[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 37 (Wednesday, February 25, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 9420-9423]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-4824]
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POSTAL SERVICE
39 CFR Part 20
Increase of Maximum Size and Weight Limits To Existing Global
Package Link Premium Service to Japan
AGENCY: Postal Service.
[[Page 9421]]
ACTION: Interim rules with request for comments.
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SUMMARY: Global Package Link (GPL) is an international mail service
designed for companies sending merchandise to other countries. Current
size allowances for GPL and returns services to Japan will be increased
to U.S. domestic limits.
DATES: The interim regulations take effect February 25, 1998. Comments
must be received on or before March 27, 1998.
ADDRESSES: Written comments should be mailed or delivered to Global
Package Link Service, U.S. Postal Service, 475 L'Enfant Plaza SW, Room
370 IBU, Washington, DC 20260-6500. Copies of all written comments will
be available for public inspection and photocopying at the above
address between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert E. Michelson at the above
address. Telephone: (202) 268-5731.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Introduction
GPL service to Japan is currently limited to packages weighing up
to 44 pounds and those with dimensions up to 60 inches per any side or
total length plus girth of up to 108 inches. These size restrictions
prevent existing mailers as well as potential new customers, with
package dimensions larger than these limits, from using GPL to Japan.
In response to requests from these mailers, size allowances on GPL and
returns services to Japan will be increased to the domestic limits of
70 pounds and 108 inches (length plus girth combined).
II. GPL Size Increase to Japan
A. Qualifying Criteria
Customers wishing to send GPL packages to Japan that are larger
than the current size restrictions of 44 pounds and maximum length of
60 inches will need to use GPL Premium Oversize service. GPL Premium
Oversize service will include those packages longer than 60 inches on a
side or weighing more than 44 pounds. Premium Oversize service will
accommodate packages that fall within domestic limits of length plus
girth up to 108 inches and weight up to 70 pounds. It will be the
responsibility of the customer to choose the Premium Oversize option.
Failure to choose the Premium Oversize option when dimensions or weight
are over 60 inches per any side or over 44 pounds will result in the
package being returned to the mailer for remailing as GPL Premium
Oversize.
B. Delivery
GPL Premium Oversize service to Japan is an extension of the GPL
Premium service. It will have the same attributes including
trackability and up to $500 insurance at no additional cost.
C. Returns Service
The returns service weight allowance from Japan will be increased
from the current 44-pound maximum to a 70-pound maximum. The maximum
size will be increased to 108 inches (combined length plus girth).
D. Rates
The base rates for Premium Oversize GPL and extended returns
service to Japan are set forth in the interim regulations below.
III. Conclusion
Accordingly, the Postal Service hereby adopts this size increase
for GPL service and Returns service to Japan on an interim basis, at
the rates set forth in the schedule below. Although 39 U.S.C. 407 does
not require advance notice and opportunity for submission of comments,
and the Postal Service is exempted by 39 U.S.C. 410(a) from the advance
notice requirements of the Administrative Procedure Act regarding
proposed rulemaking (5 U.S.C. 553), the Postal Service invites
interested persons to submit written data, views, or arguments
concerning this interim rule.
The Postal Service adopts the following amendments to the
International Mail Manual (IMM), which is incorporated by reference in
the Code of Federal Regulations (39 CFR 20.1).
List of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 20
International postal service, Foreign relations.
PART 20--[AMENDED]
1. The authority citation for 39 CFR part 20 continues to read as
follows:
Authority: 5 U.S.C. 552(a); 39 U.S.C. 401, 404, 407, 408.
2. Effective immediately, (February 25, 1998), subchapter 620 of
the International Mail Manual, Issue 19, is amended as follows:
6 Special Programs
* * * * *
623.3 Size and Weight Limits
623.31 Weight Limits
The weight limits for Global Package Link service are 70 pounds for
Chile, China, and Germany; 66 pounds for Brazil, Canada, France,
Singapore, and the United Kingdom; 64 pounds for Mexico; and 44 pounds
for Japan with the Premium service.
GPL Premium packages to Japan weighing more than 44 pounds up to a
maximum of 70 pounds must be mailed as GPL Premium Oversize. To use the
GPL Premium Oversize service, the mailer has the responsibility to
select GPL Premium Oversize service when selecting the class of service
and use the corresponding GPL Premium Oversize rates chart. GPL Premium
packages weighing more than 44 pounds, up to a maximum of 70 pounds,
will be returned to the mailer for remailing if GPL Premium Oversize
service is not selected.
623.32 Size Limits
The maximum length of GPL packages is 60 inches. The maximum length
and girth combined is 108 inches. Exceptions: maximum size for Germany
is length 47 inches, height 23 inches, width 23 inches; for Japan
standard packages weighing less than 1 pound, the maximum length is 24
inches with a combined maximum height, depth, and length of 36 inches.
