowl, quail, and turkeys. All other types of live,
day-old poultry are nonmailable. Day-old poultry vaccinated with Newcastle
disease (live virus) also is nonmailable.
526.32 Mailability Requirements
The specific types of day-old poultry named in 526.31 and DMM 601.9.3.2
are mailable subject to the following requirements:
a. Poultry that is not more than 24 hours old and is presented for mailing
in the original, unopened hatchery box from the hatchery of origin.
b. Date and hour of hatching is noted on the box.
c. Box is properly ventilated, of proper construction and strength to bear
safe transport in the mail, and is not stacked more than 10 units high.
d. Day-old poultry is mailed early enough in the week to avoid receipt at
the office of address (in case of missed connections) on a Sunday, a
national holiday, or the afternoon before a Sunday or national holiday.
e. Day-old poultry can be delivered to the addressee within 72 hours of
the time of hatching.
f. If day-old poultry is sent at a Parcel Post rate, special handling postage
must also be paid.
g. If day-old poultry is sent via air transportation (i.e., Express Mail,
Priority Mail, or First-Class Mail), all provisions of the airlines must be
met. Delivery of the mailpiece is dependent on the availability of air
carriers having available equipment to safely deliver the day-old poultry
within the specified time limit.
h. Day-old poultry that is first shipped via a commercial air express or air
cargo service and then presented for mailing to a final destination must
be in good condition and properly packaged as specified in 526.32a-e.
i. Boxes of day-old poultry of about identical size, securely fastened
together to prevent separation in transit, may be accepted for mailing
as a single parcel, provided the total length and girth combined does
not exceed Postal Service limits.
See Exhibit 526.32, Requirements for Mailing Live, Day-Old Poultry. See
Chapter 7 regarding domestic mail shipments sent via air transportation.
526.33 Claims for Live, Day-Old Poultry
Indemnity claims (see DMM 609) for damage, partial loss, and loss of
insured shipments of mailable, live, day-old poultry are accepted only in the
following situations:
a. Death of the live, day-old poultry resulted from Postal Service handling
after conditions for mailability were met and when there was strong
likelihood that the shipment could have been safely transported.
b. Contents were lost because of damage to the container while in Postal
Service custody.
c. The complete package was lost in the mail.
d. Special handling was purchased as required under DMM 601.9.3.2f.
Exhibit 526.32
Requirements for Mailing Live, Day-Old Poultry
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Answer each question and follow the
instruction as indicated.
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YES
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NO
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1.
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Is poultry live, day-old poultry, as listed in
DMM 601.9.3.2?
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If pheasants, they are
mailable only during April
through August.
Go to No. 2.
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If not day-old poultry, item is
NONMAILABLE. If not poultry
or not day-old, check other
mailable animal types in DMM
601.9 to determine mailability.
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2.
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Was hatching time 24 hours ago or less?
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Go to No. 3.
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NONMAILABLE.
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3.
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Was poultry presented for mailing in
original, unopened hatchery box from
hatchery of origin?
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Go to No. 4.
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Do not accept.
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4.
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Are boxes properly ventilated and of
proper construction and strength to bear
safe transport in mail? *
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Boxes are not to be stacked
more than 10 units high.
Go to No. 5.
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Do not accept.
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5.
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Are the date and hour of hatching noted on
box by representative of hatchery who has
personal knowledge of facts?
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Go to No. 6.
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Do not accept.
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6.
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Did shipment originate at other office, or
was it sent by air express or air cargo and
then presented for mailing?
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Before accepting, take special
precautions to ensure that
shipment is in excellent
condition.
Go to No. 7.
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Go to No. 7.
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7.
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Is the shipment being mailed with special
handling service charge in addition to
regular postage, or at the First-Class Mail
rate?
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Go to No. 8.
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Shipment must bear special
handling service to be
mailable, unless sent at the
First-Class Mail rate.
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8.
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If shipment is COD, have all conditions for
using COD service (as required in DMM
503.11) been met? If not COD, go to No. 9.
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Go to No. 9.
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If COD, do not accept unless
all applicable requirements in
DMM 503.11 are met.
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9.
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Is poultry being mailed sufficiently early in
week to avoid arrival at the delivery post
office on Sunday or holiday, or on
afternoon preceding Sunday or holiday?
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Go to No. 10.
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Do not accept.
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10.
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Can poultry be delivered to addressee
within 72 hours of time of hatching,
regardless of whether addressee resides
in town or on rural or highway contract
route?
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Accept for mailing.
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Do not accept.
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* Boxes of approximately identical size, securely fastened to prevent separation in transit, may be accepted for
mailing as a single parcel if the mailpiece does not exceed DMM limits for combined length and girth or exceed 70
pounds in weight.
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526.4 Adult Fowl
526.41 General
Adult turkeys, guinea fowl, doves, pigeons, pheasants, partridges, quail,
ducks, geese, swans, and chickens are mailable when properly packaged.
Adult fowl must be packaged without food or water because liquids, moisture,
and loose foodstuffs can cause damage to the shipping container, other mail,
and Postal Service equipment during transport.
526.42 Mailability Requirements
The following conditions apply:
a. Adult birds. The specific types of adult fowl listed in 526.41 (except
adult chickens) and DMM 601.9.3.4 are mailable only when sent by
Express Mail in biologically secure containers approved by the
Manager, Mailing Standards, USPS Headquarters. The number of adult
birds per mailpiece must be within the container manufacturer limits
and each adult bird must weigh more than 6 ounces.
