Publication 52 - Hazardous, Restricted, and Perishable Mail > 1 Introduction > 12 Scope > 123 Mailability Premise
The basic premise of the Postal Service mailability statutes is that anything which may kill or injure another or injure the mail or other property is nonmailable. This publication summarizes the statutory prohibitions and exceptions; details the mailability standards that apply to perishable, hazardous, and restricted matter; contains information on the mailability of specific hazardous materials; and describes the conditions of preparation and packaging under which the Postal Service accepts for mailing potentially harmful matter that is otherwise nonmailable.
While the Postal Service makes every effort to inform customers about the mailability of particular harmful matter, it is the responsibility of the mailer to fully comply with requirements. Refer to 212.
Postal Service personnel are authorized to determine whether articles or matter are nonmailable. Refer to 213 for authority of postal personnel.
