[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 57 (Friday, March 23, 2001)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 16130-16134]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-7055]


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POSTAL SERVICE

39 CFR Part 111


Shipping Label Requirements

AGENCY: U.S. Postal Service.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Postal Service, in its efforts to make package 
shipping easier for mailers, is developing standard

[[Page 16131]]

guidelines for creating package shipping labels. The following changes 
are being made to the markings (and endorsements) and Delivery 
Confirmation requirements in support of this effort: Addition of a 
service indicator at the top of the label to identify the class of 
mail; and modifications to the Delivery Confirmation format to support 
the new label design and identify the service option requested.
    These changes are being incorporated into the Domestic Mail Manual 
(DMM) and subsequently into a publication, which will identify 
requirements and specifications to assist mailers in designing their 
shipping labels.

EFFECTIVE DATE: April 5, 2001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Gullo, 202-268-7322.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On December 1, 2000, the Postal Service 
published in the Federal Register proposed changes to the shipping 
label requirements (65 FR 75210). No comments were received so the 
Postal Service is adopting the following requirements.

List of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 111

    Postal Service.

PART 111--[AMENDED]

    1. The authority citation for 39 CFR Part 111 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 552(a); 39 U.S.C. 101, 401, 403, 404-414, 
3001-3011, 3201-3219, 3403-3406, 3621, 3626, 5001.


    2. Revise the DMM as follows:

Domestic Mail Manual (DMM)

* * * * *

E  Eligibility

* * * * *

E100  First-Class Mail

* * * * *

E120  Priority Mail

* * * * *

1.4  MARKING

* * * * *
[Add the following after the existing paragraph in 1.4:]

    If shipping address labels are used, it is recommended that they 
contain the Priority Mail service indicator composed of two elements, 
the service icon and service banner (see Exhibit 1.4).
    (a) The service icon should appear in a 1-inch square in the upper 
left corner of the shipping label. The letter ``P'' must be printed 
inside the 1-inch square and must be 0.75 inches (\3/4\") or greater. A 
minimum \3/4\-point line must border the 1-inch square.
    (b) The service banner should appear directly below the postage 
payment area and the service icon, and it should extend across the 
shipping label. When the service banner is used, the text ``USPS 
PRIORITY MAIL'' must be printed in minimum 20-point bold sans serif 
typeface, uppercase letters, centered within the banner, and bordered 
above and below by minimum 1-point separator lines. There must be a \1/
16\-inch clearance above and below the text.

[Add the following Exhibit:]

Exhibit  1.4

Priority Mail Service Indicator
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR23MR01.040

* * * * *

M  MAIL PREPARATION AND SORTATION

M000  General Preparation Standards

M010  Mailpieces

* * * * *

M012  Markings and Endorsements

* * * * *

3.1  Basic Markings

* * * * *
[Add the following after the existing paragraph in 3.1:]

    Optionally, the basic required marking may be printed on the 
shipping address label as service indicators composed of a service icon 
and service banner:
    (a) The service icon that will identify all Package Services 
subclasses will be a 1-inch solid black square. If the service icon is 
used, it must appear in the upper left corner of the shipping label.
    (b) The service banner must appear directly below the postage 
payment area and the service icon, and it must extend across the 
shipping label. If the service banner is used, the appropriate subclass 
marking (e.g., PARCEL POST, BOUND PRINTED MATTER, etc.) must be 
preceded by the text ``USPS'' and must be printed in minimum 20-point 
bold sans serif typeface, uppercase letters, centered within the 
banner, and bordered above and below by minimum 1-point separator 
lines. There must be a \1/16\-inch clearance above and below the text.
[Add the following Exhibit:]

Exhibit  3.1

Package Services Indicators

[[Page 16132]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR23MR01.041

* * * * *

S  SPECIAL SERVICES

S900  Special Postal Services

* * * * *

S918  Delivery Confirmation

* * * * *
[Revise Exhibit 2.1c as follows:]

Exhibit  2.1c

Privately Printed Label

[[Page 16133]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR23MR01.042

    On the Priority Mail label, you must use the registered trademark 
symbol following the Priority Mail text or add the following statement 
at the bottom of the label in Helvetica 6 point: ``Priority Mail is a 
registered trademark of the U.S. Postal Service.''
* * * * *

3.3  Printing

[Replace item a with the following:]

    a. Each barcoded label must bear a unique Delivery Confirmation PIC 
barcode as specified in 3.2. The text ``USPS DELIVERY CONFIRMATION'' 
(if using retail service option, as specified in 1.4) or ``e/USPS 
DELIVERY CONFIRMATION'' (if using electronic service option, as 
specified in 1.4, and the postage is evident on the mailpiece) must be 
printed between \1/8\ inch and \1/2\ inch above the barcode in minimum 
12-point bold sans serif type. Additionally, mailers approved for the 
electronic service option, at their discretion, may print the text 
``ELECTRONIC RATE APPROVED #[D-U-N-S (NUMBER]'' in minimum 8-
point bold sans serif type directly below the bottom horizontal 
identification bar (see Exhibit 3.3). Human-readable characters that 
represent the barcode ID must be printed between \1/8\ inch and \1/2\ 
inch under the barcode in minimum 10-point bold sans serif type. These 
characters must be parsed in accordance with Publication 91, 
Confirmation Services Technical Guide. A minimum \1/8\-inch clearance 
must be between the barcode and any printing. The preferred range of 
widths of narrow bars and spaces is 0.015 inch to 0.017 inch. The width 
of the narrow bars or spaces must be at least 0.013 inch but no more 
than 0.021 inch. All bars must be at least \3/4\ inch high. Minimum \1/
16\-inch bold bars must appear between \1/8\ inch and \1/2\ inch above 
and below the human-readable endorsements to segregate the Delivery 
Confirmation barcode from other areas of the shipping label. The line 
length should extend across the width of the label but must extend the 
length of the barcode at a minimum (see Exhibit 2.1c). Only information 
relating to Delivery Confirmation and/or other special services must be 
placed between these lines. Mailers will be required to comply with 
this change by October 5, 2001.
* * * * *
[Add the following Exhibit:]

Exhibit  3.3

Electronic Service Option Identification

[[Page 16134]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR23MR01.043

* * * * *

 Stanley F. Mires,
Chief Counsel, Legislative.
[FR Doc. 01-7055 Filed 3-22-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7210-12-P