USPS updates Hazmat postal regulations
On November 30, 2022, the United States Postal Service (USPS) published a final rule to amend Publication 52, standards for Hazardous, Restricted, and Perishable mail. The rule requires mailers to separate hazardous materials packages from other mail. Also, the USPS is imposing additional restrictions for mailing used, damaged, or defective electronic devices containing lithium batteries. Compliance with the final rule became mandatory on December 1, 2022.
Separation of mail containing hazmat
To keep customers and employees safe from hazmat incidents, the USPS needs to be aware of hazmat shipments to give them the appropriate attention. Packages containing hazmat can easily evade hazmat processing procedures if they are in bulk mail receptacles with non-hazardous mail. To address this issue, the final rule requires anyone mailing hazardous materials to present them separately from non-hazardous materials. This includes mailers that use mail bins or baskets, the hazmat items must be in a separate bin or basket from other items.
New lithium battery marking requirements
In addition to markings and labels already required for hazardous materials sent through the mail system, USPS now requires shippers of used, damaged, or defective electronic devices containing or packaged with lithium batteries to mark packages with the following statements:
- “Restricted Electronic Device”
- “Surface Transportation Only”
The markings must be located on the address side of the package.
The markings listed above are not required for new lithium batteries in their original packaging or lithium batteries that have been certified as new/refurbished.
Reasoning for the rulemaking
Online shopping has skyrocketed over the past few years, which includes sites like Facebook Marketplace, eBay, and Etsy. With the increase in online shopping, packages sent through the mail system have increased as well. Unfortunately, the USPS and its partners are seeing a consistent and alarming rise in incidents involving mailed packages of lithium batteries and other hazmat.
Additionally, the USPS mentions incidents where hazardous materials that are not labeled, improperly labeled, and air-ineligible are being improperly accepted onto aircraft. By adding these new requirements into Publication 52, the USPS hopes to prevent hazardous materials from being mishandled or erroneously loaded onto an aircraft.
Applicability
This final rule only applies to hazardous materials being shipped or mailed through the USPS mail system. The USPS has its own regulations for hazmat, Publication 52, which is separate from the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administrations, Hazardous Materials Regulations.
Key to remember
The USPS published a final rule which requires mailers to separate hazmat and non-hazmat mail. The final rule also requires additional marking requirements for used, damaged, or defective lithium battery packages. Mandatory compliance for the new requirements began on December 1, 2022.