(4) Accounting for charges. The charges are accounted for by affixing postage-due stamps to the parcel or to a postage-due bill and canceling. If there are several parcels for one addressee the charges are applied separately on each parcel.

(5) Charges waived. When an addressee protests the rate or amount of duty assessed (see § 261.546), the time required for the addressee to submit his written objection is counted, but the time required for the Customs Service to come to a decision in the matter is not counted.

(6) Parcels held beyond usual retention period. See § 232.5(b) (i) (v) concerning collection of storage charges on parcels held beyond the usual retention period.

(d) Parcels containing letters. When a parcel from another country is found to contain a personal communication, the office where it is discovered shall mark the wrapper Letter enclosed-Collect cents and send the parcel forward to destination. The amount to be collected will be double the amount of postage (surface or air) applicable to a single-rate letter to the country concerned. The office endorsing the parcel shall indicate the amount to be collected and the delivering office shall collect the amount from the addressee by means of postage-due stamps. No systematic search for such letters shall be made.

[32 F.R. 12267, Aug. 24, 1967, as amended at 32 F.R. 18045, Dec. 16, 1967]

§ 232.2 Stamps not affixed.

Some foreign post offices do not put postage stamps on parcels. All such parcels received must be regarded as prepaid.

§ 232.3 Delivery.

(a) Parcels addressed through bank or other organization. If a parcel is addressed to a bank or other organization for delivery to a second addressee, the post office will notify both addressees of the arrival of the parcel and will then deliver it to the first addressee, or hold it if the first addressee so desires. If the parcel is held, the post office will deliver it to the second addressee only with written permission from the first addressee, unless the sender has arranged for change of address as provided in § 247.6(b) of this chapter. After delivery, the post office will keep the written authorization 1 year, for reference in case of inquiry. File the authorizations for insured and registered parcels with the addressees' receipts, and for ordinary (uninsured and unregistered) parcels in any appropriate place. If delivery to the second addressee involves forwarding the parcel to another post office, the parcel will be subject to forwarding postage as provided in § 232.4(a).

(b) Foreign dispatch notes. If parcels are received at delivery offices with dispatch notes (bulletin d'expédition) attached, they are delivered with the

parcels. These forms have a space provided for the addressee's acknowledgment of receipt, but do not require signature. They must not be confused with foreign return receipts which are designated "Avis de réception" and are completed as prescribed in § 242.5 (e) (1) of this chapter. If a parcel is returned as undeliverable, the post office will mark the dispatch note as well as the wrapper to show the reason for nondelivery and leave the dispatch note attached to the parcel. Dispatch notes that cannot be associated with the relative parcels may be disposed of as waste after 60 days.

§ 232.4 Forwarding.

(a) Within United States. A parcel may be forwarded to the original addressee or to an alternate addressee at another post office in the United States by surface transportation, subject to collection on delivery of postage at the U.S. domestic zone rate. Forwarding by air must be prepaid. The post office forwarding an unprepaid parcel by surface in the United States will mark the wrapper "Postage due" giving the amount of domestic postage along with storage charges if any. When delivering an unprepaid forwarded parcel, the post office will collect the necessary amount for domestic transmission in postagedue stamps even if the "postage-due" marking is omitted. The fee prescribed in § 232.1(a) is also collectible on any forwarded dutiable parcel.

(b) To country of origin. If the addressee has moved to the country of parcel's origin and no instructions are given to deliver to a second addressee in the United States, the post office will mark it "Moved," show the forwarding address of the addressee, and send by surface means (including parcels received by air) to the appropriate exchange office for return to the country of origin.

(c) To third country. If the addressee has moved to another country (other than the country of parcel's origin), or if the parcel bears instructions to deliver it to an alternate addressee in a third country, the post office will hold the parcel and request instructions from the Classification and Special Services Division, Bureau of Operations, Post Office Department, Washington, D.C. 20260. The request should include the

names and addresses of the sender and the addressee, or the alternate addressee, the weight of the parcel, whether ordinary, registered, or insured, and nature and value of the contents as shown on the customs declaration, so that the International Service Division may communicate with the foreign postal administration to secure forwarding postage. If the sender has indicated that the parcel is to be treated as abandoned if undeliverable as addressed, dispose of it as prescribed in § 232.5(b) (3). See § 231.7(b) of this chapter concerning domestic third- and fourth-class parcels addressed to persons who have moved to another country.

