April 5, 2010

April DMM Update

Postal Explorer (pe.usps.com) is your source for up-to-date mailing standards. The Domestic Mail Manual is fully searchable on Postal Explorer and features fly-out menus, cross-reference links, and an extensive subject index. Today we updated our mailing standards to capture the following changes:

New Optional Designs for Letter-Sized Booklets

We revised 201.3.0 to provide 10 new design options for letter-size booklets.

Express Mail Open and Distribute and Priority Mail Open and Distribute Changes and Updates
We revised 705.16.0 to improve efficiencies in processing and to control costs for Express Mail Open and Distribute and Priority Mail Open and Distribute.

Updated Size and Weight Limits for Items Mailed to Department of State Addresses
We revised 703.3.2.3 to update the size and weight limits for items mailed specifically to Department of State addresses.

Parcel Return Service Mailer ID Clearance
We revised 507.13.4.4h2 which gives mailers the option to change the label format by reducing the required clearance space between the Parcel Return Service Mailer Identification (ID) characters and the edges of the printed box from 3/16 inch to 1/16 inch.

Extension of Not Flat-Machinable Prices and Eligibility of Mailpieces Specifically Approved as Automation Flats
We revised 301.3.3 to extend automation flats eligibility of pieces approved via the Pricing and Classification Service Center (PCSC) beyond May 2010. We also extended the timeframe for the Not Flat-Machinable (NFM) category of Standard Mail.

Deposit of APO, FPO, DPO, and U.S. Territory Mailpieces Bearing a Customs Declaration—Update
We revised 503.9.2.4, 503.10.2.3, 608.2.0, and 703.2.0 to authorize additional deposit options for items that bear a customs declaration when mailed to APO, FPO, DPO destinations, and to U.S. territory, possessions and Freely Associated States.

Labeling List Changes
We revised Labeling List(s) L001, L002, L005, L007, L008, L009, L011, L201, L606, and L607 to reflect changes in mail processing operations.

Our next scheduled DMM update is May 3.