prescribed in § 61.5(e). If the adjusting customs officer waives the duty, report the entry as an uncollected item, as prescribed in § 61.5(f) (2).

(e) If no decision on a protest is received from the customs office within 30 days request that matter be expedited. Continue to hold package until a decision is received.

(iii) Addressee may definitely refuse the package if he does not wish to pay the duty or to protest the assessment. In this case the delivery employee shall make it clear to addressee that package will be disposed of immediately as undeliverable. Employee will mark package "Refused," date and initial, and return package and entry forms to post office for disposal. (See § 61.5 (f).)

(e) Recording and reporting collections. Post offices making delivery-collection of dutiable articles will deposit the customs collections with postal funds. See Handbook F-1 for accounting and control functions, and the preparation of Form 2932, Customs Collections Summary.

(f) Uncollected items-(1) Disposal. When it is definitely established that a dutiable package is undeliverable, detach the customs mail entry forms and treat the package as prescribed in § 24.4 (for postal union articles) or in § 32.5 (b) (for parcel post). Mark the entry forms to show the reason for nondelivery and report as prescribed in § 61.5 (f) (2).

(2) Reporting. Complete Form 2933, Register of Uncollected Customs Charges, in duplicate, listing uncollected items in numerical order according to the seven-digit serial numbers on the mail entries. Forward the original form 2933, accompanied with both copies of the mail entries and the supporting Customs Forms 3342 or other statements, if any, to the Regional Commissioner of Customs, Attention: Cashier, New York, NY 10004. File duplicate of Form 2933 for reference purposes. Prepare reports as needed, but not less frequently than weekly.

(3) Past-due entries. When the customs service fails to receive a remittance of duty or report of disposition made of a dutiable package, postmaster will receive a set of reproduced copies of the mail entry. Search shall be made at the post office of address and a report of the findings made to the Regional Commissioner of Customs, Attention: Cashier, New York, NY 10004.

(g) Refund of Duty-(1) Duty not refundable by postmasters. Amounts col

lected on customs mail entry forms are not refundable by postmasters. An addressee who requests a refund of duty shall be advised to make application therefor to the customs office which issued the mail entry within 90 days from date duty is paid. It is suggested, if refund is claimed for damage, the article be forwarded with the application. If the addressee wishes to abandon the article to the Government, he should so state in his application. In case the addressee also intends to file a claim for indemnity with the Postal Service, he shall, before taking the above action, present the contents, container, and complete wrapping to the postmaster for the inspection prescribed by form 2855, claim for indemnity-International Insured Mail.

(2) By Customs Service. Refund of duties paid will be considered by the Customs Service if merchandise, covered by a mail entry, representing 5 percent or more of the total value of all of the merchandise of the same class or kind entered in the invoice in which the item appears, is abandoned and delivered to the customs office where the entry was made within 90 days from the date duty was paid.

(3) On returned merchandise. Refund of duties paid less 1 percent will also be considered by the Customs Service if merchandise covered by a mail entry and found not to conform to sample or specification or shipped without the consent of the consignee is, within 90 days from the date of delivery, returned to customs custody for exportation, unless the Secretary of the Treasury authorizes in writing a longer time. The postal charges incident to returning the merchandise to the sender must be paid by the addressee. (4) As drawback on exported merchandise. See Part 57 of this chapter.

(5) No duty refund in certain cases. When an addressee requests delivery of parcel post packages to be made at his residence or place of business after the customs duty has been paid at the post office, the Treasury Department will not refund the duty when the goods are lost en route. There is no appropriation available from which the Postal Service could make reimbursement for the amount of duty paid.

(h) Duty (1) Rates. Customers desiring information concerning rates of duty on articles imported into the United States, or other customs procedure,

§ 61.3 (d)), or with the Commissioner of Customs, Treasury Department, Washington, DC 20226.

(2) Prepayment. No provision is made for the prepayment abroad of customs duty on mail shipments addressed for delivery in the United States.

(3) On return of exported articles. (i) Before sending an article abroad for alterations, repairs, use or replacement, the owner should submit it to a customs officer for issuance of a certificate of registration. Otherwise the entire article may be subjected to customs duty when it is returned to the United States.

(ii) Due to the absence of customs officers in many parts of the country, customers often are unable to have articles registered with the Customs Service before sending them abroad or are able to do so only after considerable expense and inconvenience. As a service to postal customers, postmasters or employees they designate may certify to the exportation of articles being mailed abroad for alterration, repairs, use or replacement under the following conditions:

(a) The customer must reside in an area which is outside a 20-mile radius of a customs office. In addition to the offices listed in § 61.3 (d), customs officers are located at a number of additional points, and if a customer resides within a 20mile radius of any of those customs offices he must have the article certified by a customs officer.

