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U.S. POSTAL SERVICE ACCEPTANCE OF LITHIUM BATTERIES
The Postal Service has worked collaboratively with the International Civil Aviation Organization, the Universal Postal Union and the Federal Aviation Authority to secure the changes needed to allow international mail shipments containing lithium batteries to begin.
Effective Nov. 15, 2012, Postal Service policies will be changed to allow specific quantities of lithium batteries — when installed in the equipment they are intended to operate — to be sent to many international destinations, including APO (Army Post Office), FPO (Fleet Post Office) and DPO (Diplomatic Post Office) locations when permitted by the destination or host country.
Items which can be shipped may include: cameras, video cameras, mobile/smart phones, Bluetooth headsets, laptop computers, shavers, portable DVD players, tablets, two-way radios, GPS devices and most other small electronic devices requiring lithium batteries to operate.
Items which cannot be shipped include any lithium batteries not installed in the equipment they are intended to operate. In addition, when installed, they may not exceed the quantity or limits defined in the IMM or DMM.
Domestic shipments of packages containing lithium batteries, and electronic devices containing lithium batteries currently remain unchanged.
Post Office employees are being instructed on package acceptance and customs label declaration procedures.
Currently, U.S. customers may not take international and APO, FPO, DPO mail containing lithium batteries to Village Post Offices (VPOs), Contract Postal Units (CPUs), Commercial Mail Receiving Agents (CMRAs) or Approved Shippers.
The Postal Service is working to make package shipping more and more convenient at the Post Office that’s always open, 24/7, usps.com to ship holiday care packages without ever having to leave the comfort of home or office.
The Postal Service appreciates our customers’ valuable business, and thanks them for their patience and flexibility during the transition to allow the re-instatement of lithium battery shipments.
This change presents an enhancement and convenience for our customers. We are pleased that customers maintain their confidence in the Postal Service and we look forward to continuing to be a shipper of choice for international and APO, FPO, DPO shipments containing lithium batteries.
For Update News from US Postal Service, please go to: http://about.usps.com/news/service-alerts/international-updates.htm
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