Country Conditions for Mailing — France
Prohibitions (130)
Arms, ammunition.
Cigarette lighters using butane gas.
Feeding bottles.
Funeral urns.
Goods bearing false marks of French manufacture or origin.
Human remains.
Imitation pearls containing lead salts and any articles of jewelry made with pearls of this type.
Live plants and animals.
Measuring instruments marked in units not complying with French law.
Perishable infectious biological substances except as noted in Restrictions below.
Perishable noninfectious biological substances except as noted under Restrictions below.
Radioactive materials.
Saccharine in tablets or packets.
Restrictions
Bees, honey, and beeswax must be accompanied by a certificate of origin and noninfection issued by a qualified official approved by the Government. Shipments of honey not exceeding 2 kilograms do not require the certificate.
Books in the French language printed abroad must have the names of the publisher and printer shown as prescribed by the French copyright laws.
Canned vegetables, fish, plums, and nuts not bearing an indication of the country of origin by stamping, in plain raised or sunken letters at least 4 millimeters high, in the middle of the top or bottom and in a place not bearing any inscription.
Gold coins or other articles of gold require that the addressee have a permit issued by the Bank of France (not required for gold-plated articles or for ornaments or jewelry containing only small amounts of gold and weighing 500 grams or less).
Medicines and medicinal products require an import license issued by the Central Pharmaceutical Service of the Ministry of Health.
Perishable biological substances, infectious and noninfectious, are admitted when addressed to the following laboratories:
- Pasteur Institute
25 rue du docteur Roux
75724 Paris CEDEX 14
FRANCE
- Pasteur Institute
1 rue du Professeur Calmette
59019 Lille CEDEX BB 245
FRANCE
- Pasteur Institute
77 rue Pasteur
69365 Lyon CEDEX
FRANCE
Plants, seeds, bulbs must be accompanied by plant health certificate.
The importation of tobacco leaves and stems, manufactured tobaccos, cigars, cigarettes, chewing and smoking tobacco is permitted only on behalf of the State Monopoly, with the following exception: Manufactured tobaccos, including cigars and cigarettes, may be sent to individuals in France for personal use up to 10 kilograms (22 pounds) per person per year, subject to special customs authorization.
Observations
- A parcel may be addressed to a street address or to a post office box. A local telephone number for the addressee should be provided when the item is addressed to a street address and must be provided when the item is addressed to a post office box.
- For parcels, an invoice, in duplicate, is required for all commercial shipments regardless of value and all personal shipments valued at $300 or more. The invoices must be affixed to the outside of the parcel or may be enclosed in PS Form 2976-E with the customs declaration.
- It is recommended that all articles bear, as part of the address, the name of the Province in which the office of destination is located.
- Printed matter of value should have Form 2976 affixed, and it can be cleared more readily through French customs if an invoice is enclosed.
- Parcels whose senders or addressees are designated by initials will not be admitted.
- Shipments must not be fastened by means of wire, but straps not having sharp edges may be used, provided they are tightly fastened so that no sharp ends or corners are exposed.
Customs Forms Required (123)
First-Class Mail International items and Priority Mail International Flat Rate Envelopes and Small Flat Rate Priced Boxes:
PS Form 2976 (see 123.61)
Priority Mail International parcels:
PS Form 2976-A inside 2976-E (envelope)
Global Express Guaranteed (210) Price Group 3
Insurance (212.5)
Value Limit (212.1)
The maximum value of a GXG shipment to this country is $2,499 or a lesser amount if limited by content or value.
Size Limits (211.22)
The surface area of the address side of the item to be mailed must be large enough to completely contain the Global Express Guaranteed Air Waybill/Shipping Invoice (shipping label), postage, endorsement, and any applicable markings. The shipping label is approximately 5.5 inches high and 9.5 inches long.
Maximum length: 46 inches
Maximum width: 35 inches
Maximum height: 46 inches
Maximum length and girth combined: 108 inches
General Conditions for Mailing
See Publication 141, Global Express Guaranteed Service Guide, for information about areas served in the destination country, allowable contents, packaging and labeling requirements, tracking and tracing, service standards, and other conditions for mailing.
Express Mail International (220) Price Group 13
Express Mail International — Flat Rate Envelopes and Flat Rate Boxes
Insurance (222.8)
Available for Express Mail International merchandise shipments only
Articles Admitted
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Required Customs
Form/Endorsement
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Business correspondence, commercial papers and documents.
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PS Form 2976, Customs — CN 22 and Sender’s Declaration.
