International Mail Manual: Priority Mail Global Guaranteed; enhanced expedited service from selected U.S. locations to selected European countries,

[Federal Register: April 19, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 74)]

[Rules and Regulations]

[Page 19039-19042]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr19ap99-6]

POSTAL SERVICE

39 CFR Part 20

Priority Mail Global Guaranteed

AGENCY: Postal Service.

ACTION: Interim rule with request for comment.

SUMMARY: The Postal Service, through an alliance with DHL Worldwide Express Inc., is offering an enhanced expedited service from selected locations in the United States to selected countries in Europe. This service will offer day-certain delivery with a postage refund guarantee for allowable contents.

DATES: Effective Date: April 19, 1999. Comments on the interim rule must be received on or before May 19, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be mailed or delivered to the Manager, Pricing, Costing, and Classification, International Business Unit, U.S. Postal Service, 475 L'Enfant Plaza, SW, Room 370-IBU, Washington, DC 20260-6500. Copies of all written comments will be available for public inspection between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through

[[Page 19040]]

Friday, in the International Business Unit, 10th Floor, 901 D Street SW, Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Walter J. Grandjean, (202) 314-7256.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The U.S. Postal Service, through an alliance with DHL Worldwide Express Inc., is offering an enhanced expedited service, Priority Mail Global Guaranteed, from selected locations in the United States to selected countries in Europe. This service offers day-certain delivery with a postage refund guarantee and document reconstruction coverage of $100 for allowable contents.

Service will be available from selected metropolitan areas to selected European countries. Mail is accepted at U.S. post offices and transported by the Postal Service to a designated location where it is tendered to its agent DHL Worldwide Express Inc., for transportation overseas, clearance through foreign commercial customs, and final delivery to the addressee.

Priority Mail Global Guaranteed offers day-certain delivery with 2- business day delivery to most destinations and day-specific guarantee to all other locations. If items are not delivered or available for delivery by the specified time, the mailer is entitled to a refund of the postage paid. Document reconstruction up to $100 is provided in the case of loss of, or damage to the shipment. Track and trace service and confirmation of delivery are available for shipments by calling 1-800- 222-1811 or on the Internet at http://www.usps.com.

Although the Postal Service is exempted by 39 U.S.C. 410(a) from the advance notice requirements of the Administrative Procedure Act regarding proposed rulemaking (5 U.S.C. 553), the Postal Service invites public comment at the above address.

The Postal Service is amending Chapter 2, Conditions for Mailing, International Mail Manual, which is incorporated by reference in the Code of Federal Regulations. See 39 CFR 20.1.

The Postal Service adopts the following amendments to the International Mail Manual, 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 service.

PART 20--[AMENDED]

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.

2. Chapter 2 of the International Mail Manual is amended as follows: 2 CONDITIONS FOR MAILING * * * * *

   210 Express Mail International Service

   * * * * *

   215 Priority Mail Global Guaranteed

   215.1 Description

   215.11 General

   Priority Mail Global Guaranteed is an international expedited delivery service provided through an alliance with DHL Worldwide Express Inc. It provides reliable, high-speed, guaranteed, and time- definite service from certain post offices in the United States to a select number of international destinations. Service is guaranteed to meet service standards or postage is refunded. If a mail shipment is lost or damaged, liability is limited to a maximum of $100 for document reconstruction. 215.12 Allowable Contents

   Only non-dutiable, general correspondence is mailable in Priority Mail Global Guaranteed service. Items may not contain merchandise, any dutiable item, or any item prohibited by the destination country. Refer to the Priority Mail Global Guaranteed Service Guide for the definition of allowable contents for each destination country. Mailers are responsible for determining if their item is allowable despite any statement made in the Priority Mail Global Guaranteed Service Guide or by a postal employee.