GPL Premium packages to Japan whose length is more than 60 inches
up to a maximum length plus girth of 108 inches must be mailed as GPL
Premium Oversize. To use the GPL Premium Oversize service, the mailer
has the responsibility to select GPL Premium Oversize service when
selecting the class of service and use the corresponding GPL Premium
Oversize rates chart. GPL Premium packages longer than 60 inches up to
length plus girth of 108 inches will be returned to the mailer for
remailing if GPL Premium Oversize service is not selected.
All GPL packages must be large enough to accommodate the necessary
labels and customs forms on the address side.
* * * * *
[[Page 9422]]
Global Package Link to Japan Rates
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Premium
Weight not over (lbs.) Premium Standard oversize Returns
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1........................................................... 14.50 5.50 27.50 7.20
2........................................................... 16.50 8.50 31.00 9.80
3........................................................... 19.00 13.00 34.50 12.40
4........................................................... 21.50 16.50 38.00 15.00
5........................................................... 24.00 22.00 42.50 17.60
6........................................................... 27.00 25.00 47.00 20.20
7........................................................... 29.50 \1\ 6 51.50 22.80
8........................................................... 32.00 ........... 55.00 25.40
9........................................................... 34.50 ........... 58.00 28.00
10.......................................................... 37.00 ........... 60.50 30.60
11.......................................................... 39.50 ........... 63.00 33.20
12.......................................................... 42.00 ........... 66.00 35.80
13.......................................................... 44.50 ........... 68.50 38.40
14.......................................................... 47.00 ........... 71.00 41.00
15.......................................................... 49.50 ........... 73.00 43.70
16.......................................................... 52.00 ........... 75.50 48.00
17.......................................................... 54.50 ........... 78.00 50.70
18.......................................................... 57.00 ........... 80.00 53.50
19.......................................................... 59.50 ........... 83.00 56.20
20.......................................................... 62.00 ........... 85.00 58.90
21.......................................................... 64.50 ........... 87.00 63.90
22.......................................................... 67.00 ........... 89.00 66.70
23.......................................................... 69.50 ........... 91.00 69.50
24.......................................................... 72.00 ........... 93.00 72.30
25.......................................................... 74.50 ........... 95.00 75.10
26.......................................................... 77.00 ........... 97.00 77.90
27.......................................................... 79.50 ........... 99.00 80.70
28.......................................................... 82.00 ........... 101.00 83.50
29.......................................................... 84.50 ........... 103.00 86.30
30.......................................................... 87.00 ........... 104.00 89.10
31.......................................................... 89.50 ........... 106.00 91.90
32.......................................................... 92.00 ........... 108.00 94.70
33.......................................................... 94.50 ........... 110.00 97.50
34.......................................................... 97.00 ........... 112.00 100.40
35.......................................................... 99.50 ........... 114.00 103.20
36.......................................................... 102.00 ........... 116.00 106.00
37.......................................................... 104.50 ........... 117.00 108.80
38.......................................................... 107.00 ........... 118.00 111.60
39.......................................................... 109.00 ........... 119.00 114.40
40.......................................................... 112.00 ........... 120.00 117.20
41.......................................................... 114.50 ........... 121.00 120.00
42.......................................................... 117.00 ........... 122.00 122.80
43.......................................................... 119.50 ........... 123.00 125.60
44.......................................................... 122.00 ........... 124.00 128.40
45.......................................................... \1\ 44 ........... 125.00 \1\ 44
46.......................................................... ........... ........... 126.00
47.......................................................... ........... ........... 127.00
48.......................................................... ........... ........... 128.00
49.......................................................... ........... ........... 129.00
50.......................................................... ........... ........... 130.00
51.......................................................... ........... ........... 131.00
52.......................................................... ........... ........... 132.00
53.......................................................... ........... ........... 134.00
54.......................................................... ........... ........... 136.00
55.......................................................... ........... ........... 138.00
56.......................................................... ........... ........... 140.00
57.......................................................... ........... ........... 142.00
58.......................................................... ........... ........... 144.00
59.......................................................... ........... ........... 146.00
60.......................................................... ........... ........... 148.00
61.......................................................... ........... ........... 150.00
62.......................................................... ........... ........... 152.00
63.......................................................... ........... ........... 154.00
64.......................................................... ........... ........... 156.00
65.......................................................... ........... ........... 158.00
66.......................................................... ........... ........... 161.00
67.......................................................... ........... ........... 163.00
68.......................................................... ........... ........... 165.00
69.......................................................... ........... ........... 167.00
70.......................................................... ........... ........... 169.00
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\1\ lb. max.
[[Page 9423]]
Discounts for GPL service to Japan are 3 percent off the base rates
for those packages sent over 100,000 during a 12-month period. Parcels
sent via the Premium Oversize service weighing less than 15 pounds but
measuring more than 84 inches in length and girth combined are
chargeable with a minimum rate equal to that for a 15-pound parcel.
* Weights over 44 pounds, use Premium Oversize service.
** Weights over 6 pounds, use Premium service.
Stanley F. Mires,
Chief Counsel, Legislative.
[FR Doc. 98-4824 Filed 2-24-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P