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+ 21 Mailability o 211 General o 212 Mailer Responsibility o 213 Authority o 214 Appeals o 215 Requests for Rulings o 216 Nonmailable Matter Found in the Mail + 22 Marking Requirements o 221 General o 222 Matter Excepted From Markings o 223 Hazardous Materials Warning Labels and Markings o 224 Tag 44 for Hazardous Materials o 225 Other Postal Service Labels and Tags o 226 Package Orientation Markings o 227 Old Markings o 228 Shipping Papers + 23 Handling Hazardous Materials + 24 Emergency Procedures o 241 General Requirements o 242 Hazard Duration o 243 Precautions o 244 Procedures o 245 Hazardous Chemical Emergencies o 246 Emergency Telephone Numbers + 25 Basic Guidelines for Acceptance and Dispatch o 251 Guidelines for Acceptance Personnel o 252 Guidelines for Dispatch Personnel * 3 Hazardous Materials + 31 Definition + 32 General o 321 U.S. Department of Transportation o 322 Postal Service o 323 Mailer Responsibility o 324 Mailability Rulings o 325 DOT Hazardous Materials Warning Labels o 326 Shipping Papers o 327 Transportation Requirements o 328 Postal Service Hazardous Materials Table + 33 Hazard Classes o 331 Nine Classes o 332 Limited Quantity o 333 Consumer Commodity o 334 Mailable Limited Quantity o 335 ORM-D Materials o 336 Small Quantity o 337 Excepted Quantity o 338 Packaging Requirements for Hazardous Materials o 339 Nonmailable Materials Found in the Mailstream + 34 Mailability by Hazard Class o 341 Explosives (Hazard Class 1) o 342 Gases (Hazard Class 2) o 343 Flammable and Combustible Liquids (Hazard Class 3) o 344 Flammable Solids (Hazard Class 4) o 345 Oxidizing Substances, Organic Peroxides (Hazard Class 5) o 346 Toxic Substances and Infectious Substances (Hazard Class 6) o 347 Radioactive Materials (Hazard Class 7) o 348 Corrosives (Hazard Class 8) o 349 Miscellaneous Hazardous Materials (Hazard Class 9) * 4 Restricted Matter + 41 General o 411 Definition o 412 Mailer Responsibility o 413 Rulings o 414 Nonmailable Matter Found in the Mails + 42 Intoxicating Liquors o 421 Definition o 422 Mailability o 423 Packaging and Marking + 43 Firearms o 431 Definitions o 432 Mailability o 433 Legal Opinions on Mailing Firearms o 434 Replica or Inert Explosive Devices o 435 Nonmailable Firearms Found in the Mails + 44 Knives and Sharp Instruments o 441 Definitions o 442 Mailability o 443 Packaging and Marking o 444 Nonmailable Knives in the Mails + 45 Other Restricted Materials o 451 Liquids, Powders, and Odor-Producing Materials o 452 Motor Vehicle Master Keys and Locksmithing Devices o 453 Controlled Substances and Drugs o 454 Unsolicited Promotional Samples o 455 Building Construction Material o 456 Lottery + 46 Animal-Fighting Ventures o 461 Definitions o 462 Mailability + 47 Cigarettes and Smokeless Tobacco o 471 Definitions o 472 Mailability * 5 Perishable Matter + 51 Definition o 511 General Definitions o 512 Federal Statutes + 52 Animals o 521 General Requirements o 522 Packaging and Markings o 523 Acceptance for Mailing o 524 Disposal o 525 Nonmailable Live Animals o 526 Mailable Live Animals + 53 Fresh Foods and Other Perishables + 54 Eggs + 55 Meats and Meat Products + 56 Plants o 561 General o 562 Quarantines o 563 Packaging and Marking o 564 Further Information + 57 Nonmailable Plant Pests, Injurious Animals, and Illegally Taken Fish or Wildlife o 571 General o 572 Criminal Penalties * 6 International Mail + 61 General o 611 Refusal by Air Carrier + 62 Hazardous Materials: International Mail o 621 General Requirements o 622 Mailable Hazardous Materials o 623 Nonmailable Hazardous Materials + 63 Restricted Matter: International Mail o 631 APO/FPO/DPO Mail o 632 Firearms o 633 Inert Replica and Explosive Devices o 634 Knives and Sharp Instruments o 635 Drugs o 636 Controlled Substances o 637 Other Restricted Matter + 64 Perishable Matter: International Mail o 641 APO/FPO/DPO Mail o 642 Animals o 643 Eggs o 644 Plants o 645 Fresh Foods and Other Perishables * 7 Air Transportation Requirements + 71 General o 711 Refusal by Air Carrier + 72 Hazardous Materials: Air Transportation o 721 General Requirements o 722 Additional Requirements o 723 Hazardous Materials Warning Labels o 724 Consumer Commodity and Mailable Limited Quantity Materials o 725 Mailer Responsibility o 726 Postal Service Handling o 727 Refusal by Air Carrier o 728 Spills and Leaks + 73 Restricted Matter: Air Transportation o 731 Refusal by Air Carrier + 74 Perishable Matter: Air Transportation o 741 General Requirements o 742 Live Animals o 743 Perishable Matter with Dry Ice * Appendix A * Appendix B * Appendix C + USPS Packaging Instruction 1-3 o 1A Toy Propellant Devices o 1B Safety Fuse o 2A Flammable Gases o 2B Nonflammable Gases o 2C Fire Extinguishers o 2D Foodstuffs and Soap Products o 2E Audible Fire Alarm Systems o 2F