Postal Service November 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This final rule revises the requirements for authority to manufacture and distribute postage evidencing systems. This final rule includes updating the regulations, removing obsolete text, and incorporating pertinent portions of the rules for postage meters (Postage Evidencing Systems) formerly contained in section P030 of the Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) (Issue 58). This rule integrates the requirements that apply to the distribution and manufacture of PC Postage[supreg] products, a type of Postage Evidencing System. In addition, obsolete references to requirements for manually reset and mechanical meters are eliminated.

On September 11, 2006, the Board of Governors of the United States Postal Service adopted a revision to its bylaws. The purpose of this revision was to enable Postal Service management to submit relatively minor Negotiated Service Agreements (NSAs) to the Postal Rate Commission for consideration without first submitting those minor NSAs to the Postal Service Board of Governors. Consequently, the Postal Service hereby publishes this final rule.

The Postal Service is revising its mailing standards and packaging requirements for Division 6.2 infectious substances based on the criteria published by the World Health Organization. Our revised standards adopt many of the changes the Department of Transportation made to its regulations for the shipment and packaging of hazardous materials. We also harmonize our standards with the World Health Organization Guidance on Regulations for the Transport of Infectious Substances and the International Civil Aviation Organization Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air. In addition, we prohibit Category A infectious substances in the mail.