(b) The customer presents the package containing the article to be exported at the post office in an open state, together with a set (original and duplicate) of Customs Form 4455, Certificate of Registration, completed and signed by the owner of the article being exported. Customers may obtain the forms from any customs office. The customer must also present a completed Postal Service customs declaration form (described in §§ 21.4 and 31.4), as may be appropriate for the class of mail to be used, describing the article in the same terms as on the customs form.

(c) The postmaster or designated postal employee checks to see that the description of the article to be exported is the same on both the customs and Postal Service forms, and if the description is the same he certifies to the mailing (lading) by signing the "Signature of

Customs Officer" space on both copies of the customs form. Certificate of mailing fees of 10 cents shall be charged and accounted for by affixing a 5-cent stamp to each of the two customs forms and canceling with a legible impression of the post office date stamp.

(d) Both copies of the customs form are returned to the customer who inserts the original in the package so the foreign shipper can include it in his package and thus facilitate processing when the merchandise is returned. The customer retains the duplicate for possible use in clearing the merchandise on its return.

(e) After the customer has inserted the original form he closes the package and the postal employee accepts it in the usual manner.

(4) In other countries. See § 31.2(d).

(i) Forwarding or returning dutiable mail-(1) Forwarding within the United States. Dispatch packages as prescribed in § 24.3(a) (for postal union articles) or § 32.4(a) (for parcel post). Allow the Customs Forms 3419 to remain attached to the redirected package in its original envelope, which is also redirected to the new address. Prepare Form 3814, Record of COD Parcels Held for Delivery, in duplicate, showing name and address of addressee, forwarding address, and name of port where the duty was assessed. In Bin No. block on Form 3814, enter the seven-digit serial number from related Customs Form 3419. Mail original Form 3814 to the Regional Commissioner of Customs, Attention: Cashier, New York, NY 10004. File duplicate of Form 3814 for reference in case of later inquiry.

(2) Forwarding to another country. See § 24.3(b) concerning forwarding of postal union articles and §§ 32.4 (b) and (c) concerning forwarding of parcel post. When a dutiable package is entitled to be forwarded to another country, detach the Customs Forms 3419, endorse both copies "Addressee moved outside jurisdiction of the United States," and report as an uncollected item (see § 61.5(f) (2)).

(3) Return to sender. When a dutiable package is to be returned to the sender, detach the Customs Forms 3419, endorse them "Refused," "Unclaimed," etc., and report as an uncollected item (see § 61.5 (f) (2)).

(4) By stations and branches. Postmasters may authorize stations and branches to forward or return packages directly from those, units, without sending the packages to the main office.

§ 62.1

What is subject to inspection.

All packages which contain plants, plant products, soil, plant pests, or plant material used for packing are subject generally to plant quarantine inspection. § 62.2 Segregation and handling.

(a) Packages for inspection. Dispatch packages bearing green and yellow address labels to the Agriculture Department inspection points shown thereon. After inspection and clearance, mark packages "Release" or "Treated and Released," redirect to the addressees, and return to the mail for delivery.

(b) Packages exempt from inspection. Forward packages which bear Agriculture Department labels reading "Importation Authorized," if not damaged, directly for delivery to the addressees. If damaged, divert them for inspection as prescribed in § 62.2 (c) after reconditioning if necessary.

(c) Nonauthorized importations. Forward packages containing the items mentioned in § 62.1 but not bearing any Agriculture Department labels or inspection stamps under seal to the postmaster at the most accessible place listed in § 62.3 marked "For plant quarantine inspection."

(d) Prohibited contents. Packages found on inspection to contain prohibited plant material may be released for delivery after removal of such material and insertion of a notice by the inspector; or the packages may be stamped "Refused entry" or similarly, in which case they shall be returned to origin.

§ 62.3 Inspection stations and offices.

Inspectors of the Plant Quarantine Division, Department of Agriculture, are stationed at the following places: Agana, GU. Aguadilla, PR.

(Ramey AFB). Anchorage, AL. Astoria, OR.

Atlanta, GA.

Baltimore, MD.

Bangor, ME.

Baton Rouge, LA. Blaine, WA.

Boston, MA. Brownsville, TX. Buffalo, NY. Calexico, CA.

Charleston, SC.
Charlotte Amalie, VI.
Christiansted, VI.
Chicago, IL.
Cleveland, OH.

Corpus Christi, TX.
Dallas, TX.
Del Rio, TX.
Detroit, MI.
Douglas, AZ.
Dover AFB, DE.
Duluth, MN.
Eagle Pass, TX.
El Paso, TX.1
Fairfield, CA.

(Travis AFB).
Falcon Heights, TX.
Fort Lauderdale, FL.
Galveston, TX.
Hidalgo, TX.
Hilo, HI.
Hoboken, NJ.1
Honolulu, HI.1
Houston, TX.
Jacksonville, FL.
Jamaica, NY.

