As shown in Exhibit 621.1, almost all dangerous goods are prohibited in international mail. Under specific circumstances, only biological substances, limited amounts of radioactive materials, certain magnetized materials, and lithium batteries installed in the equipment they intend to operate are eligible to be sent in international mail.
Biological substances that comply with domestic requirements are permitted in international mail with the following additional conditions:
- Country Conditions: Certain countries prohibit or restrict biological substances. Refer to the IMM for specific details.
- Authorization: Biological substances may only be sent to or received by eligible institutions, provided they have obtained prior permission. Qualifying institutions wishing to mail biological substances must submit a written application on its organizational letterhead to the director, Product Classification (refer to 214 for contact information). The application must state the institution‘s nature of work, the identity and qualifications of the prospective recipient, and the number of packages to be mailed.
- Eligible institutions:
- Laboratories of local, state, and federal government agencies.
- Laboratories of federally licensed manufacturers of biological products derived from bacteria and viruses.
- Laboratories affiliated with or operated by hospitals, universities, research facilities, and other teaching institutions.
- Private laboratories licensed, certified, recognized, or approved by a public authority.
- Mailability and Packaging Requirements: Mailable infectious substances must only be sent via First-Class Package International Service using Registered Mail service. Nonregulated materials defined in 346.325 and exempt human or animal specimens defined in 346.12(d) are mailable when properly packaged as described in 346.32.
- Volume and Packaging Limits: Mailable infectious substances are limited to 50 ml for liquids or 50 g for solids, per mailpiece. Packaging must comply with Packaging Instruction 6C in Appendix C, as well as the additional requirements in IMM 135.31 and 135.41.
- Nonregulated and Exempt Specimens: Nonregulated materials and exempt human or animal specimens must be packaged in accordance with Packaging Instructions 6G and 6H in Appendix C, and comply with 346 and IMM 135.42.
Class 7 radioactive materials are permitted in international mail subject to the limits in 347 and the following conditions:
- Country Conditions: Certain countries prohibit or restrict radioactive materials. Refer to the ICL in the IMM for specific details.
- Mailability and Packaging Requirements: Each radioactive materials shipment must be sent only by First-Class Package International Service with Registered Mail service. Mailable radioactive materials must be packaged in accordance with Packaging Instruction 7A in Appendix C and the requirements specified in IMM 135.5.
- Activity Limits: Mailable radioactive materials may not have an activity content that exceeds one-tenth of the limits in Exhibit 347.22.
- Regulatory Compliance: Each shipment must comply with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Regulations, the specifications contained in 347, and this section.
- Authorization: The sender and recipient of each radioactive materials shipment must receive prior authorization from the appropriate regulatory authorities within their countries.
- Labeling and Marking: A white package label with the French text "Matières Radioactives" (Radioactive Materials) must be securely affixed to the address side of each mailpiece containing radioactive materials. The sender is responsible for supplying and affixing this label. The address side of each mailpiece must display the following endorsements in bold letters: "Return to Sender in Case of Nondelivery" and "Radioactive Materials, Quantities Permitted for Movement by Post."
- Shipping Documentation: Shipping documentation is required (refer to 326 and 711.3).
Magnetized materials, as defined in 349.4, are prohibited in international mail except for those that cannot cause a compass deviation at a distance of 7 feet or more. Mailable magnetized materials must be prepared for mailing following Packaging Instruction 9B in Appendix C.
Lithium batteries under 622.51 and 622.52 that are properly installed in the equipment they operate may be sent internationally or to, from, or between APO, FPO, or DPO locations (subject to the conditions prescribed by the U.S. Department of Defense listed in Overseas Military/Diplomatic Mail in the Postal Bulletin). Used, damaged, defective, or recalled lithium batteries and 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 are prohibited and may not be mailed internationally or to, from, or between APO, FPO, or DPO locations under any circumstances. Refer to 349.6.
Mailable Lithium batteries must be prepared for mailing following Packaging Instruction 9E in Appendix C.
Additional restrictions include:
- Battery: Batteries must be installed in the equipment being shipped.
- Outer Packaging: Equipment must be cushioned to prevent movement or damage and packed in rigid outer packaging, sealed and strong enough to prevent crushing of the package or exposure of the contents during normal handling in the mail.