   215.2 Service Standards

   215.21 Two-Day Service

   Service is available from the offices listed in 215.31 to destinations listed as 2-day destinations in the Priority Mail Global Guaranteed Service Guide within 2 business days (Monday through Friday, except holidays in the United States and the destination) as follows:

   Acceptance day

   Delivery day

   Monday..................................... Wednesday. Tuesday.................................... Thursday. Wednesday.................................. Friday. Thursday................................... Monday. Friday..................................... Monday. Saturday................................... Tuesday. Sunday..................................... Wednesday.

   215.22 Other Locations

   There is a day-specific guarantee to all other locations within the destination countries and territories. See the Priority Mail Global Guaranteed Service Guide for location specific guarantee.

   215.3 Service Areas

   215.31 Origins

   Priority Mail Global Guaranteed service is available only from the following post offices:

   Metropolitan Area

   ZIP Code

   Arizona, Phoenix............................ 850, 852-853. California, San Francisco/San Jose.......... 937, 939-941, 943-944, 949-951, 954. District of Columbia, Washington............ 200-203, 206-209, 220-223. Florida, Miami.............................. 330-333. Illinois, Chicago........................... 600-608, 610-611. Massachusetts, Boston....................... 014-031, 033, 038-039, 041, 068-069. Minnesota, Minneapolis...................... 550-551, 553-554, 558-559. New York, New York.......................... 100-101, 103-119, 124-127. North Carolina, Charlotte................... 280-282, 286, 297. Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.................. 190-191, 194, 197-199. Texas, Houston.............................. 770, 772-773, 776-778.

   215.32 Destinations

   Service is available only to the following countries and territories:

   Austria Belgium Denmark Finland France Germany Gibraltar Great Britain and Northern Ireland

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   Ireland Italy Liechtenstein Luxembourg Monaco Netherlands Norway Portugal Spain Sweden Switzerland

   215.4 Service Guarantee

   The Postal Services guarantees delivery within the service standards specified in the Priority Mail Global Guaranteed Service Guide or the sender is entitled to a full refund of the postage paid. For the purpose of the service guarantee, the date and time of delivery, attempted delivery, or availability for delivery constitutes delivery.

   215.5 Inquiries, Postage Refunds, and Indemnity Claims

   215.51 Extent of Postal Service Liability for Lost or Damaged Contents

   Liability for a lost or damaged shipment is limited to the lowest of the following:

   1. $100.

   2. The actual amount of the loss or damage.

   3. The actual value of the contents.

      215.52 Inquiries

      Inquiries concerning the delivery of Priority Mail Global Guaranteed items are made by calling 1-800-222-1811 or through the Internet at http://www.usps.com.

      215.53 Postage Refunds

      Postage is refunded if a shipment mailed at a designated post office before the specified deposit time is not delivered or delivery is not attempted in accordance with the guarantee standards in the Priority Mail Global Guaranteed Service Guide before 5 p.m. local time in the delivery location. Requests for postage refunds are made by contacting a customer service representative at 1-800-222-1811 for more details on how to file a claim. The original receipt of the Priority Mail Global Guaranteed label may be required with a claim for a postage refund or document reconstruction. Requests for postage refunds or document reconstruction must be made no later than 30 days from the date of mailing.

      215.6 Postage

      215.61 Rates

      Weight not over lbs.

      Rate

      0.5........................................................ $23.00 1..........................................................

      31.00 2..........................................................

      31.00 3..........................................................

      50.00 4..........................................................

      57.00 5..........................................................

      63.00 6..........................................................

      68.00 7..........................................................

      73.00 8..........................................................

      78.00 9..........................................................

      82.00 10.........................................................

      87.00 11.........................................................

      90.00 12.........................................................

      94.00 13.........................................................

      97.00 14.........................................................

