When it comes to sending packages through the mail, whether it’s a heartfelt letter or a carefully curated gift box, it’s crucial to understand the regulations set by the U.S. Postal Service (USPS). These guidelines dictate what items are permissible, restricted, or entirely prohibited from being mailed. Understanding these rules ensures your package arrives safely and avoids any potential legal issues. This article will delve into the specifics of what can be mailed, with a focus on whether food items can be shipped, and how to do so safely and legally.
USPS Mailer Guidelines: Your Responsibility
As a USPS customer, you are responsible for ensuring your package adheres to all regulations. This includes:
- Reviewing USPS Publication 52, Hazardous, Restricted, & Perishable Mail: This comprehensive document outlines everything you need to know about mailable items.
- Complying with Postal Service Regulations and U.S. Laws: Ignorance is not an excuse. Familiarize yourself with the rules.
- Packing Securely and Marking as Required: Proper packaging is crucial, especially for potentially hazardous or perishable items. Visiting a Post Office location can help ensure correct labeling.
Hazardous Materials (HAZMAT) and Mailing Restrictions
Hazardous materials, or HAZMAT, are substances that can cause injury or damage if mishandled. This category includes chemicals, flammable items, lithium batteries (found in cell phones and electronics), and liquid mercury.
- Prohibited HAZMAT: Some HAZMAT items are completely prohibited from being mailed through USPS.
- Restricted HAZMAT: Other HAZMAT items can be mailed, but only if specific rules and regulations are strictly followed.
- Ground Transportation Only: Certain HAZMAT items can only be shipped via ground transportation and cannot be sent by air.
- HAZMAT Packaging Requirements: If you are mailing packages that contain hazardous materials (HAZMAT), you must separate HAZMAT packages from all other packages and present them in a container marked “HAZMAT.”
Knowingly mailing dangerous materials can result in severe penalties, including civil fines (ranging from $250 to $100,000 per violation), cleanup costs, damages, and even criminal charges.
TIP: Consider taking the USPS tutorial on shipping hazardous materials, HAZMAT Shipping Safety.
What Items Are Prohibited from Mailing Domestically?
Certain items are strictly prohibited from being sent through the U.S. mail. These include:
- Air Bags
- Ammunition
- Explosives
- Gasoline
- Liquid Mercury
- Marijuana (medical or otherwise); hemp/CBD is allowed, but restricted
What Items Have Mailing Restrictions?
The following items can be mailed, but only if you adhere to all applicable rules and restrictions. For a complete list, consult USPS Publication 52, Hazardous, Restricted, & Perishable Mail.
Mailing Aerosols
Mailable gases and aerosols, like propane, butane, and fire extinguishers, are subject to specific rules and regulations. Make sure to review the guidelines for sending mailable gases.
Mailing Alcoholic Beverages
Generally, beer, wine, and liquor are prohibited from being sent through the mail, except in limited circumstances. If reusing a box with alcoholic beverage labels, remove all logos and labels.
Exceptions for Mailing Intoxicating Liquors
Mailing Cigarettes, Cigars, & Tobacco
Cigarettes and smokeless tobacco have restrictions and can only be mailed in specific situations. Cigars can be mailed domestically. Review the Cigarettes, Cigars, and Tobacco Definitions and Mailability.
Exceptions for Mailing Cigarette & Smokeless Tobacco
- Intra-Alaskan and intra-Hawaiian shipments
- Business/regulatory purposes
- Small-quantity “gift” shipments to individuals
- Individual returns of an unacceptable tobacco product to a manufacturer
Other Shipping & Packaging Requirements
Approved cigarette or smokeless tobacco shipments require verification by a Postal employee at a Post Office to confirm the recipient’s legal age.
Mailing Cremated Remains
USPS is the only shipping company that ships cremated remains (human or pet ashes). Use Priority Mail Express®, a strong inner container, and appropriate labeling. Cremated Remains Label 139 is required on all six sides of the box. Order free supplies on The Postal Store®.
Watch How to Ship Cremated Remains Safely Video
Mailing Dry Ice
Dry ice can be mailed as a refrigerant for mailable hazardous or nonhazardous materials. Packages must allow for the release of carbon dioxide gas.
