[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 62 (Thursday, April 2, 2009)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 14932-14933]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-7373]


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POSTAL SERVICE

39 CFR PART 20


International Inbound Registered Mail Procedures

AGENCY: Postal Service<SUP>TM</SUP>.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Postal Service has adopted different processing procedures 
for inbound international Registered Mail<SUP>TM</SUP>; after it is 
received at an International Service Center.

DATES: Effective Date: June 1, 2009.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Margaret M. Falwell, 703-292-3576.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Inbound international Registered Mail 
entering the United States through the United States Postal 
Service[supreg] International Service Centers is offered in conformity 
with international agreements of the Universal Postal Union (UPU), U.S. 
law and the regulations of the United States Postal Service 
(USPS[supreg] or Postal Service). The UPU agreement requires

[[Page 14933]]

verification upon receipt, processing through a secure mail system, and 
signature upon delivery. For these services, in addition to terminal 
dues, the delivering postal operator is provided a set amount in 
compensation from the originating postal operator, regardless of the 
cost of the delivery process. The Postal Service is not authorized to 
charge a premium for the delivery of these items to the addressee.
    Through the December 20, 2006, enactment of the Postal 
Accountability and Enhancement Act (PAEA), Congress fundamentally 
changed the Postal Service's business model by converting it from one 
based on an expectation that it would break-even over time, to a more 
commercially competitive, profit-making model. This change requires the 
Postal Service to review all of its services in an effort to better 
align costs and revenues, while at the same time ensuring the security 
of the mail.
    Domestic Registered Mail is handled in a separate hand-to-hand 
labor-intensive process from point of acceptance to delivery. The 
domestic Registered Mail fees are set by the Postal Service and are 
based on the stated value of the item, for which insurance is provided 
in the fee, up to $25,000. These fees take into account the labor and 
processing costs required to accept, process and deliver this mail.
    In contrast, inbound international Registered Mail is defined by 
the UPU's agreement, which limits the compensation the Postal Service 
receives for providing the service and also limits the indemnity 
available to customers. The UPU agreement does not require hand-to-hand 
processing. Inbound international Registered Mail, therefore, will no 
longer be handled in the domestic Registered Mail system.
    International senders of Registered Mail will continue to receive 
the features that distinguish this service. The Postal Service will 
verify the receipt of Registered Mail to the originating postal 
administration. A signature will be obtained at the time of delivery in 
accordance with domestic regulations governing the delivery of 
accountable mail. The sender also will have access to the inquiry 
process and may receive indemnity based on UPU limits for loss, damage 
or missing contents. Customers will also benefit from the high security 
of the domestic First-Class Mail[supreg] mailstream, which is protected 
by the United States Postal Inspection Service[supreg] and the United 
States Postal Service Office of Inspector General. The Postal Service 
anticipates improved service as well as cost savings as a result of 
this change to its operational handling of inbound international 
Registered Mail items.
    The Postal Service hereby adopts the following changes to Mailing 
Standards of the United States Postal Service, International Mail 
Manual (IMM), 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.

0
Accordingly, 39 CFR part 20 is amended as follows:

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); 39 U.S.C. 401, 404, 407, 408, 3622, 
3632, and 3633.


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2. Revise the following sections of Mailing Standards of the United 
States Postal Service, International Mail Manual (IMM) to read as 
follows:

Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, International 
Mail Manual (IMM)

* * * * *

7 Treatment of Inbound Mail

* * * * *

750 Extra Services

* * * * *

752 Registered Mail

752.1 Identification

* * * * *
    [Revise 752.13 to read as follows:]

752.13 Treatment of Registered Items

    All mail registered by the country of origin must be handled in the 
domestic First-Class Mail mailstream from the exchange office to the 
office of delivery. A signed delivery receipt must be obtained at the 
time of delivery.
* * * * *

Stanley F. Mires,
Chief Counsel, Legislative.
 [FR Doc. E9-7373 Filed 4-1-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P