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Pricing & Classification DMM Advisory

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March 31, 2020

UPDATE 12: International Mail Service Disruptions Due to COVID-19

On March 31, 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:

Bolivia: Agencia Boliviana de Correos has advised that effective from March 22 to April 15, 2020, it is temporarily suspending all mail services. Agencia Boliviana de Correos is therefore declaring a situation of force majeure in relation to all letter-post, parcel-post and Express Mail Service (EMS) items.

France UPDATE: La Poste has advised the French Government has extended the measures aimed at combating the spread of COVID-19 until April 15, 2020. As previously advised, La Poste has suspended the following letter-post services; International Surface Airlift (ISAL), M-bags, returns, and International Business Reply Service (IBRS).

Kyrgyzstan: Kyrgyz pochtasy has advised that in accordance with the declaration of the Government of Kyrgyzstan in response to the worldwide coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, it is temporarily suspending the shipment of outbound mail destined to foreign countries. Mail destined to Kyrgyzstan will continue to be delivered as usual.

Peru UPDATE: Servicios Postales del Perú - SERPOST S.A, has extended the suspension on delivery of domestic and international mail. Therefore, postal services in Peru are suspended until April 12, 2020.

Zimbabwe UPDATE: Zimbabwe Posts (Pvt) Ltd. (Zimpost) has advised that the President of Zimbabwe has declared a state of emergency for 21 days starting Monday, March 30, 2020 to curb the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). A lockdown of all services in the country has been effected, except for a few specified critical utilities that exclude postal services. In compliance with the lockdown, ZIMPOST is therefore suspending all operations (counter and mail services), including the acceptance and processing of all inbound and outbound mail (letters, parcels and EMS) until the end of the lockdown on Tuesday, April 19, 2020, or any other date announced by the government.

Unless otherwise noted, service suspensions to a particular country do not affect delivery of military and diplomatic mail.

Furthermore, 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.

The following countries have announced service disruptions:

Italy UPDATE: Poste Italiane has advised that it has implemented further measures with regard to the acceptance and delivery of parcels, in accordance with physical distancing requirements. If the addressee cannot be contacted, or in the case of parcels addressed to businesses and other entities that are temporarily closed, items can be returned to sender after the first delivery attempt. Furthermore, in order to minimize the spread of COVID-19 and protect employees’ health by enabling processing by a single person, only parcels below 25 kg in weight, 120 cm in length and 150 cm for the three dimensions combined can be accepted. Parcels exceeding these weight and size limits will not be accepted until further notice. These restrictions do not apply to donations. Finally, owing to the increasing lack of transport capacity following the cancellation of numerous international flights, and further to the declaration of force majeure and the suspension of postal services in a number of countries, Poste Italiane is constantly updating its list of admitted outbound destinations. Please visit: www.poste.it/emergenza-covid19.html for up to date information on the most affected municipalities.

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