(J. F. Kennedy
Airport).1
Key West, FL.
Laredo, TX.1
Los Angeles, CA.1
Memphis, TN.
Miami, FL.
Milwaukee, WI.
Mobile, AL.
Morehead City, NC.
New Orleans, LA.1

1 Inspection stations.

Newport News, VA.
New York, NY.
Nogales, AZ.
Norfolk, VA.
Pensacola, FL.
Philadelphia, PA.
Port Arthur, TX.
Portland, ME.
Portland, OR.
Presidio, TX.
Progreso, TX.
Providence, RI.
Roma, TX.

Rouses Point, NY.
St. Paul, MN.
San Antonio, TX.
San Bernardino, CA.

(Norton AFB).
San Diego, CA.1
San Francisco, CA.1
San Juan, PR.1
San Luis, AZ.
Savannah, GA.
Seattle, WA.1
Tacoma, WA.

(McChord AFB).

Tampa, FL.
Toledo, OH.
Trenton, NJ.

(McGuire AFB).
Tucson, AZ.
Washington, DC.1
West Palm Beach,
FL.
Wilmington, DE.
Wilmington, NC.

71.5 71.6

71.7

Processing.

Use of Form 673, Report of Rifled
Parcel.

Use of Form 3760, Wrapper Found
Without Contents.

AUTHORITY: The provisions of this Part 71 issued under 39 U.S.C. 401, 407.

SOURCE: 37 F.R. 22608, Oct. 20, 1972, unless otherwise noted.

§ 71.1 Inquiries encouraged.

Customers are urged to report losses, nondelivery, or mistreatment of mail, as these reports may serve to improve the postal service. Inquiries and complaints are to be made at, or addressed to, the local post office. They are accepted within 1 year, counting from the day following the date of mailing.

If the sender receives a return receipt not properly completed (see § 42.5(d)), the receipt with the complaint is transmitted to the Mail Classification Division, Finance Department, U.S. Postal Service, Washington, DC 20260. Follow procedure in § 42.5 (c) if customer has failed to receive a return receipt for which a fee was paid. § 71.4

Charges for inquiries.

(a) When applicable. No charge is made for an inquiry or complaint concerning the nondelivery of a piece of international mail if the sender has failed to receive a return receipt for which the required fee was paid or if he can show that loss or other irregularity has occurred apparently through fault of the Postal Service. Such a showing is satisfied either by exhibiting a letter from the addressee a reasonable time after the article involved would normally have been delivered; or satisfactorily explaining the failure to exhibit such a letter or report. Otherwise, a charge of 30 cents is made, postage stamps to cover the fee being affixed to the inquiry form and canceled. The inquiry or complaint is transmitted by airmail, if practicable.

(b) When several articles involved. Only one fee is collected for inquiries or requests for information concerning several articles mailed simultaneously by the same sender to the same addressee.

(c) Telegraph inquiry. If the sender desires that the inquiry be sent by telegraph or cable, his request must be accompanied with an amount sufficient to pay the telegraph or cable charges, and if a reply by telegraph or cable is desired, the sender must pay the charges both ways. Such request should be forwarded to the postal inspector in charge of the division in which the office mailing or address is located.

(a) Mail exchanged with Canada-(1) Registered and ordinary-(i) Inquiries as to disposition or complaints of loss(a) Mailed in the United States. Inquiries are reported on Form 1510. Complete part II in duplicate. Destroy part I. Send original of parts II and III to the post office of address in Canada.

(1) If reply indicates no loss, send original of parts II and III with back of part III completed, to sender.

(2) If reply indicates loss:

(i) Registered mail. Enter dispatch particulars on reverse side of part II and send both copies to the Postmaster, Registry Section, Chicago, IL 60607, with the result of your findings.

(ii) Ordinary mail. Mail part III with reverse side completed to sender, and submit part II in duplicate to Postmaster, Claims and Inquiry Section, Chicago, IL 60607, with the result of your findings.

(b) Mailed to United States. Inquiries initiated by the addressees are reported on Form 1510. Complete part II in duplicate. Destroy part I. Send original of parts II and III to the post office of mailing in Canada, with part III appropriately altered. If registered mail is involved and the mailing receipt is not available, ask the complainant to have inquiry made at the office of mailing.

(1) If reply indicates no loss, send original of parts II and III with back of part III completed and appropriately altered, to the addressee.

(2) If reply indicates loss:

(i) Registered mail. Send both copies of part II to the Postmaster, Registry Section, Chicago, IL 60607, with the result of your findings. (See § 72.2(e).)

