Federal Register, Volume 84 Issue 28 (Monday, February 11, 2019)

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 28 (Monday, February 11, 2019)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 3107-3108]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-01669]


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POSTAL SERVICE

39 CFR Part 20


International Mailing Services: Mailing Services Product and 
Price Changes--CPI

AGENCY: Postal Service^TM.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: On October 17, 2018, the Postal Service published proposed 
product and price changes to reflect a notice of price adjustments 
filed with the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC). The PRC found that 
price adjustments contained in the Postal Service's notice could go 
into effect on January 27, 2019. The Postal Service has revised Notice 
123, Price List to reflect the new prices and Mailing Standards of the 
United States Postal Service, International Mail Manual (IMM[supreg]) 
to reflect the product changes.

DATES: Effective February 11, 2019.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paula Rabkin at 202-268-2537.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Proposed Rule and Response

    On October 10, 2018, the Postal Service filed a notice with the PRC 
in Docket No. R2019-1 of mailing services price adjustments, effective 
on January 27, 2019. On October 27, 2018, the USPS[supreg] published a 
notice of proposed product and price changes in the Federal Register 
entitled ``International Mailing Services: Proposed Product and Price 
Changes--CPI'' (83 FR 52351). The notice included price changes that 
the Postal Service would adopt for products and services covered by 
Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, International 
Mail Manual (IMM[supreg]) and publish in Notice 123, Price List, on 
Postal Explorer[supreg] at https://pe.usps.com. The Postal Service 
received no comments.
    By notice filed on October 10, 2018, in PRC Docket No. MC2019-4, 
the Postal Service proposed to update country names throughout mailing 
standards, changing Great Britain and Northern Ireland to United 
Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and changing Swaziland to 
Eswatini.
    In its proposed rule, the Postal Service also took notice that on 
October 10, 2018, we had filed a notice with the PRC in Docket No. 
MC2019-3. In that filing we proposed a change in the maximum weight 
limit for First-Class Mail International (FCMI) large envelopes (flats) 
to 15.994 ounces, in lieu of the current 64 ounce limit. This change 
would more closely align the Postal Service's definition of FCMI large 
envelopes (flats) with the Universal Postal Union Convention's 
definition, which allows a maximum weight of 500 grams (17.6 ounces) 
for flat-shaped letter post items. A mailpiece weighing 16 ounces or 
more that is presented as an FCMI large envelope (flat) would be 
charged the applicable First-Class Package International 
Service[supreg] price. Alternatively, the mailer could elect to use 
another class of mail such as Priority Mail Express 
International[supreg] or Priority Mail International[supreg], if the 
mailpiece meets the requirements for those mail classes.

II. Decision of the Postal Regulatory Commission

    As stated in the PRC's Order No. 4875, issued on November 13, 2018, 
the PRC found that the prices in the Postal Service's notice in Docket 
No. R2019-1 may go into effect on January 27, 2019. The new prices are 
now posted in Notice 123, on Postal Explorer at https://pe.usps.com. 
The Postal Service published notice of the new prices in the article 
titled ``International Mail: Changes to Pricing for International 
Mailing Services,'' in Postal Bulletin 22509 (12-20-18), page 48, 
available at http://about.usps.com/postal-bulletin/2018/pb22509/pb22509.pdf.
    Also, as stated in the PRC's Order No. 4918, the Commission 
approved the name changes for the United Kingdom of Great Britain, 
Northern Ireland, and Eswatini. These changes are also posted in the 
January 27, 2019, revision of the IMM on Postal Explorer at https://pe.usps.com. The Postal Service published notice of both of these 
changes in the Postal Bulletin on December 20, 2018. See ``IMM 
Revision: Great Britain and Northern Ireland Name Change,'' Postal 
Bulletin 22509 (12-20-18), pages 17-19, available at http://about.usps.com/postal-bulletin/2018/pb22509/pb22509.pdf; see also ``IMM 
Revision: Swaziland Name Change,'' Postal Bulletin 22509 (12-20-18), 
pages 20-21, available at http://about.usps.com/postal-bulletin/2018/pb22509/pb22509.pdf.
    Because the proposed change to FCMI large envelopes (flats) upper 
weight limit that was the subject of Docket No. MC2019-3 was pending at 
the time the PRC was scheduled to complete its review in Docket No. 
R2019-1, the PRC issued an interim order in Docket No. R2019-1. That 
interim order required the Postal Service to revise its filing in the 
R2019-1 docket so that the Postal Service's proposed changes in the 
R2019-1 docket would not include the proposed revision in the FCMI 
large envelopes (flats) maximum weight limitation. See PRC Order No. 
4859, Interim Order Relating to Outbound Single-Piece First-Class Mail 
International Flats, Docket No. R2019-1, October 19, 2018. The PRC 
subsequently approved the updated weight limitation for FCMI large 
envelopes (flats) in Order No. 4932, issued December 19, 2018. The 
Postal Service will announce an implementation date for the revised 
FCMI large envelopes (flats) maximum weight limitation sometime after 
the January 27, 2019, price change.

List of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 20

    Foreign relations, International postal services.

    Accordingly, for the reasons stated, the Postal Service has adopted 
the following changes to Mailing Standards of the United States Postal 
Service, International Mail Manual (IMM[supreg]),

[[Page 3108]]

which is incorporated by reference in the Code of Federal Regulations 
in accordance with 39 CFR 20.1, along with associated changes to Notice 
123, Price List.

PART 20--[AMENDED]

0
1. The authority citation for 39 CFR Part 20 continues 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.


0
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)

* * * * *
    [Throughout the IMM, change all references to ``Great Britain and 
Northern Ireland'' to ``United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern 
Ireland'' or to ``United Kingdom'' where the shorter form is 
appropriate and place them in the correct alphabetical order in lists. 
Revised sections include 213.5, 292.45, and 293.45; the Index of 
Countries and Localities; the Country Price Groups and Weight Limits; 
and the Individual Country Listings, plus minor applicable revisions 
throughout the IMM.]
    [Throughout the IMM, change all references to ``Swaziland'' to 
``Eswatini'' and place them in the correct alphabetical order in lists. 
Revised sections include sections 213.5, 292.45a, and 322.2; the Index 
of Countries and Localities; the Country Price Groups and Weight 
Limits; and the Individual Country Listings.]

Ruth Stevenson,
Attorney, Federal Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2019-01669 Filed 2-8-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P