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Pricing & Classification DMM Advisory

Message board to keep postal customers informed of changes to mailing standards, services, and prices.
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March 26, 2020

UPDATE 9: International Mail Service Disruptions Due to COVID-19

On March 26, 2020, the Postal Service™ received notifications from various postal operators regarding changes in international mail services due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

The following countries have suspended certain mail services:

India: The Department of Posts (India Post) has advised that owing to the suspension of air and rail services, and various other extraordinary measures taken by the Government of India, India Post has suspended all international mail exchanges until further notice. The postal service is being maintained as an essential service: domestic mail exchanges are continuing, and all international mail received before March 22, 2020 are being delivered with limited staff. India Post can no longer guarantee service delivery standards.

Maldives UPDATE: Maldives Post has advised that the government of Maldives has decided to extend the measures adopted as a precaution against the spread of the global COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, Maldives Post is suspending the processing of all inbound and outbound mail (letter-post, parcel-post and EMS items) from March 19, 2020 through April 4, 2020. This will have a major impact on operations and, consequently, on quality of service for all types of mail. The disruption is expected to continue until the epidemic is over. Consequently, service delivery standards cannot be guaranteed, and a situation of force majeure has been declared.

Zimbabwe: Zimbabwe Posts (Pvt) Ltd. (Zimpost) has advised that, following the suspension of flights into and out of Zimbabwe by its partner airlines, it has suspended all inbound and outbound international mail operations effective March 19, 2020 until further notice. Zimpost is therefore declaring a force majeure situation. It is unable to guarantee inbound and outbound mail standards.

As a convenience for our customers, the Postal Service will continue to accept and process mail destined for the aforementioned countries. This mail will be held within our network and will be delivered once mail service is restored.

These service disruptions affect Priority Mail Express International® (PMEI), Priority Mail International® (PMI), First-Class Mail International® (FCMI), First-Class Package International Service® (FCPIS®), International Priority Airmail® (IPA®), International Surface Air Lift® (ISAL®), and M-Bag® items.

The DMM Advisory will continue to update mailers regarding new service disruptions as they are received. For a full list of international service disruptions, please visit https://about.usps.com/newsroom/service-alerts/international/welcome.htm