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Postal Explorer > Publication 52 - Hazardous, Restricted, and Perishable Mail > 7 Air Transportation Requirements > 74 Perishable Matter: Air Transportation
Perishable matter is any item that can readily deteriorate during normal mail
transport conditions and thereby lose value, create a health hazard, or cause
a nuisance or disturbance.
Most mailable live animals, except honeybees, are permitted to be sent via
air transportation. However, the ability of the Postal Service to provide air
transportation is dependent on the following:
a. The animal must be mailable and eligible for transport via air.
b. All provisions of airline tariffs and air carriers are met.
c. Air carrier equipment is available to the Postal Service and allows the
safe delivery of shipments within specified and reasonable time limits.
Time allowance must also be provided for delays en route in air and
ground transportation.
Note: Local Postal Service personnel are not authorized to refuse
the deposit of mailable live animals that are properly packaged.
See 523.
Only queen honeybees are permitted to be sent in the domestic mail via air
transportation. See 526.2, Exhibit 526.21, and DMM 601.9.3.8 for
more information.
742.3 Air Carrier Refusal
When an air carrier is not available to the Postal Service, or when an air
carrier refuses a mailable shipment of live animals or other mailable article of
perishable matter because of its company policy on safety or current extreme
temperature conditions, the mailpiece is returned to the Postal Service.
Mailpieces returned or refused by an air carrier must be handled as follows:
a. If the mailpiece is damaged or leaking, contact the local facility's safety
officer or designee for assistance. The procedures in the facility's
Spill/Leak SOP and Handbook EL-812, Hazardous Materials and Spill
Response, must be followed.
b. Complete PS Form 2759, Report of Irregular Handling of Mail, for
internal Postal Service information only and distribute copies to the
appropriate Postal Service offices. Include the name and address of
the mailer, the type and quantity of animals, and the reason for the air
carrier's refusal.
c. If the mailpiece contains a nonmailable or improperly packaged animal
or other article of perishable matter, follow the reporting procedures in
POM 139.117-118, as applicable. Additionally, to prevent future
shipments from being incorrectly accepted for mailing, notify the mailer
and the post office of mailing of the problem.
d. If the mailpiece contains mailable animals that cannot be delivered to
the addressee or returned to the sender via surface transportation
within 72 hours (for live day-old poultry) or within the delivery period
marked on the mailpiece (for other animals), immediately dispose of it.
For safety reasons, dispose of mailpieces not marked with a delivery
period when it reasonably appears the articles could not be delivered or
returned in a viable condition. Also dispose of, or donate to a charitable
institution, any perishable matter that cannot be returned in a viable
condition. See POM 691.52 for disposal information.
If the mailpiece contains a mailable animal or other article of perishable
matter that appears to be viable and can be delivered within the
specified delivery period, attempt to contact the mailer via information
from the return address. If the mailer can be reached, advise the mailer
of the available option for rerouting the mailpiece via the most
expeditious means of surface transportation (if available). If the mailer
agrees to divert to surface, apply label 127, Surface Transportation
Only and immediately dispatch the mailpiece to the destination via the
most expeditious means of surface transportation.
e. If the mailer of a parcel containing a mailable animal or other article of
perishable matter that appears to be in a viable condition cannot be
contacted, and the mailpiece can be returned to the sender within the
specified delivery period, do the following:
(1) Endorse the address side of the mailpiece "Refused for Air
Transportation by Air Carrier" and note the name of the airline,
flight number, and reason for refusal.
(2) Apply label 127, Surface Transportation Only and immediately
return the mailpiece to the sender via the most expeditious
means of surface transportation.
(3) Provide the mailer with instructions on how to obtain a refund of
the postage charges because service was not provided.
A mailpiece containing mailable matter that is packed in dry ice (carbon
dioxide solid) to cool the perishable contents must meet all requirements in
349 and DMM 601.10.20.4 that apply to sending dry ice in domestic mail via
air transportation. For air transportation, the amount of dry ice cannot exceed
5 pounds per mailpiece. Dry ice is prohibited to be mailed to international and
APO/FPO addresses.
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