      99.00 15......................................................... 104.00 16......................................................... 107.00 17......................................................... 110.00 18......................................................... 114.00 19......................................................... 117.00 20......................................................... 121.00 22......................................................... 128.00 23......................................................... 131.00 24......................................................... 134.00 25......................................................... 138.00 26......................................................... 141.00 27......................................................... 145.00 28......................................................... 148.00 29......................................................... 151.00 30......................................................... 155.00 31......................................................... 158.00 32......................................................... 162.00 33......................................................... 166.00 34......................................................... 169.00 35......................................................... 173.00 36......................................................... 176.00 37......................................................... 180.00 38......................................................... 183.00 39......................................................... 186.00 40......................................................... 190.00 41......................................................... 193.00 42......................................................... 197.00 43......................................................... 199.00 44......................................................... 203.00 45......................................................... 207.00 46......................................................... 210.00 47......................................................... 214.00 48......................................................... 217.00 49......................................................... 220.00 50......................................................... 224.00 51......................................................... 228.00 52......................................................... 230.00 53......................................................... 235.00 54......................................................... 237.00 55......................................................... 241.00 56......................................................... 244.00 57......................................................... 248.00 58......................................................... 251.00 59......................................................... 255.00 60......................................................... 257.00 61......................................................... 262.00 62.........................................................

      264 63......................................................... 268.00 64......................................................... 271.00 65......................................................... 275.00 66......................................................... 277.00 67......................................................... 282.00 68......................................................... 284.00 69......................................................... 290.00 70......................................................... 291.00

      215.62 Payment of Postage

      215.621 Methods of Payment

      Priority Mail Global Guaranteed items may be paid by postage stamps, postage validation imprinter (PVI) labels, or postage meter stamps.

      215.623 Mailings Made by Federal Government Agencies

      Postage and Fees Paid indicia may be used by federal agencies entitled to use the indicia. Penalty indicia may be used for official mail of the U.S. Postal Service.

      215.7 Weight and Size Limits

      215.71 Weight Limits

      The maximum weight is 70 pounds.

      215.72 Size Limits

      215.721 Minimum Size

      Items must be large enough to affix the Priority Mail Global Guaranteed label to the face of the item, approximately 5\1/2\ inches in height and 8\1/2\ inches in length.

      215.722 Maximum Size

      Length and girth combined may not exceed 108 inches. Individual dimensions may not exceed:

      Length: 46 inches Width: 35 inches Height: 47 inches

      215.8 Preparation Requirements

      215.81 Preparation by the Sender

   1. Prepare the item as a flat or package using either the Priority Mail Global Guaranteed envelope provided by the Postal Service or mailer-supplied packaging. Mailers using their own envelope or wrapping must also affix a Priority Mail Global Guaranteed sticker (Item 107RGG3X) to the front and back of the item.

   2. Complete the Priority Mail Global Guaranteed mailing label (item 11FGG1X) to show the complete address of the sender and addressee. Items cannot be addressed to a post office box or an APO or FPO address. Complete the ``Shipment Details'' to show the contents in detail. A separate customs declaration is not used. Sign and date the mailer agreement. Affix the mailing label to the item and present it to a postal employee for mailing.

      215.82 Preparation by Acceptance Employee

   1. Check that the sender has properly completed the mailing label.

   2. Complete the postage transaction if the item is not prepaid.

   3. Complete the ``Origin'' information.

   4. Remove the customer's copy of the mailing label and give it to the

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      customer. Affix the label to the item. Affix a Priority Mail Global Guaranteed sticker (Item 107RGG3X) to the front and back of a mailer- supplied package.

      215.83 Customs Forms Required

      The mailing label contains space for the sender to declare the contents. A separate postal customs declaration is not used. * * * * *

      A transmittal letter changing the relevant pages in the International Mail Manual will be published and automatically transmitted to all subscribers. Notice of issuance of the transmittal will be published in the Federal Register as provided by 39 CFR 20.3. Stanley F. Mires, Chief Counsel, Legislative.

      [FR Doc. 99-9764Filed4-16-99; 8:45 am]

      BILLING CODE 7710-12-P