International Mailing Services: Mailing Services Product and Price Changes-CPI
| Published date | 11 February 2019 |
| Citation | 84 FR 3107 |
| Record Number | 2019-01669 |
| Section | Rules and Regulations |
| Court | Postal Service |
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 ServiceTM.
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