Biological Products or Medical Preparations o 3A Flammable Liquids o 3B Combustible Liquids o 3C Cigarette Lighters o 3D Ethanol-based Flammable Liquids and Solids + USPS Packaging Instruction 4-6 o 4A Flammable Solids o 4B Safety Matches o 5A Oxidizing Substances, Organic Peroxides o 6A Toxic Substances o 6B Toxic Substances With LD50 Oral Toxicity of 50 mg/kg or Less o 6C Category B Infectious Substances o 6D Sharps Waste and Other Regulated Medical Waste o 6E Used Health Care Products o 6F Forensic Material o 6G Nonregulated Infectious Materials o 6H Exempt Human or Animal Specimens + USPS Packaging Instruction 7-10 o 7A Radioactive Materials o 8A Corrosives o 8B Nonspillable Wet Battery o 8C Manufactured Devices that Contain Small Amounts of Mercury o 9A Dry Ice (Carbon Dioxide Solid) o 9B Magnetized Materials o 9C Miscellaneous Hazardous Materials o 9D Lithium Metal and Lithium-ion Cells and Batteries Domestic o 9E Lithium Metal and Lithium-ion Cells and Batteries International and APO/FPO/DPO o 10A Small Quantity Provision o 10B - Excepted Quantity Provision o 10C - Cremated Remains * Appendix D * Appendix E + Postal Service Publications and Reference Materials + Other Publications * Index Publication 52 - Hazardous, Restricted, and Perishable Mail > 5 Perishable Matter > 52 Animals > 526 Mailable Live Animals Link to Link to "53 "525 Link to contents for "5 Perishable Fresh Foods Nonmailable Matter" Link to Index and Other Live Perishables" Animals" 526 Mailable Live Animals 526.1 General Some animals are mailable under proper conditions. See the specific instructions as noted for the following kinds of animals: 1. Live bees, 526.2 and Exhibit 526.21. 2. Live, day-old poultry, 526.3 and Exhibit 526.33. 3. Live adult birds, 526.4. 4. Live scorpions (only under limited circumstances), 526.5 and Exhibit 526.5. 5. Other small, harmless, cold-blooded animals, 526.6 and Exhibit 526.6. Note: Regarding dead animals or parts of animals, see 526.7 and Exhibit 526.7. 526.2 Live Bees 526.21 Mailability Requirements Honeybees and queen honeybees must be free of disease, as required under federal and state regulations. The following additional conditions apply: 1. Honeybees. Honeybees are acceptable only via surface transportation, and must bear special handling fees, in addition to regular postage. Mailpieces must be plainly marked on the address side with "Live Bees" and "Surface Only" or "Surface Mail Only." 2. Queen Honeybees. Via air transportation. Only queen honey bees may be shipped via air transportation. Each queen honeybee shipped via air transportation may be accompanied by up to eight attendant honeybees. Via surface transportation. Queen honeybees shipped via surface transportation must bear special handling fees, in addition to regular postage. All mailpieces containing queen honeybees must be plainly marked on the address side with "Live Queen Bees." Refer to Exhibit 526.21 for a general summary of the requirements for mailing live bees. Exhibit 526.21 Requirements for Mailing Live Bees Live Bees Live BeesContents must be either queen honeybees or honeybees. Bees must be securely packaged (see 522) to provide adequate air and they must be kept within a tolerable temperature range at 40deg to 100deg F. The use of insecticides must be eliminated in Postal Service areas that will be occupied by bee shipments. Air Transportation Surface Transportation * Any type of live honeybees * Only queen honeybees may be may be shipped in the shipped by air transportation. continental United States by * Each queen honeybee may be surface transportation. accompanied by up to eight * Packages of honeybees must attendant honeybees. include special handling * Alert personnel to ensure the service fees, in addition to queen honeybees' timely and regular postage. safe dispatch to, and arrival * Alert personnel to ensure the at, the destination. honeybees' timely and safe * Equipment must be available for dispatch to, and arrival at, transportation up to the 4th the destination. zone. Advance arrangements must * Equipment must be available be made for shipment to for transportation up to the addresses beyond the 4th zone. 4th zone. Advance arrangement must be made for shipment beyond the 4th zone. 526.22 Claims for Bee Shipments Indemnity claims (see DMM 609) for damage, partial loss, and loss of insured shipments of mailable bees are accepted only in the following situations: 1. Death of the bees resulted from Postal Service handling after conditions for mailability were met and when there was strong likelihood that the shipment could have been safely transported. 2. Contents were lost because of damage to the container while in Postal Service custody. 3. The complete package was lost in the mail. 4. Special handling was purchased as required under 526.21. 