Note: A list of the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of
the companies that manufacturer USPS-approved, biologically
secure containers is published periodically in the Postal Bulletin
and can also be obtained from the PCSC.
b. Adult chickens. Adult chickens are mailable only when sent by Express
Mail in containers designed to pass the standards in International Safe
Transit Association (ISTA) Test Procedure 1A (detailed in Publication 2,
Packaging for Mailing). The number of adult chickens per mailpiece
must be within the container manufacturer limits. Containers used to
mail adult chickens must meet each of the following requirements:
(1) Be designed to remain intact during normal Postal Service
processing.
(2) Be constructed to totally confine the adult chickens.
(3) Contain shavings or other absorbent material to prevent damage
to the bottom of the container.
(4) Be ventilated properly to ensure humane treatment of the adult
chickens while in transit.
526.43 Claims for Adult Fowl
Indemnity claims for mailable types of adult birds and chickens sent via
Express Mail service are paid only for loss, damage, or rifling, and not for
death of the animals while in transit, if there is no visible damage to the
mailing container. See DMM 601.9 and 609.
526.5 Live Scorpions
The mailing of scorpions is limited by the restrictions in 18 USC 1716. Under
this limitation, scorpions are mailable only when sent for the purposes of
medical research use or the manufacture of antivenin. Scorpions are
nonmailable under any other circumstances. See Exhibit 526.5 and DMM
601.9.3.10 for mailing conditions that apply to permissible shipments.
Exhibit 526.5
Restrictions on Mailing Live Scorpions
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Live scorpions are mailable only if EACH of the following conditions is met:
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1.
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Must be for delivery only within the continental United States.
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2.
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May be sent only by surface transportation.
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3.
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Must be sent only for special purposes of either:
• Medical research use.
• Manufacture of antivenin.
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4.
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Must be properly packaged prior to mailing, as follows:
• Live scorpion is packed in a double container system, with each receptacle
closed or fastened in such a way as to prevent escape.
• Inner receptacle is made of material that cannot be punctured by a
scorpion.
• Inner receptacle is marked "Live Scorpion."
• Cushioning material is used to prevent shifting of the inner receptacle.
• Design of packaging is of sufficient strength, as required in DMM
601.9.3.11, to prevent crushing of the mailpiece or escape of the contents
during normal Postal Service handling and transport.
• Address side of mailpiece is clearly marked "Live Scorpion."
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526.6 Small, Harmless, Cold-Blooded Animals
Small, harmless, cold-blooded animals, except for snakes, turtles, and turtle
eggs, are mailable only when they meet certain requirements. For some
examples, see Exhibit 526.6.
Exhibit 526.6
Requirements for Mailing Small, Harmless, Cold-Blooded Animals
(Except Snakes, Turtles, and Turtle Eggs)
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General Requirements:
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All animals in this group:
• Must be able to reach their destination in good condition in the normal transit
time between the mailing and address points.
• Must not require any food, water, or attention during transport.
• Must not create sanitary problems.
• Must not create obnoxious odors.
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Specific Requirements by Animal:
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Baby Alligators
Baby Caimans
Chameleons
Frogs
Lizards
Newts
Reptiles and Amphibians
Salamanders
Tadpoles and Toads
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• Animals must not exceed 20 inches in
length.
• No additional requirements, except the
applicable standards in DMM 601.9.
• Packaging must comply with DMM
601.9.3.11.
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Goldfish
Tropical Fish
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• Fish must be held in a securely sealed
primary receptacle.
• Primary receptacle must be cushioned
with sufficient absorbent material to take
up all liquid in case of leakage.
• Primary receptacle and absorbent
cushioning material must be sealed
within waterproof outer (shipping)
packaging.
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Worms
Bloodworms
Hellgrammites
Leeches
Mealworms
Snails
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• No additional requirements, except the
applicable standards in DMM 601.9.
• Packaging must comply with DMM
601.9.3.11.
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Nonpoisonous Insects
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• No additional requirements, except the
applicable standards in DMM 601.9.
• Packaging must comply with DMM
601.3.9.11.
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526.7 Dead Animals or Parts of Animals
Dead animals or parts of animals include two groups of items:
a. Group A: Items that need to be refrigerated.
b. Group B: Items that must be dried.
See Exhibit 526.7 for additional information on the conditions for mailing.
Exhibit 526.7
Requirements for Mailing Dead Animals or Parts of Animals
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GROUP A: Items that need to be refrigerated
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Game birds, fish, or other
animals to be used for food.
Animals or animal parts to
be used in conservation
studies or to be preserved
by taxidermy.
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Mailable only when:
• Overall requirements for animals (see 521) are
met.
• A proper refrigerant is used as follows:
Water ice. When water ice is used as a
refrigerant, it must be packed like a liquid in a
sealed, waterproof primary receptacle. The
primary receptacle must be surrounded by
absorbent cushioning material in a quantity
sufficient to take up all water in the event of
leakage. The primary receptacle and
cushioning material must be securely packed
within an outer (shipping) packaging.
Dry ice. When dry ice is used, it must be
packaged as required in DMM 601.10.20. It
must NEVER be placed in a sealed container.
In addition, sufficient cushioning material must
be used so that an inner container will not
become loose inside the shipping container as
the dry ice sublimates.
• Salt. The use of salt to retard spoilage can be
effective.
• The mailpiece is properly addressed and
marked as required under DMM 102 and DMM
601.9.
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GROUP B: Items that must be dried
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Dried furs, hides, skins, or
pelts of wild animals.
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Mailable only when such articles:
• Are properly dried or cured.
• Have no offensive odor.
• Are plainly marked and/or labeled on the
address side with the full names and addresses
of shipper and addressee, together with such
endorsement(s) as may be required by state
laws.
• Are securely packaged as required in DMM
601.9.5 to prevent harm to Postal Service
employees and damage to the package
contents or postal equipment.
• Are properly addressed and marked as
required in DMM 102 and DMM 601.9.
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USPS
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