(a) Green customs label. A green customs label C 1, Form 2976, must be completed and placed by the sender on the address side of each letter or letter package containing dutiable merchandise, on each package of dutiable prints, and on each small packet. (See §§ 22.1(e), 22.3 (e) (6), and 22.5(f).) Only the upper portion of the label need be placed on the package if the sender prefers that the description of the contents not appear, on the outside, and under the conditions stated in § 21.4(b). The lower portion of the label is removed by tearing or cutting along the dotted line. The following facsimile illustrates the type of information the sender must supply when the label is used in its entirety: The label is not, under any circumstances, to be used on parcel post packages, nor are parcel post forms to be used on postal union mail articles. (b) Customs declaration. Customs declaration C 2, Form 2976-A, is used in conjunction with Customs Label 2976. The form must be enclosed in postal union mail packages whose value exceed $100, and in any case where the country concerned specifically requires it. The contents must be described in detail on the form. Descriptions of a general character are not allowed. Form 2976-A is not to be used on parcel post packages, nor are parcel post forms described in § 31.4 to be used on postal union articles. The following facsimile illustrates the type of information required on Form 2976-A: Washington (Place and date) ton, le6/23, 155 Sender: L'expéditeur: Cornelius Blatz, 7299 Takoma Avenue. NOTE-This form is to be enclosed in small packets and letter packages (not for parcel post) when the upper portion of the green customs label (Form For letters or letter packages over 20 ounces, add 21 cents per half ounce or fraction. (b) Weight limits. The weight limit for letters and letter packages to all countries except Canada is 4 pounds; for Canada, 60 pounds. (c) Dimensions—(1) Maximum dimensions. Maximum length is 24 inches. Maximum length, breadth, and thickness combined is 36 inches. When sent in the form of a roll, the length (the maximum of which may not exceed 36 inches) plus twice the diameter may not exceed 42 inches. (2) Minimum dimensions. The address side must measure at least 51⁄2 inches in length and 31⁄2 inches in width. However, envelopes measuring not less than 44 by 3 inches will be accepted until October 1, 1973. For articles in the form of a roll, the length may not be less than 4 inches, or the length plus twice the diameter may not be less than 634 inches. Articles having lesser dimensions are accepted on condition that a rectangular address tag is attached whose dimensions are not less than 4 by 24 inches. (d) Restrictions. Letters and letter packages may not contain current communications exchanged between persons other than the sender and the addressee or person living with them. (e) Merchandise in letters-(1) Dutiable merchandise. Letters or letter packages may contain merchandise which is dutiable in the country of destination unless the country is unwilling to accept such mailings. The Postal Service is not able to inform customers whether or not any items are dutiable in other countries. When mailing articles which may be dutiable, senders must comply with the provisions concerning documentation shown in § 21.4. (2) Nondutiable merchandise. Articles which the senders know are not dutiable may be mailed to countries which do not accept dutiable merchandise, but only at the risk of the senders. The U.S. Postal Service assumes no responsibility for the treatment which such articles may be given by the foreign postal or customs authorities. As the presence of the green label (Form 2976) mentioned in § 21.4(a) generally denotes dutiable contents, it should be omitted from letter-mail articles when the sender knows the contents are not dutiable. (f) Endorsement. Senders should add the words "Letter (lettre)" on the address side of letters and letter packages which, because of their size or manner of preparation, may be mistaken for matter of another class. (g) Preparation and addressing. See § 21.1. (a) Rates-(1) Surface. Canada and Mexico, 6 cents each. All other countries, 10 cents each. (2) Airmail. Canada and Mexico, 9 cents each. All other countries, 15 cents each. (3) Other rates. The letter rate (surface or air), or the surface printed matter rate if the card conforms to printed matter requirements, applies to cards exceeding 6 by 44 inches that are mailed unenclosed. (Effective October 1, 1973, such cards exceeding 6 by 44 inches will not be mailable unless enclosed in envelopes.) (b) Dimensions. Maximum dimensions, 6 by 44 inches. Minimum dimensions, 52 by 31⁄2 inches. (c) Requirements—(1) Form and marking. Post cards shall be made of cardboard that meets the material and color specifications in § 131.2(a) (2) or of paper strong enough to withstand handling. Post cards of private manufacture must bear on the front the heading Post Card, although this is not obligatory for picture post cards. (2) Preparation, addressing, and mailing. Post cards shall consist of a single card and are sent unenclosed, without wrapper or envelope. Folded cards must be mailed in envelopes. The right half, at least, of the address side of the card is reserved for the address of the addressee and the notations or labels relating to the service. The sender may use the back and the left half of the address side. Postage must appear on the address side, in the upper right corner of the card; otherwise, the card is treated as unprepaid. Undeliverable post cards are disposed of in the country of address unless they bear the name and address of the sender. (3) Attachments. Do not join or attach samples of merchandise or similar articles to post cards. However, illustrations, photographs, stamps of any kind, labels, and clippings of any kind, of paper or other very thin material, as well as address labels or slips to be folded back, may be glued thereto, on condition that they do not alter the character of the post cards and that they adhere completely to the card. These articles may be glued only on the back or left half of the address side of the card, except address slips, tabs, or labels which may occupy the entire address side. Stamps of any kind, likely to be confused with postage stamps, may be placed only on the back. (d) Reply-paid and folded cards. Reply-paid cards, as well as folded (double) cards are not accepted in international mail. § 22.3 Printed matter. (a) Postage rates (1) Surface rates. Separate rates of postage are provided for each of the following types of printed matter: (i) Regular printed matter. Regular printed matter comprises all printed matter other than books, sheet music, publishers' second-class and publishers' controlled circulation publications described in § 22.3(a) (2) (iii) and (d). The surface rates are (a) Canada and Mexico: (ii) Books and sheet music. These consist of books having 24 pages or more, at least 22 of which are printed, consisting wholly of reading matter or scholarly bibliography or reading matter with incidental blank spaces for notations and containing no advertising other than incidental announcements of books, and printed sheet music. The surface rates are (a) Argentina, Boliva, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Republic of Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela: Rate Each additional 2 pounds or fraction (weights in § 22.3(b) apply)... (b) All other countries: 18 (c) No separate rates are provided for nonprofit publications or for classroom publications. These second-class publications are subject to the rates stated in (a) and (b) above. Complete sample copies may also be mailed at those rates, whether or not the number of such sample copies exceeds 10 percent of the subscriber copies. Copies mailed by the public are subject to the regular printed matter rates stated in § 22.3(a) (1) (i). (iv) Controlled circulation publications. The rates on periodicals that are approved domestically as controlled circulation publication, when mailed by the publishers to all countries, are $0.90 1.08 1.08 Each additional 2 pounds or fraction (weights in 22.3(b) apply).. .29 (v) Direct sacks of prints for one addressee. See § 22.3 (f) (2) concerning rates of postage to be applied to the contents of direct sacks for one addressee. (2) Airmail. AO (other articles) air rates apply to all types of prints, as follows: (i) Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean islands, Bahamas, Bermuda, and St. Pierre and Miquelon. Forty cents for the first 2 ounces and 10 cents for each additional 2 ounces or fraction. |