Postal Explorer > International Mail Manual - Issue 32 > 2 Conditions for Mailing > 290 Commercial Services > 294 Publishers' Periodicals

294 Publishers' Periodicals

294.1 Description

294.11 Definition

Publishers' periodicals are domestically approved publications that include magazines, newspapers, journals, and other types of periodical publications. See DMM 707.

294.12 Eligibility

In order to be admissible at publishers' periodical rates, qualifying mail matter, as defined in 294.11, must be tendered by the publisher or registered news agent who is authorized to enter that particular publication. When such mailpieces are tendered by anyone other than the designated publisher or registered news agent, the mailer has the option of paying either the airmail letter-post rate or the economy (surface) letter-post rate.

294.2 Postage

294.21 Rates

See Individual Country Listings for rates.

294.22 Special Rates

There are no unique international postage rates that specifically apply to either nonprofit organizations or to classroom publications. If otherwise qualified, those categories of senders may enter their mail at publishers' periodicals rates. See 294.62 for the conditions of mailing governing a postage rate discount for publishers or registered news agents who drop ship their mail at the New Jersey International and Bulk Mail Center (NJI&BMC).

294.23 Sample Copies

Complete sample copies may be mailed at the rates for publishers' periodicals, whether or not the number of such sample copies exceeds 10 percent of the subscriber copies.

294.24 Single Copies Mailed to Countries Other Than Canada

Single copies of publishers' periodicals addressed to all countries except Canada must be placed in wrappers or envelopes.

294.25 Single Copies Mailed to Canada

Single copies of publishers' periodicals may be entered without envelopes or wrappers, provided the mailing is sorted and packaged in the manner prescribed in 294.4. The exemption from the wrapper requirement is not applicable to copies addressed for delivery at Canadian overseas military post offices (CFPOs).

294.26 Payment of Postage

294.261 General

Unless the use of Centralized Postage Payment (CPP) procedures has been authorized, the publisher or registered news agent must use a periodicals mail indicia and pay postage through an advance deposit account that is established at the Post Office of original/additional entry. Periodical postage must be computed at the applicable per-copy rate and accounted for on PS Form 3541, Postage Statement-Periodicals One Issue or One Edition, or PS Form 3541-M, Postage Statement-Periodicals All Issues in a Calendar Month, as appropriate. Postage stamps, precanceled stamps, meter stamps, and permit imprints may not be used to pay publishers' periodical rate postage. Permissible enclosures are subject to the payment of letter-post rates as specified 294.29.

294.262 M-bags

For M-bag mailings, the publisher or registered news agent must place meter stamps or an authorized indicia in the designated block on PS Tag 158, M-Bag Addressee Tag. When postage is paid through an advance deposit account, it must be computed at the applicable per-copy rate and accounted for on either PS Form 3541 or PS Form 3541-M, as appropriate.

Note: The $0.25 per pound postage rate discount that is available to publishers or registered news agents who "drop ship" their mail at the New Jersey International and Bulk Mail Center (NJI&BMC) does not apply to M-bags.

294.27 Payment of Postage While Application Is Pending

When an application to mail at periodical rates is pending, the publisher or registered news agent must adhere to the following procedures:

a. Upon tendering a mailing, complete PS Form 3541 or PS Form 3541-M, as appropriate, and annotate the applicable periodicals mailing statement with the words "Pending Application."

b. Simultaneously complete PS Form 3651-LP, Postage Statement - International Letter-post Permit Imprint.

c. Pay postage at the airmail letter-post rate or the economy (surface) letter-post rate, whichever is less.

When the application for periodicals mailing privileges is approved, the postage charges paid on previously reported mailings will be adjusted based on rates for publishers' periodicals and according to the general procedures provided in DMM 707.

294.28 Rates of Postage

294.281 Per-Copy Rate

Publishers' periodicals that are individually addressed or are enclosed in an M-bag must be accounted for on PS Form 3541 or PS Form 3541-M, as appropriate, and be paid for at the per-copy rate.

294.282 Bulk Packages

Unaddressed copies made up in bulk packages are not subject to publishers' periodical rates. Such items must be paid for at either the airmail letter-post rate or the economy (surface) letter-post rate, whichever is less. When that method of preparation is used, stamped or metered postage may be affixed to the exterior wrappers. The postage payment amount is based on the aggregate weight of the mailpieces that constitute the bulk package.