(ii) Ordinary mail. Mail part III with reverse side completed and appropriately altered, to the addressee, and submit part II in duplicate to Postmaster, Claims and Inquiry Section, Chicago, IL 60607, with the result of your findings.

(ii) Complaints of rifling, damage, delay, or wrong delivery of mail originating in the United States or Canada. Complete and suitably alter Form 1510. Send both copies to the Postmaster, Claims and Inquiry Section, Chicago, IL 60607, with envelope or wrapper, if available. If not available, so state.

(iii) Inquiries of Canadian origin. Post offices will return Canadian inquiries, appropriately endorsed with the result of their findings, to the point in Canada from which received. If loss of mail to or

from Canada is disclosed, complete Form 1510. In case of mail from Canada, obtain the necessary information from the Canadian inquiry form before it is returned.

(a) If registered mail is involved, submit part II in duplicate to Postmaster, Registry Section, Chicago, IL 60607, with the result of your findings.

(b) If ordinary mail is involved, submit part II in duplicate to Postmaster, Claims and Inquiry Section, Chicago, IL 60607, with the result of your findings.

(2) Insured parcels-(i) Mailed in United States.—(a) Inquiries as to disposition. (Sender has no report of nonreceipt from addressee.) Complete Form 2855 and send to postmaster at the office of address in Canada. If delivery is disclosed, the endorsed form will be returned to the office of mailing so that the sender may be informed accordingly and the case closed. If loss, rifling, or damage is disclosed, Canadian officials will send Form 2855 to the Postmaster, Claims and Inquiry Section, Chicago, IL 60607. Should a form, disclosing loss, riflling, or damage, be sent by mistake to the postmaster at the office of mailing, send it promptly to the postmaster in Chicago (see § 71.4(a)).

(b) Complaints of loss (Sender has report of nonreceipt from addressee), rifling, damage, delay, or wrong delivery. Complete Form 2855 and send, with the correspondence received by the sender from the addressee, and wrapper if available, to the Postmaster, Claims and Inquiry Section, Chicago, IL 60607 (see § 72.1(b)).

(c) If application for indemnity is received on Canadian Form 43A, bearing information supplied by the addressee and the Canadian Postal Service for damage or rifling, complete the Form 43A, in lieu of Form 2855, and forward to the Postmaster, Claims and Inquiry Section, Chicago, IL 60607.

(ii) Mailed to United States. (a) If a complaint of loss, rifling, damage, delay, or wrong delivery originates in the United States, complete Form 1510 and send parts II and III of the original to the postmaster at the mailing office in Canada with the packing of the parcel if available, If the packing has been destroyed to otherwise disposed of, the complaint shall be endorsed accordingly. If complaint is of loss or rifling, send a copy of part II of Form 1510, endorsed to show disposition of the original, to the postal

inspector in charge of the division in which the office of destination is located.

(b) On receipt of a Canadian indemnity form, it shall be properly completed and returned to the Canadian District Director of Postal Service from whom the form was received. If obtainable in cases of rifling or damage, the packing of the parcels shall be transmitted to the Canadian Administration with the indemnity form. If the packing has been destroyed or otherwise disposed of, the form shall be endorsed accordingly.

(b) Mail exchanged with countries other than Canada-(1) Registered mail-(i) Mailed in United States. Inquiries as to disposition or complaints of loss, rifling, damage, delay, or wrong delivery. Report on Form 542. Insert particulars of dispatch from the office of mailing and send form to the postmaster at the appropriate adjusting exchange office shown in § 72.2(f), with the envelope or wrapper, if available (see § 71.4(a)).

(ii) Mailed to United States. Inquiries as to disposition or complaints of loss, rifling, damage, delay, or wrong delivery. Report on Form 542 and send, with registry receipt, if available, to the postmaster at the appropriate adjusting exchange office shown in § 72.2(f), with the envelope or wrapper, if available. If the registry receipt is not available, ask the complainant to have inquiry made at the office of mailing.

(2) Insured parcels-(i) Mailed in United States. (a) Inquiries as to disposition (sender has no report of nonreceipt from addressee) and delay. Report on Form 542. Insert particulars of dispatch from the office of mailing and send form to the postmaster at the appropriate adjusting exchange office shown in § 72.2(f), with the wrapper, if available. (See § 71.4(a).)

(b) Complaints of loss (sender has report of nonreceipt from addressee), rifling, damage, or wrong delivery. Report on Form 2855, and send, with the correspondence received by the sender from the addressee, and wrapper if available, to the postmaster at the appropriate adjusting exchange office shown in § 72.2 (f). (See § 72.1(b).)

(ii) Mailed to United States. (a) Inquiries as to disposition and delay. Report on Form 542 and send with the wrapper, if available, to the postmaster at the appropriate adjusting exchange office shown in § 72 2(f).