Summary of Changes

Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service,
International Mail Manual

Issued October 3, 2016

This Summary of Changes to Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, International Mail Manual (IMM^®) includes revisions that have become effective during the previous 12 calendar months.

In chapters 1–9 and in “Country Price Groups and Weight Limits” of this online version of the IMM, change bars (vertical lines in the margin) indicate that Postal Bulletin updates have been incorporated in the adjacent text (note that the change bars appear only in the PDF version, and only for revisions that have become effective in the current calendar year, not for all the previous 12 months). However, in the individual country listings (ICLs) of this online IMM, change bars do not appear even though Postal Bulletin updates have been incorporated in the ICL text.

• Effective January 17, 2016, as noted in PB issue 22430 and 22431, the following parts, sections, and exhibits are revised to reflect changes to prices, product features, and standards for various international shipping services:

 

134.1 213.621 213.71 221 222 223.1

223.241 Exhibit 232.122 232.126 232.51 232.63 232.8

232.92 233.11 233.13 233.14 233.15 233.222

233.231 Exhibit 252.22 252.26 253.15 253.231 323.1

323.2 323.3 323.62 932 933

• Effective August 28, 2016, as noted in PB issues 22443 and 22447, the following parts, sections, and exhibits are revised to reflect classification and standards changes for Priority Mail International service:

 

123.61 Exhibit 123.61 123.622 134.1 141.4 231.1 232.1 232.61 232.7 232.81 232.9 235.11 242.21 252.1 272.6

275.1 311.21 312.21 323.1 323.2 332 341 342 423.23 423.231 423.232 423.24 423.241 423.242 771.51

921.2 Exhibit 921.2 921.4 921.51 Country Price Groups and Weight Limits Table ICL for every country that lists Priority Mail International insurance ICL for every country that offers Free Matter for the Blind service ICL for every country that offers Registered Mail service ICL for Ascension ICL for Bolivia ICL for Falkland Islands ICL for North Korea

• Effective August 28, 2016, as noted in PB issues 22448 and 22450, the following parts and sections are revised to reflect classification and standards changes to support the addition of two new customs forms (PS Form 2976-R and PS Form 2976-ES) and the resulting changes to existing customs forms and processes:

 

122.1a 123.11 123.12 123.2 123.32 123.61a 123.711 123.721

123.731 123.74 123.75 222.4 224.11 224.21 225.11 225.3

234.3 235.3 255.4 261.22e 264.3 272.4 292.132 293.132

323.52b 323.61 323.62 334.11 334.12b 334.13 334.2a 521

527 533.31 542.1 562g

 

This chapter, subchapter, part, section, or ICL…	is…	effective…	as noted in Postal Bulletin issue…
Chapter 2, Conditions for Mailing
Exhibit 213.5	revised to add an entry for Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba.	1-17-2016	22430
221.2	revised to note the suspension of Priority Mail Express International with Money-Back Guarantee service to Germany.	8-19-2016	22449
223.222	revised to reflect the availability of extra services to users of USPS-produced Global Shipping Software (GSS).	11-12-2015	22428
233.222	revised to reflect the availability of extra services to users of USPS-produced Global Shipping Software (GSS).	11-12-2015	22428
Exhibit 292.45a	revised to add an entry for Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba, and to update the entry for Curacao (which previously served those destinations).	1-17-2016	22430
	revised to update the foreign office of exchange code for IPA items sent to Japan.	4-5-2016	22432
Exhibit 293.45a	revised to add an entry for Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba, and to update the entry for Curacao (which previously served those destinations).	1-17-2016	22430
Chapter 3, Extra Services
333.2	revised to reflect changes to the indemnity limit for Registered Mail items.	1-1-2016	22428
381	revised to update the authorized version of international reply coupons and to clarify that international reply coupons previously sold by the U.S. Postal Service may no longer be used or exchanged because their expiration date has passed.	11-12-2015	22428
Chapter 6, Special Programs
620	revised throughout (twice in 622.2 and once each in 622.3, 623.2, and 625) to replace the term “manager of Global Direct Entry” with “International Integration program manager.”	9-1-2016	22449
622.1	revised to replace the term “Parcel Select Nonpresort” with “Parcel Select Ground,” and to delete the terms “Parcel Select NDC Presort” and “Parcel Select ONDC Presort.”	3-3-2016	22436
622.3	revised to change the qualification period for the GDE Wholesaler Program from 1 year to 2 years.	3-3-2016	22436
623.1	revised to replace the term “Parcel Select Nonpresort” with “Parcel Select Ground,” and to delete the terms “Parcel Select NDC Presort” and “Parcel Select ONDC Presort.”	3-3-2016	22436
Chapter 7, Treatment of Inbound Mail
766.1	revised to remove a DMM cross-reference and to include the applicable information directly into the IMM.	9-1-2016	22449
Chapter 9, Inquiries, Indemnities, and Refunds
933.14	revised to indicate that valuable articles are no longer included in the exceptions to indemnity for Priority Mail International service.	3-7-2016	22435
934.2	revised to reflect changes to the indemnity limit for Registered Mail items.	1-1-2016	22428
941.32	revised to reflect the actual process for handling requests for international postage refunds when the other country is at fault or when the request relates to mail originating in another country.	5-26-2016	22442
943.2	revised to reflect the actual process for handling requests for international postage refunds when the other country is at fault or when the request relates to mail originating in another country.	5-26-2016	22442
Index of Countries and Localities
Throughout	revised in all applicable entries to reflect that Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba is a separate entity (previously served through Curacao), and to delete entries for “Netherlands Antilles (Curacao)” and “Netherlands Antilles (Sint Maarten).”	1-17-2016	22430
Country Price Groups and Weight Limits
Throughout	revised to add columns to the Priority Mail Express International and Priority Mail International sections to show price groups for Flat Rate products, and to edit, combine, and reorder the footnotes.	1-17-2016	22430
Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba	added to reflect this new listing (previously served through Curacao).	1-17-2016	22430
Cuba	revised to reflect that Priority Mail International parcel service is available to Cuba.	5-26-2016	22442
	revised to reflect that Priority Mail Express International service is available to Cuba.	8-28-2016	22446
Individual Country Listing
Each country that offers Priority Mail Express International service	revised to remove references to Flat Rate Boxes.	1-17-2016	22430
Each country that offers Priority Mail International service	revised to remove the following text from under the price/weight table: “Note: Ordinary Priority Mail International includes indemnity at no cost based on weight. (See 230.)”	1-17-2016	22430
Each country that offers Registered Mail service	revised to reflect changes to the indemnity limit for Registered Mail items.	1-1-2016	22428
Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba	added to reflect this new listing (previously served through Curacao).	1-17-2016	22430
Cuba	revised to remove the information about U.S. government sanctions programs while still noting its continuing availability in Publication 699.	2-4-2016	22434
	revised to reflect that Priority Mail International parcel service is available to Cuba.	5-26-2016	22442
	revised to reflect that Priority Mail Express International service is available to Cuba.	8-28-2016	22446
Curacao	revised to remove references to Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba.	1-17-2016	22430
Germany	revised to note the suspension of Priority Mail Express International with Money-Back Guarantee service to Germany.	8-19-2016	22449
Hong Kong	revised to reflect a change to the Prohibitions section.	11-12-2015	22428
Japan	revised to reflect a change to the Prohibitions section.	1-7-2016	22432