[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 94 (Tuesday, May 15, 2012)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 28488-28489]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-11483]
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POSTAL SERVICE
39 CFR Part 20
Outbound International Mailings of Lithium Batteries and Other
Dangerous Goods
AGENCY: Postal Service\TM\.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: The Postal Service is revising the Mailing Standards of the
United States Postal Service, International Mail Manual (IMM[supreg])
part 136, to incorporate standards that prohibit the outbound
international mailing of lithium batteries and devices containing
lithium batteries.
DATES: Effective Date: May 16, 2012.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Margaret Falwell at 202-268-2576.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Postal Service is taking this action to
bring its international mailing standards into compliance with
international standards for the acceptance of dangerous goods in
international mail.
International standards have recently been the subject of
discussion by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and
the Universal Postal Union (UPU), and the Postal Service anticipates
that on January 1, 2013, customers will be able to mail specific
quantities of lithium batteries internationally, when the batteries are
properly installed in the personal electronic devices they are intended
to operate.
Until such time that a less restrictive policy can be implemented
consistent with international standards, and in accordance with UPU
Convention, lithium batteries are not permitted in international mail.
The UPU Convention and regulations are consistent with the ICAO
Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air
(Technical Instructions). The Technical Instructions concerning the
Transport of Dangerous Goods by Post do not permit ``dangerous goods''
as defined by the ICAO Technical Instructions in international mail.
Currently, the only exceptions to this general prohibition relate to
certain medical materials, infectious substances and radioactive
materials when they are treated in accordance with additional
requirements listed in the Technical Instructions. Lithium-ion cells
and lithium metal batteries are listed in the Technical Instructions as
Class 9 Miscellaneous Dangerous Goods. The prohibition on mailing
lithium batteries and cells internationally also applies to mail sent
by commercial air transportation to and from an APO, FPO, or DPO
location.
This final rule describes the prohibitions established for
mailpieces containing lithium metal or lithium-ion cells or batteries
and applies regardless of quantity, size, watt hours, and whether the
cells or batteries are packed in equipment, with equipment, or without
equipment.
The Postal Service will also make parallel changes to other USPS
publications that make reference to the mailing lithium batteries such
as Publication 52, Hazardous, Restricted, and Perishable Mail.
The Postal Service hereby adopts the following changes to Mailing
Standards of the United States Postal Service, International Mail
Manual (IMM),
[[Page 28489]]
which is incorporated by reference in the Code of Federal Regulations.
See 39 CFR 20.1.
List of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 20
Foreign relations, International postal services.
Accordingly, 39 CFR part 20 is amended to read as follows:
PART 20--[AMENDED]
0
1. The authority citation for 39 CFR part 20 is revised to read as
follows:
Authority: 5 U.S.C. 552(a); 13 U.S.C. 301-307; 18 U.S.C. 1692-
1737; 39 U.S.C. 101, 401, 403, 404, 407, 414, 416, 3001-3011, 3201-
3219, 3403-3406, 3621, 3622, 3626, 3632, 3633, and 5001.
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2. Revise the following sections of Mailing Standards of the United
States Postal Service, International Mail Manual (IMM), as follows:
Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, International
Mail Manual (IMM)
1 International Mail Services
* * * * *
130 Mailability
* * * * *
136 Nonmailable Goods
136.1 Dangerous Goods
[Revise the introduction to 136.1 and insert a new item i to read
as follows:] Except as provided in IMM 135, ``dangerous goods'' as
defined by the United Nations Recommendations on the Transport of
Dangerous Goods, Model Regulations, are prohibited in outbound
international mail, regardless of mail class. Some examples of
dangerous goods include:
* * * * *
i. Primary lithium metal or lithium alloy (non-rechargeable) cells
and batteries, or secondary lithium-ion cells and batteries
(rechargeable), regardless of quantity, size, watt hours, and
regardless of whether the cells or batteries are packed in the
equipment they are intended to operate, with the equipment they are
intended to operate, or without equipment (individual batteries). This
standard applies to all APO, FPO, or DPO locations.
Additional information can be obtained at http://www.unece.org/trans/danger/danger.html.
* * * * *
We will publish an amendment to 39 CFR part 20 to reflect these
changes.
Stanley F. Mires,
Attorney, Legal Policy & Legislative Advice.
[FR Doc. 2012-11483 Filed 5-14-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P