| Publication 52 - Hazardous, Restricted, and Perishable Mail > 3 Hazardous Materials > 32 General > 327 Transportation Requirements Postal Service hazardous materials regulations are based on the mode of transportation (air or surface); therefore, compliance with the specific mode of transportation is required. Hazardous materials shipped via Priority Mail Express or Priority Mail must be eligible for air transportation and meet the following requirements: - Mailpieces must be prepared according to the applicable Packaging Instructions in Appendix C.
- Mailpieces must be properly packaged and labeled in compliance with both Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) requirements and the carrier’s operator variations.
- If applicable, the shipping documentation must be affixed to the outside of the mailpiece.
Note: Mailable hazardous materials that are prohibited from air transportation may not be sent as Priority Mail Express or Priority Mail. All mailable hazardous materials sent as Priority Mail Express or Priority Mail must meet the requirements for air transportation, regardless of the transportation method used. The following types of hazardous materials are always prohibited on air transportation: - Explosives.
- Anything susceptible to damage or that can become harmful because of changes in temperature or atmospheric pressures unless protected against the effects of such changes.
- Magnetic material that has a field strength sufficient to cause a compass deviation at a distance of 7 feet or more from any point on the outer packaging.
- Flammable materials (gases, liquids, and solids).
- Radioactive materials.
- UN3090 lithium metal batteries (including lithium alloy batteries) and UN3480 lithium-ion batteries (including lithium polymer batteries).
- Used, damaged, or defective electronic devices (excluding devices that are new in original packaging, and manufacturer-certified new or refurbished devices) containing or packaged with lithium batteries (refer to 349.21(e)). For those ZIP Codes that are air transportation only due to the absence of ground transportation, a multimodal-transportation solution may be used to transport used, damaged, or defective electronic devices containing or packed with lithium batteries. Refer to Appendix F for a list of 5-digit ZIP Codes where this exception applies.
- Materials prohibited by DOT regulations or specific state/country air carrier operator variations.
For hazardous materials shipped via ground or vessel, mailers must meet the applicable surface transportation requirements and the applicable surface transportation Packaging Instructions in Appendix C. Hazardous materials designated for surface transportation must not, under any circumstances, be transported by air, except as provided for certain exceptions listed in 327.12(g).
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