USPS Changes to PMOD (Priority Mail Open & Distribute) Requirements
The United States Postal Service® (USPS®) has announced changes in the requirements for Express Mail® Open and Distribute (EMOD) and Priority Mail® Open and Distribute (PMOD). These changes are effective April 5, 2010.
Label 23 Eliminated
Currently,
mailers who use
PMOD for letter
mail in trays have the option of using
USPS-provided
PMOD tray boxes, placing trays in
mail sacks, or affixing
Label 23 to the letter trays as methods of preparing their
PMOD mail. With the introduction of the
USPS provided
PMOD tray boxes in April of 2009, the
Label 23 is no longer needed, so it is being discontinued.
Mailers can continue to use the
USPS-provided
PMOD tray boxes or place the trays in
mail sacks, but using the
USPS-provided
PMOD tray boxes is recommended as this method is more secure.
Elimination of Facsimile Tags 190 and 161
Effective April 5, 2010,
mailers must also now use only
USPS-provided
Tag 190 and
Tag 161, both of which are color-coded for easier identification. Currently,
mailers have the option to use
facsimile tags from another source, but the
USPS is discontinuing the optional use of
facsimile Tag 190 and
Tag 161. Post-presort software, such as Window Book's
Postal Package Partner (PPP), allows
mailers to print the necessary information for the
Tag 190 and
Tag 161 and adhere these printed
labels to the
USPS provided
tags.
Other Changes
The
USPS is also updating the standards for EMOD and
PMOD to reflect the following:
- Open and Distribute containers must remain unsealed until the business mail entry verification and acceptance of the contents have been completed, unless accepted under an alternate procedure authorized by Business Mailer Support.
- PS Form 3152, Confirmation Services Certification, must be submitted with each mailing.
- Containers must not exceed the 70-pound weight limit.
All of these changes were detailed in the March 25, 2010 Postal Bulletin.