62 Hazardous Materials: International Mail

621 General Requirements

621.1 Mailing Conditions

In international commerce, the term “dangerous goods” is commonly used to describe hazardous materials.

Almost all hazardous materials are prohibited in international mail. The only mailable hazardous materials are certain infectious substances, excepted quantities of radioactive material that are allowed in domestic mail, certain magnetized materials, and certain lithium and lithium-ion batteries. See Exhibit 621.1 for a summary of the types of hazardous materials that are eligible for mailing in international mail.

In certain situations, the few types of hazardous materials that are generally permitted in international mail may be further restricted by the mailing limitations imposed by an individual country. Because individual countries have unique prohibitions and restrictions, it is always necessary to consult the Individual Country Listings in the IMM to be certain that an otherwise mailable hazardous material is acceptable for shipment to a specific country.

 

Exhibit 621.1 

DOT Hazard Classes and Mailability for International Mail

Hazard
Class

Name of Hazard Class
(and Division when applicable)

International Mail

APO/FPO/DPO

Air
Transportation

Surface
Transportation

1

Explosives

Prohibited

Prohibited

2

Gases

Prohibited

Prohibited

3

Flammable and Combustible Liquids

Prohibited

Prohibited

4

Flammable Solids

Prohibited

Prohibited

5

Oxidizing Substances, Organic Peroxides

Prohibited

Prohibited

6

Toxic Substances and Infectious Substances

 

 

Division 6.1: Toxic Substances

Prohibited

Prohibited

Division 6.2: Infectious Substances

Only via First-Class Package International Service with Registered Mail service per limits in 622.2 and IMM 135.1.

Prohibited

7

Radioactive Materials

Only via First-Class Package International Service using Registered Mail service per limits in 622.3 and IMM 135.5.

Prohibited

8

Corrosives (liquids and solids)

Prohibited

Prohibited

9

Miscellaneous Hazardous Materials

Prohibited, except for magnetized materials per 622.4 and lithium or lithium-ion batteries per 622.5

Prohibited, except for magnetized materials per 622.4 and lithium batteries per 622.5

621.2 Hazard Classes

The nine classes of hazardous materials listed in 331 also apply to dangerous goods shipped in international commerce.

The non–Postal Service regulations that govern the air shipment of hazardous materials (dangerous goods) in international commerce are specified in the Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). In 49 CFR, DOT recognizes ICAO requirements for the air transportation of hazardous materials. However, 49 CFR gives DOT the authority to regulate only the domestic transportation of hazardous materials. Generally, most air carriers follow the Dangerous Goods Regulations of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), and those regulations are slightly more restrictive than the ICAO rules.

621.3 Limited Quantity Air and Limited Quantity Ground

The Limited Quantity air and Limited Quantity surface category is unique within domestic commerce and specific to the Postal Service networks. These categories are not recognized in international commerce. Hazardous materials under these classifications that are mailable in domestic mail are typically prohibited in international mail.

621.4 APO/FPO/DPO Mail

Hazardous, restricted, or perishable materials mailed to, from, and between overseas military Post Offices are subject to the conditions of IMM 130, the standards in this publication, conditions prescribed by the Department of State international security policy, and conditions prescribed by the Department of Defense (DOD), as listed in Overseas Military/Diplomatic Mail in the Postal Bulletin. Also see DMM 703.2-4.

621.5 Extra Service Codes and Shipping Service Files

Mailers shipping dangerous goods internationally, including to APO/FPO/DPO destinations utilizing PC Postage, eVS, USPS Ship, and ePostage platforms, must include ESC 857 and incorporate the applicable content-specific Extra Service Code (ESC) listed in Appendix G and Pub 199 and transmit a Shipping Services File (SSF), using Version 1.7 or higher, or Shipping Partner Event File (SPEF), using Version 5.0 or higher, to the Postal Service before, or concurrent with, tendering dangerous-goods shipments.