294.29 Publishers' Periodicals Containing an Enclosure

When individually addressed publishers' periodicals are accompanied by an enclosure, the following postage payment procedures apply:

a. The host mailpiece must be paid for at the applicable per-copy rate and accounted for on PS Form 3541 or PS Form 3541-M, as appropriate.

b. The enclosure must be paid for at the airmail letter-post rate or the economy letter-post rate, whichever is less, and accounted for on PS Form 3651-LP, Postage Statement - International Letter-post Permit Imprint.

294.3 Conditions for Mailing

Publishers' periodicals are subject to the following conditions for mailing:

a. Weight Limit: 4 pounds to all destination countries.

b. Size limits: Same as for other categories of letter-post items. See 243.2.

c. Markings and Endorsements:

(1) Since publishers' periodical rate postage must be paid through an advance deposit account (see 294.261), qualifying mailpieces must be endorsed "PERIODICALS Postage paid at...." At the mailer's option, however, the simplified endorsement "PERIODICALS" may be substituted. See DMM 707.

(2) In situations where a publisher or registered news agent enters a periodical publication at more than one Postal Service location, the prescribed endorsement is "PERIODICALS Postage paid at...and Additional Mailing Offices."

(3) When a mailer's application to enter at the publishers' periodical rates is currently pending, the prescribed endorsement is "Application to Mail at PERIODICALS Postage Rates Pending at...." See DMM 707.

294.4 Makeup Requirements for Publishers' Periodicals

294.41 Sortation

Publishers' periodicals must be sorted into city and country packages as follows:

a. City packages must be prepared when six or more copies are addressed to the same city. Packages may be prepared by foreign alphanumeric postal codes. Each package must bear a facing slip showing the city and country of destination. Packages that destinate in Canada must be prepared using the Canadian postal codes that are specified in Exhibit 294.43a (standard entry) or Exhibit 294.43b (drop shipment at NJI&BMC). At the mailer's option, a finer presort based on Canadian postal codes may be used.

b. When six or more copies for the same country remain after the city packages are prepared, country packages must be prepared. Each country package must bear a facing slip showing the country of destination.

c. Copies remaining after city and country packages are prepared are residual copies. Residual copies must be packaged and bear a facing slip marked "MIXED WORKING FOREIGN." The packages must be labeled to the appropriate international exchange office or, for Canadian-bound mail, a concentration center as instructed by the Post Office of mailing.

d. All pieces in a package must have the address side facing up. Each package must be securely banded or tied with rubber bands or string to withstand handling without breakage or damage and to prevent injury to postal personnel or damage to sorting equipment.

e. Single copies of publications addressed for delivery in Canada, which are not enclosed in wrappers or envelopes under 294.25, must be included in packages that are protected with cardboard, fiberboard, or other protective covering. The package label (facing slip) must bear these notations:

"OPEN AND DISTRIBUTE"
"Periodicals Mail Postage Paid At . . ."

or, as applicable,

"Periodicals Mail Postage Paid At . . .
And Additional Mailing Offices."

Note: Under DMM 707, the simplified endorsement "PERIODICALS MAIL" may be placed on the package label (facing slip) in lieu of either of the above.

294.42 Sacking and Labeling

294.421 Country Sacks and Labels (Except Canada)

Publishers' periodicals must be sacked and labeled when there are 11 pounds of mail to a particular country or country separation. All city and country packages must be included in the same country sack. See Exhibit 294.42 for separations, city, and routing ZIP Codes. Each sack must be labeled to show the destination, contents ("NEWS" or "PER"), and entry Post Office facility as follows:

Label color: Blue
Format:
Line 1: Destination exchange office code and routing ZIP Code for applicable Postal Service exchange office
Line 2: Contents ("NEWS" or "PER") and "AO"
Line 3: City and state of Post Office of mailing and ZIP Code

Example:

Note: More than one separation is required for China, Great Britain, and Japan (see Exhibit 294.42). When publishers' periodicals are mailed to those destination countries, the label should reflect the destination exchange office name along with the city code and the country name.

Example:

294.422 Residual Sacks

After the required country sacks are prepared, the remaining city, country, and residual packages must be sacked and labeled to the international exchange office as directed by the entry Post Office facility. Each sack must be labeled as follows:

Label color: Pink
Format:
Line 1: International exchange office and routing ZIP Code for applicable Postal Service exchange office
Line 2: Contents ("NEWS" or "PER"), "AO" and "Mixed Working Foreign"
Line 3: City and state of Post Office of mailing and ZIP Code

Example:

Note: See 294.62 for a sacking exception for residual mail that is applicable only to publishers or registered news agents who drop ship their mail at the New Jersey International and Bulk Mail Center (NJI&BMC).