526.3 Live, Day-Old Poultry 526.31 General The following live, day-old animals are acceptable for mailing when properly packaged: chickens, ducks, emus, geese, guinea birds, partridges, pheasants (only during April through August), quail, and turkeys. All other types of live, day-old poultry are nonmailable. Day-old poultry vaccinated with Newcastle disease (live virus) also is nonmailable. 526.32 Mailability Requirements The specific types of day-old poultry named in 526.31 are mailable subject to the following requirements: 1. Poultry that is not more than 24 hours old and is presented for mailing in the original, unopened hatchery box from the hatchery of origin. 2. The date and hour of hatching is noted on the box by a representative of the hatchery who has personal knowledge thereof. (For Collect on Delivery (COD) shipments made by a hatchery for the account of others, the name or initials and address of the hatchery or the Post Office box number and address of the hatchery must be prominently shown for this standard.) 3. Box is properly ventilated, of proper construction and strength to bear safe transport in the mail, and is not stacked more than 10 units high. 4. Day-old poultry is mailed early enough in the week to avoid receipt at the office of address (in case of missed connections) on a Sunday, a national holiday, or the afternoon before a Sunday or national holiday. 5. Day-old poultry can be delivered to the addressee within 72 hours of the time of hatching. 6. Day-old poultry sent via surface transportation, must include special handling service fees, in addition to regular postage. 7. Day-old poultry sent via air transportation must meet all provisions of the airlines. Delivery of the mailpiece is dependent on the availability of air carriers having available equipment to safely deliver the day-old poultry within the specified time limit. 8. Day-old poultry that is first shipped via a commercial air express or air cargo service and then presented for mailing to a final destination must be in good condition and properly packaged as specified in 526.32a-e. 9. Boxes of day-old poultry of about identical size, securely fastened together to prevent separation in transit, may be accepted for mailing as a single parcel, provided the total length and girth combined does not exceed Postal Service limits. See Exhibit 526.33, Requirements for Mailing Live, Day-Old Poultry. See Chapter 7 regarding domestic mail shipments sent via air transportation. 526.33 Claims for Live, Day-Old Poultry Indemnity claims (see DMM 609) for damage, partial loss, and loss of insured shipments of mailable, live, day-old poultry are accepted only in the following situations: 1. Death of the live, day-old poultry resulted from Postal Service handling after conditions for mailability were met and when there was strong likelihood that the shipment could have been safely transported. 2. Contents were lost because of damage to the container while in Postal Service custody. 3. The complete package was lost in the mail. 4. Special handling was purchased as required under 526.32f. Exhibit 526.33 Requirements for Mailing Live, Day-Old Poultry Answer each question and follow the instruction as YES NO indicated. If pheasants, If not day-old they are poultry, item is mailable only NONMAILABLE. If not Is poultry live, day-old during April poultry or not 1. poultry as listed in through day-old, check other 526.31? August. mailable animal types in Section 52 Go to No. 2. to determine mailability. 2. Was hatching time 24 Go to No. 3. NONMAILABLE. hours ago or less? Was poultry presented for 3. mailing in original, Go to No. 4. Do not accept. unopened hatchery box from hatchery of origin? Are boxes properly ventilated and of proper construction and strength to bear safe transport in mail? Note: Boxes of Boxes are not approximately identical to be stacked 4. size, securely fastened more than 10 Do not accept. to prevent separation in units high. transit, may be accepted Go to No. 5. for mailing as a single parcel if the mailpiece does not exceed DMM limits for combined length and girth or exceed 70 pounds in weight. Are the date and hour of hatching noted on box by 5. representative of Go to No. 6. Do not accept. hatchery who has personal knowledge of facts? Before accepting, Did shipment originate at take special another office, or was it precautions to 6. sent by air express or ensure that Go to No. 7. air cargo and then shipment is in presented for mailing? excellent condition. Go to No. 7. Is the shipment being mailed with a special Shipment must handling service charge, include special 7. in addition to regular Go to No. 8. handling service to postage? Exception: be mailable. shipment is being mailed via air transportation. If shipment is COD, have If COD, do not all conditions for using accept unless all 8. COD service (as required Go to No. 9. applicable in DMM 503.11) been met? requirements in DMM If not COD, go to No. 9. 