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Merchandise samples, gifts, computer data including computer cards, magnetic tape, microfilm, and microfiche.
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PS Form 2976-A, Customs Declaration and Dispatch Note CP 72, inside a PS Form 2976-E, Customs Declaration Envelope CP 91.
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Merchandise and all articles subject to customs duty.
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PS Form 2976-A, Customs Declaration and Dispatch Note CP 72, inside a PS Form 2976-E, Customs Declaration Envelope CP 91. An invoice, in duplicate, is required for all commercial shipments regardless of value and all personal shipments valued at $300 or more. The invoices must be either affixed to the outside of the parcel or enclosed in PS Form 2976-E with the customs declaration.
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Size Limits (221.52)
Maximum length: 60 inches
Maximum length and girth combined: 108 inches
Notes:
- Arms, weapons, and human remains are prohibited.
- An invoice, in duplicate, is required for all commercial shipments regardless of value and for all personal shipments valued at $300 or more. The invoices must be either affixed to the outside of the parcel or enclosed in PS Form 2976-E with the customs declaration.
- Indicate precise description of documents, gifts, merchandise samples, and merchandise.
- For personal gifts, merchandise samples, and merchandise, indicate the value of the contents expressed in U.S. dollars or French francs.
- Label gift packages clearly as GIFT or CADEAU and merchandise samples as SAMPLES.
- Coins; banknotes; currency notes, including paper money; securities of any kind payable to bearer; traveler’s checks; platinum, gold, and silver; precious stones; jewelry; watches; and other valuable articles are prohibited in Express Mail International shipments to France (including Corsica and Monaco).
- An Express Mail International shipment may be addressed to a street address or to a post office box. A local telephone number for the addressee should be provided when the item is addressed to a street address and must be provided when the item is addressed to a post office box.
- Express Mail International With Guarantee service — which offers a date-certain, postage-refund guarantee — is available to France but not to Corsica or Monaco.
Reciprocal Service Name: There is no reciprocal service.
Country Code: FR
Areas Served:
All locations in France, Corsica, and Monaco are served.
Priority Mail International (230) Price Group 13
Note: Ordinary Priority Mail International includes indemnity at no cost based on weight. (See 230.)
Priority Mail International — Flat Rate
Flat Rate Envelopes or Small Flat Rate Priced Boxes: The maximum weight is 4 pounds. Refer to Notice 123, Price List, for the applicable retail, Commercial Base, or Commercial Plus price.
Flat Rate Boxes — Medium and Large: The maximum weight is 20 pounds, or the limit set by the individual country, whichever is less. Refer to Notice 123, Price List, for the retail, Commercial Base, or Commercial Plus price.
Insurance (232.92)
Available for Priority Mail International merchandise parcels only (see 323.72 for markings)
Size Limits (231.22)
Maximum length: 60 inches
Maximum length and girth combined: 108 inches
First-Class Mail International (240) Price Group 5
For the prices and maximum weights for letters, large envelopes (flats), and postcards, see Notice 123, Price List.
Size Limits
Letters: See 241.212
Postcards: See 241.221
Large Envelopes (Flats): See 241.232
Airmail M-bags (260) —
Direct Sack to One Addressee Price Group 5
Matter for the Blind (270)
Free when sent as First-Class Mail International, First-Class Package International Service, Priority Mail International Flat Rate Envelopes, or Priority Mail International Small Flat Rate Priced Boxes. Weight limit: 4 pounds.
Free when sent as Priority Mail International. Weight limit: 15 pounds.
First-Class Package International Service (250) Price Group 5
For the prices and maximum weights for packages (small packets), see Notice 123, Price List.
Size Limits
Packages (Small Packets): See 251.22 and 251.23.
Certificate of Mailing (313)
COD and Certified
NOT for International Mail
International Business Reply Service (382)
Fee: Envelopes up to 2 ounces $1.75; Cards $1.25
International Postal Money Order (371)
NOT Available
International Reply Coupons (381)
NOT Available for International Mail as of January 27, 2013
Registered Mail (330)
Fee: $12.95
Maximum Indemnity: $46.14
Available only for First-Class Mail International,
including postcards, Priority Mail International
Flat Rate Envelopes, Priority Mail International
Small Flat Rate Priced Boxes, and matter for the
blind or other physically handicapped persons.
Restricted Delivery (350)
NOT Available for International Mail as of January 27, 2013
Return Receipt (340)
Fee: $3.50
Available for Registered Mail only.
