Search Results for agency_names:"Postal Service"

The Postal Service has established new rules for packaging hazardous materials in mail, aiming to improve safety and reduce incidents. These changes include requiring specific rigid outer packaging for hazardous shipments and removing quantity restrictions for certain nonregulated toxic materials. Additionally, they align with the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration's decision by removing the telephone number requirement from the lithium battery mark. The rule aims to reduce complexity and maintain clarity while ensuring the safety of postal employees and customers.

The Postal Service has issued an interim final rule to adjust the penalties for certain offenses under postal regulations, as required by federal law. These adjustments account for inflation and apply to civil monetary penalties related to consumer protection, deceptive mail practices, false representations, and hazardous materials. The changes impact various penalties, including those for using mail to make false claims, conducting lotteries, and mailing hazardous materials, with new penalty amounts specified for each type of violation. These updates ensure that penalties remain effective as deterrents.

The United States Postal Service (USPS) is making changes to the service standards for certain types of mail, including First-Class Mail, Periodicals, USPS Marketing Mail, and Package Services. These new standards aim to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance service reliability as part of the USPS's "Delivering for America" plan. The changes will be implemented in phases starting April 1, 2025, with a focus on better aligning mail processing and transportation to make the service more reliable and cost-effective. Despite some criticism, USPS asserts that the revisions will result in overall faster service for many mail types and improve the postal network's long-term sustainability.

The Postal Service has updated its regulations to adjust civil monetary penalties according to inflation. These adjustments, required by law, affect penalties related to deceptive mail practices, false claims, and the mailing of hazardous materials. The changes will take effect on January 17, 2025, and include specific increases in penalty amounts for various violations, ensuring they remain effective deterrents. The adjustments follow detailed guidelines provided by the Office of Management and Budget.

The Postal Service has updated the Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, International Mail Manual (IMM), and its Price List to adjust prices for various international mailing services. This comes following approval by the Postal Regulatory Commission. The changes affect services like Priority Mail Express International, Priority Mail International, and First-Class Package International Service, with an average price increase of 4.9% for many services. Additionally, the Postal Service is modifying some country group assignments and foreign office exchange codes, particularly for destinations like St. Pierre and Miquelon.

The Postal Service has proposed changes to the international mailing service prices, as outlined in Notice 123, Price List. These updates come alongside recent adjustments in mailing service prices, set to take effect on July 13, 2025. The price changes will affect First-Class Mail International and certain international extra services, such as Registered Mail and Return Receipt. Comments on the proposed changes can be submitted until May 19, 2025.