503.11 are met. Is poultry being mailed sufficiently early in week to avoid arrival at 9. the delivery post office Go to No. 10. Do not accept. on Sunday or holiday, or on afternoon preceding Sunday or holiday? Can poultry be delivered to addressee within 72 hours of time of Accept for 10. hatching, regardless of mailing. Do not accept. whether addressee resides in town or on rural or highway contract route? 526.4 Adult Birds 526.41 General Mailers must be in compliance and may ship disease-free adult birds domestically under all applicable governmental laws and regulations, including the Lacey Act, the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the Animal Welfare Act, regulations of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and any state, municipal, or local ordinances. Mailings must also be compliant with the requirements provided in USPS Publication 14, Prohibitions and Restrictions on Mailing Animals, Plants, and Related Matter, Chapter 5. In addition, each container or package must be marked as required by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under 50 CFR 14. Adult birds must be properly packaged and able to sustain shipment without food or water because liquids, moisture, and loose foodstuffs can cause damage to the shipping container, other mail, and Postal Service equipment during transport. 526.42 Mailability Requirements Adult birds are mailable only when sent under the following conditions: 1. The shipment is mailed using Priority Mail Express service. 2. Each bird must weigh more than 6 ounces and no more than 25 pounds. 3. The number of birds per parcel must follow the container manufacturer limits. 4. The mailer must secure containers approved by the manager, Product Classification. 5. The mailer must obtain authorization from the Manager of Product Classification (see 214 for address) and meet the requirements in Packaging Instruction 10D in Appendix C. 6. The mailer must provide evidence of a test conducted by competent authorities using a full container of live birds throughout a 3-day period of challenge. The test must satisfy the following: 1. Confinement of live birds in the container must neither endanger the health of the birds nor subject them to inhumane treatment. 2. Environmental temperatures as high as 99 degrees Fahrenheit must pose no greater physiological stress on birds confined in the container than on birds in containers with conventional ventilation. 3. Environmental temperatures of 0 degrees Fahrenheit and lower for extended periods must pose no greater physiological stress on birds confined in the container than on birds in containers with conventional ventilation. 4. A reduced level of light and absence of visual stimuli should be evident in the container design in order to reduce the birds' awareness of being moved or sense of alarm due to the presence of humans or other animals nearby, and reduce their psychological stress. 526.43 Claims for Adult Birds Indemnity may be paid only for articles that are lost, damaged, or for missing contents, and not for death of the birds in transit if there is no visible damage to the mailing container. Postage refunds may not be available if the Priority Mail Express shipment was delivered or delivery was attempted within three days of the date of mailing as shown in the "Date In" box on Label 11. See DMM 609. 526.5 Live Scorpions The mailing of scorpions is limited by the restrictions in 18 U.S.C. 1716. Under this limitation, scorpions are mailable only when sent for the purposes of medical research use or the manufacture of antivenin. Scorpions are nonmailable under any other circumstances. See Exhibit 526.5 for mailing conditions that apply to permissible shipments. Exhibit 526.5 Restrictions on Mailing Live Scorpions Live scorpions are mailable only if EACH of the following conditions is met: 1. Must be for delivery only within the continental United States. 2. May be sent only by surface transportation. Must be sent only for special purposes of either: 3. * Medical research use. * Manufacture of antivenin. Must be properly packaged prior to mailing, as follows: * Live scorpions is packed in a double container system, with each receptacle closed or fastened in such a way as to prevent escape. * Inner receptacle is made of material that cannot be punctured 4. by a scorpion. * Inner receptacle is marked "Live Scorpions." * Cushioning material is used to prevent shifting of the inner receptacle. * Design of packaging is of sufficient strength, as required in 522, to prevent crushing of the mailpiece or escape of the contents during normal Postal Service handling and transport. * Address side of mailpiece is clearly marked "Live Scorpions." 