294.43 Canadian Sacks

Sacks of publishers' periodicals for delivery in Canada must be sorted by the Canadian post code designations that are specified in Exhibit 294.43a (standard entry) or Exhibit 294.43b (drop shipment at NJI&BMC) and labeled in the following manner:

Label color: White or Terra-Cotta
Format:
Line 1: Name of destination office in Canada is left-justified; routing ZIP Code for applicable Postal Service exchange office is right-justified
Line 2: Content designation (i.e., "NEWS" or "PER") followed by "AO"
Line 3: City, state, and ZIP Code of U.S. Post Office of mailing

Example:

Residual mail for Canada is prepared under 294.422, except it is labeled to the local concentration center. See 294.62 for a sacking exception for residual mail that is only applicable to publishers or registered news agents who drop ship their mail at the New Jersey International and Bulk Mail Center (NJI&BMC).

Exhibit 294.43a

Publishers' Periodicals - Canada Labeling and Routing Information (Standard Entry)

Exhibit 294.43b

Publishers' Periodicals - Canada Labeling and Routing Information (Drop Shipment at NJI&BMC)

294.44 Physical Characteristics and Requirements for Sacks

Sacks must meet these requirements:

a. Maximum Weight. No more than 66 pounds of mail may be placed in any one sack. The weight of tying, wrapping, and packaging materials is included in determining the weight of the mail enclosed in a sack.

b. Sacks. Disposable plastic sacks are recommended; however, other appropriate equipment may be provided by Post Office facilities.

c. Labels. Handbook PO-423, Requisitioning Labels, contains instructions for ordering labels. Mailers may also preprint labels if they are of the colors specified and used by the Postal Service.

294.5 Customs Forms Required

Printed matter known to be dutiable in the country of destination must have a green customs label (PS Form 2976) affixed to the address side of the articles. (See 123 for detailed requirements for customs documentation.) This requirement is applicable to dutiable printed matter mailed in a direct sack (M-bags) (see 260).

294.6 Mailing Locations

294.61 Standard Entry

Surface mail that is entered at publishers' periodicals rates must be prepared in accordance with the provisions of 244.5 and tendered at a Post Office facility or other location that has been designated by the local postmaster.

294.62 Drop Shipment

A publisher or registered news agent who deposits publishers' periodicals directly at the New Jersey International & Bulk Mail Center (NJI&BMC), under a drop shipment authorization, is eligible for a $0.25 per pound postage rate discount, when the following conditions of entry are met:

a. The mailer must obtain a drop shipment authorization (PS Form 8125, Plant-Verified Drop Shipment (PVDS) Verification and Clearance) from the Post Office of original/additional entry, the business mail entry unit (BMEU), or the detached mail unit (DMU) where their mailing records are maintained.

b. The mailer must bring their sorted publishers' periodicals to the Postal Service location referenced in 294.62a, where Postal Service acceptance employees will check the statement of mailing to ensure proper application of the $0.25 per pound drop ship discount; confirm funds availability; and verify compliance with the prescribed mail makeup requirements.

c. Publishers' periodicals that are to be drop shipped at the NJI&BMC are subject to the mail makeup requirements contained in 294.41 and 294.42, except as specified below.

Exception: A drop shipment customer who has fewer than 11 pounds of publishers' periodicals for a particular country or country separation is required to place those residual mailpieces into a country-specific "skin" sack rather than aggregating them into a mixed working foreign sack, as specified in 294.422. Residual bundles or packages that are placed into a skin sack are subject to the sorting, sacking, and labeling requirements for country sacks that are contained in 294.41 (except 294.41c) and 294.421, for all countries, except Canada, and in 294.43, for Canada only.

d. A publisher or agent who has a minimum of 250 pounds of mail for a single destination country may dispense with the use of sacks by placing the requisite presorted bundles or packages onto a strapped or shrink-wrapped pallet. To be admissible, a palletized load of discounted publishers' periodicals must conform to the appropriate mailing standards, adhere to the appropriate mail preparation requirements, and be placarded (labeled) appropriately (see DMM 705).

e. Once the acceptance process is completed, the verified mailpieces and accompanying paperwork will be turned back to the publisher or agent who will transport the sacks or pallets to the NJI&BMC. Prior to bringing their mail to that Postal Service facility, the publisher or agent must schedule a drop shipment appointment through the appropriate appointment control center as specified in DMM 446. The relevant statement of mailing and drop shipment authorization (i.e., PS Form 8125) must be presented at the time of entry.

f. Publishers' periodicals that are enclosed in direct sacks of printed matter to one addressee (M-bags) are not subject to the $0.25 per pound postage discount that is referenced in this section. See 262.2 for the postage payment procedures governing M-bags.