[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 90 (Wednesday, May 10, 2023)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 30068-30069]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-09939]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

POSTAL SERVICE

39 CFR Part 111


Custom Declaration Exceptions

AGENCY: Postal ServiceTM.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Postal Service proposes amending Mailing Standards of the 
United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM[supreg]) in 
various subsections to remove the ``known mailer'' and ``official 
mail'' exceptions for customs declarations for mail to or from overseas 
military and diplomatic post office addresses.

DATES: Submit comments on or before June 9, 2023.

ADDRESSES: Mail or deliver written comments to the Director, Product 
Classification, U.S. Postal Service, 475 L'Enfant Plaza SW, Room 4446, 
Washington, DC 20260-5015. If sending comments by email, include the 
name and address of the commenter and send to 
[email protected], with a subject line of ``DMM Custom 
Declaration Exceptions''. Faxed comments will not be accepted.

Confidentiality

    All submitted comments and attachments are part of the public 
record and subject to disclosure. Do not enclose any material in your 
comments that you consider confidential or inappropriate for public 
disclosure.
    You may inspect and photocopy all written comments, by appointment 
only, at USPS[supreg] Headquarters Library, 475 L'Enfant Plaza SW, 11th 
Floor North, Washington, DC 20260. These records are available for 
review Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., by calling 202-268-2906.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Vlad Spanu at (202) 268-4180 or Kathy 
Frigo at (202) 268-4178.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Postal Service proposes removing 
subsection 703.2.3.9, Customs Declarations--Exceptions, to help align 
postal regulations with current customs policy.
    The Postal Service also proposes making minor revisions to the text 
in subsections 608.2.4.4 and 703.2.3.8 to align with the removal of 
subsection 703.2.3.9.
    Associated revisions to the IMM will be published separately.
    Although exempt from the notice and comment requirements of the 
Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 553(b), (c)) regarding proposed 
rulemaking by 39 U.S.C. 410(a), the Postal Service invites public 
comment on the following proposed revisions to Mailing Standards of the 
United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM), incorporated 
by reference in the Code of Federal Regulations. See 39 CFR 111.1.
    We will publish an appropriate amendment to 39 CFR part 111 to 
reflect these changes.

List of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 111

    Administrative practice and procedure, Postal Service.

    Accordingly, 39 CFR part 111 is proposed to be amended as follows:

PART 111--[AMENDED]

0
1. The authority citation for 39 CFR part 111 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, 401-404, 414, 416, 3001-3018, 3201-3220, 3401-
3406, 3621, 3622, 3626, 3629, 3631-3633, 3641, 3681-3685, and 5001.

0
2. Revise the Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, 
Domestic Mail (DMM) as follows:

Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail 
Manual (DMM)

* * * * *

600 Basic Standards for All Mailing Services

* * * * *

608 Postal Information and Resources

* * * * *

2.0 Domestic Mail

* * * * *

2.4 Customs Forms Required

* * * * *

2.4.4 Overseas Military Mail

    [Revise the text of 2.4.4 to read as follows:]
    For determining customs declarations' required usage when mailing 
to or from APO, FPO, or DPO addresses, see 703.2.3.6 through 703.2.3.8.
* * * * *

700 Special Standards

* * * * *

703 Nonprofit USPS Marketing Mail and Other Unique Eligibility

* * * * *

2.0 Overseas Military and Diplomatic Post Office Mail

* * * * *

2.3 General Restrictions

* * * * *

[[Page 30069]]

2.3.8 Customs Declarations--Required Usage

    [Revise the introductory text of 2.3.8 to read as follows:]
    In accord with the procedures provided in 2.3.6, customs 
declarations forms required for use on shipments to or from APO/FPO/DPO 
locations are as follows:
    [Revise the text of item a. to read as follows:]
    a. Priority Mail Express mailpieces addressed to or from an APO, 
FPO, or DPO location must bear a properly completed computer-generated 
PS Form 2976-B, Priority Mail Express International Shipping Label and 
Customs Form, regardless of weight, value, or contents.
    [Revise the introductory text of item b. to read as follows:]
    b. All other mailpieces addressed to or from an APO, FPO, or DPO 
location must bear a properly completed computer-generated PS Form 
2976, Customs Declaration CN22--Sender's Declaration, or, if the 
customer prefers, a properly completed computer-generated PS Form 2976-
A, Customs Declaration and Dispatch Note--CP 72, if either of the 
following conditions apply:
* * * * *
    [Delete 2.3.9 in its entirely and renumber current 2.3.10 through 
2.3.13 as 2.3.9 through 2.3.12.]
* * * * *

Tram T. Pham,
Attorney, Ethics and Legal Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2023-09939 Filed 5-9-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P