OCTOBER DMM Advisory
Pricing and Classification keeping you informed about the prices and mailing standards of the United States Postal Service
October DMM Update
Postal Explorer (pe.usps.com) is your source for up-to-date mailing standards. The Domestic Mail Manual is fully searchable on Postal Explorer and features fly-out menus, cross-reference links, and an extensive subject index. Today we updated our mailing standards to capture the following changes:
Combined Mailings of Standard Mail and Package Services Parcels
Mailers preparing Standard Mail and Package Services parcels (including Not Flat-Machinable pieces) have new options to create combined mailings. The new standards provide more opportunities to combine mailings, encourage drop shipping, and better align mail preparation with our processing capabilities. We revised 443.5.0, 453.3.0, 463.4.0, 473.3.0, and 483.3.0 and added new section 705.20.0.
Lithium Batteries
We added 601.10.20 and revised 601.11.17 to allow small consumer-type lithium batteries in the mail when properly packaged and labeled. Lithium batteries other than these are still nonmailable.
Sharps Waste and Other Regulated Medical Waste
We revised 601.10.17.5 to allow mailers to use larger containers to mail medical waste to disposal sites. The new standards allow a maximum of 35 pounds for packages approved as "Medical Professional Packaging."
Periodicals Preparation
We revised 705.8.9.3 and 707.20.4 to allow 40-pound bundles of carrier route and 5-digit Periodicals flat-size mail on destination delivery unit pallets, and to require green lids on all trays of Periodicals flat-size mail.
OneCode ACS
We revised 507.3.0 to provide new Intelligent Mail technology service options for participating Address Change Service (ACS) mailers. In addition to traditional ACS options, mailers may use OneCode ACS with Standard Mail letters and flat-size mailpieces. We also are extending OneCode ACS to add the Change Service Requested service option for First-Class Mail letters.
Special Postage Payment Systems
We revised 604.9.4 and 705.2.0 through 5.0 to simplify our standards for special postage payment systems and to provide a more direct appeal process.
Labeling Lists
We revised the labeling lists to reflect changes in mail processing operations.
Our next scheduled DMM update is November 8.
The Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) is available on Postal Explorer (pe.usps.com). To subscribe to the DMM Advisory, send an e-mail to dmmadvisory@usps.com. Simply indicate "subscribe" in the subject line.