- Consignment: A lithium battery consignment, as defined in 349.21(b), is limited to a maximum of two mailpieces for all international and APO/FPO/DPO mailings.
- Quantity Limits: Each shipment may contain a maximum of four lithium cells or two lithium batteries.
- Damage Protection: Batteries installed in equipment must be protected from damage and short circuit.
- Inadvertent Activation Prevention: Equipment must have effective means to prevent accidental activation.
- Marking or Labeling: Mailpieces must not display markings or labels identifying the contents as lithium batteries.
Small consumer-type lithium metal cells or batteries, such as those used to power cameras or flashlights, are mailable in a single shipment under the following conditions:
- Lithium Content (Cell): Each cell must not exceed 1 g of lithium content.
- Lithium Content (Battery): Each battery must not exceed 2 g of total lithium content.
Small consumer-type lithium-ion cells and batteries, such as those used to power cell phones and laptop computers, are mailable in a single shipment under the following conditions:
- Watt-Hour Rating (Cell): Each cell must not exceed 20 Wh.
- Watt-Hour Rating (Battery): Each battery must not exceed 100 Wh.
- Battery Rating Mark: Each battery and cell must be marked with its Watt-hour rating to confirm it is compliant with limits in items a. and b. (above).
Shipment containing very small lithium batteries installed in the equipment they operate (including circuit boards) are mailable internationally under the following conditions:
- Lithium Content: Each lithium metal cell/battery must not exceed 0.3 g of lithium content.
- Watt-Hour Rating: Each lithium-ion cell/battery must not exceed 2.7 Wh.
Exhibit 622.53
International Lithium Battery Mailability
| International APO/FPO/DPO1, 2 | Mailpiece Battery Limit3 |
Lithium Metal or Lithium Alloy Batteries4, 5 Small, non-rechargeable, consumer-type batteries |
Contained in (properly installed in equipment) | Mailable | Maximum of 4 cells or 2 batteries |
Packed with equipment, but not installed in the equipment | Prohibited | |
Without the equipment they operate (individual batteries in originally sealed packaging) | Prohibited | |
Lithium-ion or Lithium Polymer Batteries6, 7 Small, rechargeable, consumer-type batteries |
Contained in (properly installed in equipment) | Mailable | Maximum of 4 cells or 2 batteries |
Packed with equipment, but not installed in the equipment | Prohibited | |
Without the equipment they operate (individual batteries in originally sealed packaging) | Prohibited | |
Very Small Lithium Metal or Lithium-ion Batteries8, 9 Exception for very small consumer-type batteries in international transportation |
Contained in (properly installed in equipment) | Mailable | Maximum of 4 cells or 2 batteries |
Packed with equipment, but not installed in the equipment | Prohibited | |
Without the equipment they operate (individual batteries in originally sealed packaging) | Prohibited | |
1. Unless otherwise prohibited by the international destination country or specific APO/FPO/DPO ZIP Code location.
2. Used, damaged, defective, or recalled lithium batteries and used, damaged, or defective electronic devices containing or packaged with lithium batteries are prohibited and may not be mailed internationally or to, from or between APO, FPO, or DPO locations under any circumstances. This excludes devices that are new in original packaging, and manufacturer-certified new or refurbished devices.
3. When a mailpiece limitation of 4 cells or 2 batteries is applicable, a mailpiece may contain either 4 cells or 2 batteries, not both.
4. Each lithium metal or lithium alloy cell must not contain more than 1 g (gram) of lithium content.
5. Each lithium metal or lithium alloy battery must not contain more than 2 g of aggregate lithium content.
6. Each lithium-ion or lithium polymer cell must not exceed more than 20 Wh (watt-hour rating).
7. Each lithium-ion or lithium polymer battery must not exceed 100 Wh.
8. Each lithium metal or lithium alloy cell or battery must not exceed 0.3 g of lithium content.
9. Each lithium-ion or lithium polymer cell or battery must not exceed a watt-hour rating of 2.7 Wh.
Note: Shipments containing lithium batteries are not permitted in Global Express Guaranteed mailpieces.