526.6 Small, Harmless, Cold-Blooded Animals Small, harmless, cold-blooded animals, except for snakes, turtles, and turtle eggs, are mailable only when they meet certain requirements. For some examples, see Exhibit 526.6. Exhibit 526.6 Requirements for Mailing Small, Harmless, Cold-Blooded Animals (Except Snakes, Turtles, and Turtle Eggs) General Requirements: All animals in this group: * Must be able to reach their destination in good condition in the normal transit time between the mailing and address points. * Must not require any food, water, or attention during transport. * Must not create sanitary problems. * Must not create obnoxious odors. Specific Requirements by Animal: Baby Alligators Baby Caimans Chameleons Frogs * Animals must not exceed 20 inches in length. Lizards * No additional requirements, except the applicable standards in section 52. Newts * Packaging must comply with 522. Reptiles and Amphibians Salamanders Tadpoles and Toads Specific Requirements by Animal: * Fish must be held in a securely sealed primary receptacle. Goldfish * Primary receptacle must be cushioned with sufficient absorbent material to take up all liquid Tropical Fish in case of leakage. * Primary receptacle and absorbent cushioning material must be sealed within waterproof outer (shipping) packaging. Worms Bloodworms Hellgrammites * No additional requirements, except the applicable standards in section 52. Leeches * Packaging must comply with 522. Mealworms Snails Nonpoisonous * No additional requirements, except the applicable Insects standards in section 52. * Packaging must comply with 522. 526.7 Dead Animals or Parts of Animals The dead bodies, or parts thereof, of any wild animals, wild birds, or eggs are acceptable for mailing only when they are lawfully killed or taken, and their shipment is not prohibited by law of the United States or of the state, territory, district, or foreign country or subdivision thereof in which killed or taken or offered for shipment. Mailing of fresh game is also subject to these standards. Dead animals or parts of animals include two groups of items: 1. Group A: Items that need to be refrigerated. 2. Group B: Items that must be dried. See Exhibit 526.7 for additional information on the conditions for mailing. Exhibit 526.7 Requirements for Mailing Dead Animals or Parts of Animals GROUP A: Items that need to be refrigerated Mailable only when: * Overall requirements for animals (see 521) are met. * A proper refrigerant is used as follows: + Water ice. When water ice is used as a refrigerant, it must be packed like a liquid in a sealed, waterproof primary receptacle. The primary receptacle Game birds, fish, or must be surrounded by absorbent other animals to be cushioning material in a quantity used for food. sufficient to take up all water in the event of leakage. The primary Animals or animal receptacle and cushioning material parts to be used in must be securely packed within an conservation studies outer (shipping) packaging. or to be preserved by + Dry ice. When dry ice is used, it must taxidermy. be packaged as required in 349.23. It must NEVER be placed in a sealed container. In addition, sufficient cushioning material must be used so that an inner container will not become loose inside the shipping container as the dry ice sublimates. * Salt. The use of salt to retard spoilage can be effective. * The mailpiece is properly addressed and marked as required under 221 and DMM 102. GROUP B: Items that must be dried Mailable only when such articles: * Are properly dried or cured. * Have no offensive odor. * Are plainly marked and/or labeled on the Dried furs, hides, address side with the full names and skins, or pelts of addresses of shipper and addressee, wild animals. together with such endorsement(s) as may be required by state laws. * Are securely packaged and/or wrapped to prevent harm to Postal Service employees and damage to the package contents or postal equipment. Link to Link to "53 "525 Link to contents for "5 Perishable Fresh Foods Nonmailable Matter" Link to Index and Other Live Perishables" Animals" HELPFUL LINKS * Contact Us * Site Index * FAQs USPS JOBS * Careers ON ABOUT.USPS.COM * About USPS Home * Newsroom * USPS Service Updates * Forms & Publications * Government Services Other USPS Sites * Business Customer Gateway * Postal Inspectors * Inspector General * Postal Explorer * National Postal Museum * Resources for Developers * PostalPro Legal Information * Privacy Policy * Terms of Use * FOIA * No FEAR Act EEO Data USPS.com home. The profile of an eagle's head adjoining the words United States Postal Service are the two elements that are combined to form the corporate signature. Copyright(c) USPS. All Rights Reserved. * Follow USPS on facebook.com * Follow USPS on twitter.com * Follow USPS on pinterest.com * Follow USPS on YouTube.com