[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 9 (Monday, January 14, 2008)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 2156]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-392]


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POSTAL SERVICE

39 CFR Part 20


Undeliverable Items

AGENCY: Postal Service.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Postal Service\TM\ has implemented new standards for 
returned undeliverable-as-addressed items that were posted abroad with 
a United States return address. When this occurs, the Postal Service 
provides the return service but currently receives no payment for the 
services rendered. This final rule implements collection of a fee for 
returned items.

DATES: Effective Date: January 14, 2008.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Obataiye B. Akinwole, 703-292-5260, 
Bruce Marsh, 703-292-3570.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Article RL 147 of the Letter Post 
Regulations of the Universal Postal Union (UPU), ``Undeliverable 
Items,'' allows all posts to collect handling charges for 
undeliverable-as-addressed pieces posted abroad by customers residing 
in their territories. In order to recover costs associated with 
handling these pieces, the Postal Service will collect the applicable 
First-Class Mail International postage for each returned item.

List of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 20

    Foreign relations, International postal services.


0
Effective the date of this rulemaking the USPS formally adopts the UPU 
provisions into the Mailing Standards of the United States Postal 
Service, International Mail Manual (IMM[reg]), incorporated by 
reference in the Code of Federal Regulations. See 39 CFR 20.1.

PART 20--[AMENDED]

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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.

0
2. Revise the Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, 
International Mail Manual (IMM) as follows:
* * * * *

7 Treatment of Inbound Mail

* * * * *
780 Items Mailed Abroad by or on Behalf of Senders in the United States
    [Revise the heading of 781 as follows:]

781 Payment Required

    [Add new 781.1 using the current text of 781 as follows:]

781.1 Postage Payment Required

    Payment of U.S. Postage is required to secure delivery of mail when 
the mailing is by or on behalf of a person or firm that is a resident 
of the United States and the foreign postage rate applied to such items 
is lower than the comparable U.S. domestic rate.

    [Add new 781.2 as follows:]

781.2 Handling Charges

    Undeliverable-as-addressed mail returned to the sender for which 
outbound postage was not paid to the USPS is subject to the payment of 
handling charges. On delivery to the sender, the sender may be charged 
the First-Class Mail International rate for the weight and shape of the 
returned piece.
* * * * *

Neva R. Watson,
Attorney, Legislative.
 [FR Doc. E8-392 Filed 1-11-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P