Shipping Dry Ice Rules & Restrictions
Mailing Firearms
Only licensed manufacturers and dealers can mail or receive handguns. Unloaded rifles and shotguns are mailable, but mailers must comply with regulations.
Additional Information on Mailing Firearms
Mailing Glues
Glues with varying flashpoints require knowing their flashpoint and toxicity. Flammable glues can be mailed if they are consumer commodities, and some only by ground transportation. Glues are categorized as “adhesives” in the resources below.
Shipping Flammable & Combustible Liquids
Mailing Hand Sanitizer
Hand sanitizers, including wipes, must be shipped via USPS Ground Advantage™ or Parcel Select® service, available at your local Post Office™ branch. Most contain alcohol and are flammable, thus handled as HAZMAT and limited to surface transportation-only in domestic mail. International Mail, including APO/FPO/DPO destinations, prohibits these materials.
Mailing Hemp Products (including CBD)
Hemp-based products with a THC content of 0.3 percent or less, including CBD, can be sent domestically if compliant with all applicable laws.
To mail legal hemp and hemp-based products, including CBD, you must:
- Follow the guidelines outlined under Publication 52, Section 453
- Comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws
- Retain records for no less than 2 years
Mailing Lithium Batteries
Small consumer-type lithium batteries are mailable domestically under specific conditions. Pre-owned, damaged, or defective electronic devices with lithium batteries require ground transportation and must be marked “Restricted Electronic Device” and “Surface Transportation Only.”
Mailing Live Animals
Pets and warm-blooded animals generally cannot be mailed, except in limited circumstances. Live animals, including poultry, reptiles, and bees, have specific packaging requirements and are only shipped when appropriate transportation is available, with an extra handling fee.
Regulations on Shipping Live Animals
Mailing Matches
Safety matches are sent via ground transportation only, while strike-anywhere matches are prohibited domestically.
Additional Information on Mailing Safety Matches
Mailing Medicines & Prescription Drugs
Medicines are controlled substances with strict regulations. Prescription medications can only be mailed by DEA-registered distributors, and similar regulations apply to some over-the-counter medications.
Shipping Controlled Substances & Drugs
Mailing Mercury
Liquid mercury is prohibited. Consumer devices with tiny amounts of mercury vapor, like compact fluorescent light bulbs, are restricted but mailable under specific conditions.
Pub 52, Section 348.22g and Packaging Instruction 8C provide more details.
Mailing Nail Polish
Flammable nail polishes can be mailed domestically if they are a consumer commodity and may only be sent by ground transportation.
Shipping Flammable & Combustible Liquids
Mailing Paint
Flammable or combustible paint and paint-related items are generally accepted if they qualify as a consumer commodity or ORM-D (for surface only) and meet quantity limitations and packaging requirements. Non-flammable water-based paint is not restricted.
Additional Information on Mailing Paint
Mailing Perfumes
Perfume containing alcohol cannot be shipped internationally or domestically using air transportation but can be shipped within the United States by ground transportation.
Shipping Flammable & Combustible Liquids
Mailing Perishable Items
Perishable items, like live animals, food, and plants, are sent at the mailer’s own risk. They must be specially packaged and mailed to arrive before deterioration, with an extra handling fee.
Shipping Perishable Materials Guidelines
Mailing Poisons
Poisons are toxins, and mailers must know the toxicity of the material. Some poisons can be sent by air and ground, while others only by ground transport.
Can Food Be Mailed?
Given the perishable nature of many food items, the question “Can Food Be Mailed?” requires a nuanced answer. The USPS does allow certain foods to be mailed, but strict guidelines must be followed. Factors like the type of food, packaging, and shipping method are crucial. Non-perishable foods that are properly sealed and packaged are generally acceptable. However, perishable foods require expedited shipping and appropriate insulation to maintain their quality and safety during transit.
Conclusion
Understanding USPS guidelines on mailable items is crucial for safe and legal shipping. While some items are completely prohibited, others are restricted and require specific handling and packaging. Always consult USPS Publication 52 for detailed information and ensure compliance with all regulations. When it comes to “can food be mailed?”, remember to prioritize food safety and adhere to all guidelines for perishable items. By following these rules, you can confidently send packages through the mail, knowing that you are doing so responsibly and legally.
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