Effective July 1, 2009 the Universal Postal Union (UPU) is going to require that all “packets” and “parcels” bear a customs form – regardless of value or contents.

To quote the United States Postal Service (USPS):

“The USPS is revising Mailing Standards, International Mail Manual (IMM) part 123 and sections 217.3, 232.4, 244.5, and 276 to comply with Article RL 152.5 of the UPU Letter Post Regulations. Under that provision, all small packet items must bear customs declarations CN 22 (PS Form 2976) or CN 23 (PS Form 2976-A), depending on value and regardless of whether the items are ordinarily subject to customs control in the destination country. Small packets are Letter Post items that are not letters, cards, or flats, and that typically contain merchandise or other goods.

In terms of USPS products, the small packet category includes package-size First Class Mail International items and the Priority Mail Small Flat-Rate Box, as well as certain Priority Mail Flat-Rate Envelopes meeting specific physical characteristics. We clarify that all such items, regardless of contents or value, must bear a PS Form 2976, Customs Declaration CN 22 Sender’s Declaration. Current Postal Service standards only require a customs declaration for package size First Class Mail International items that contain potentially dutiable contents.

This change also applies to “known mailers” (International Mail Service, Inc.), as defined in IMM 123.62, who send documents weighing 16 ounces or more. With these revisions, only mail pieces that meet the physical characteristic of a letter or flat may qualify (to go without customs declaration) – small packet items must bear a PS Form 2976. “

Basically, any package with dimension(s) over the maximum size for a “Flat” (15” length x 12” height x 3/4” thickness) will require a customs form regardless of value or contents. Note that currently, we can send packages of non-dutiable printed matter to 4 pounds with no customs declarations.

IMS will offer affordable options to either fill out and affix the customs forms or supply you with preprinted, self-adhesive forms that you can affix yourselves. Please let us know if you are interested in learning more about the options.

Tags: International Addressing Guidelines, International Mailing Requirements

This entry was posted on Monday, January 11th, 2010 at 11:09 am by intlmailserv and is filed under Mail Preparation. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.