(a) U.S. origin. Returned parcels are subject on delivery to the sender to collection of returned postage and any other charges assessed by the foreign postal authorities. The amount of such charges will be indicated by the exchange office. If the sender refuses the parcel, it shall be disposed of as dead parcel post. If the sender has moved to another address in the United States the parcel may be redirected, subject to forwarding postage at the U.S. domestic zone rate. If the sender has moved to another country, the post office will hold the parcel and request instructions from the Classification and Special Services Division, Bureau of Operations, Post Office Department, Washington, D.C. 20260, indicating the new address of the sender, the amount of return charges due on the parcel, weight, whether ordinary, registered, or insured, and the nature of the contents as shown on the customs declaration tag.

(b) Foreign origin—(1) Retention period. Parcels will be held at the disposal of the addressee for 30 days, except as follows:

(1) A parcel refused or known to be neither deliverable nor forwardable shall

be treated as undeliverable at once. See § 261.5(d) (7) of this chapter concerning procedure when addressee conditionally refuses a parcel because of the duty assessed and asks to have the matter protested to the customs service. The parcel is held until the customs office renders a decision on the protest, but if no decision is received within 30 days, request the customs office to expedite the decision.

(ii) A parcel bearing the sender's request for delivery to an alternate addressee shall be held 15 days at the disposal of the first addressee and 15 days at the disposal of the second. If the alternate addressee is at another post office, the parcel is forwarded subject to § 232.4(a) of this chapter, and the 15day period begins from the date of receipt at the second office of address. Under the circumstances given in subdivision (iv) of this subparagraph, the parcel may be held for 30 days at the disposal of each addressee.

(iii) A parcel returned from customs custody with advice that the addressee has not complied with required customs entry procedures shall be treated as undeliverable at once.

(iv) On written request of the addressee or other person acting for the addressee, a parcel which remains undelivered may be held up to 60 days on condition that the storage charges due at the end of the first 30-day retention period are paid at the time of the request and that the storage charges which accumulate thereafter are paid every 10 days.

(v) A parcel from Great Britain which bears request to "Return forthwith to sender at sender's expense" shall be returned within 10 days, or immediately if definitely known to be undeliverable.

(2) Directory service. See section 355.171 of the Postal Manual concerning directory service to be accorded parcels of foreign origin.

(3) Marking and disposal. At the end of the retention period prescribed in subparagraph (1) of this paragraph, mark parcel and the accompanying dispatch note, if any, to show reason for nondelivery (see section 355.111b of the Postal Manual), and cross out address of the addressee but do not obliterate it entirely. Unless sender has given instructions on the wrapper or dispatch note for abandonment, return the parcel to the sender. Parcels to be returned to senders are dispatched to the appropriate exchange office by surface means, including

those originally received by air. The post office of address will cross out the Par Avion label or other airmail marking. A parcel bearing the sender's instruction to abandon shall be marked. Abandoned and sent to the appropriate dead parcel post branch for disposal, unless it has been assessed with customs duty. In the latter case, send the parcel to the nearest customs port (see § 261.3(e) of this chapter); detach the customs entry forms and treat as prescribed in § 261.5 (f) of this chapter.

(4) Storage charges. If a parcel to be returned to origin or forwarded to another country has storage charges due, the wrapper shall be marked with the amount so that appropriate action may be taken at the exchange office.

(5) Postage due parcels. If an undeliverable parcel bears postage due stamps, follow the procedure prescribed in sections 335.35 and 335.36 of the Postal Manual.

[32 F.R. 20643, Dec. 21, 1967]

dispatch without delay. See §§ 223.2 and 231.6 of this chapter for information on treatment of shortpaid and unpaid matter.

(c) Double or reply-paid postcards. See 222.2(a)(2) of this chapter for postage required to transmit a U.S. replypaid postcard by airmail. If a patron wishes to airmail a foreign reply-paid card to the country represented by the postage on the card he must pay with U.S. stamps the difference between the U.S. surface and airmail postcard rate to the country concerned. If the first or message part of the card is left attached to the reply half, the additional postage required will be the difference between the surface postcard rate and the airmail letter rate to the country concerned. [32 FR. 12269, Aug. 24, 1967]

§ 241.4 Marking.

(a) Postal union mail. Senders should mark airmail articles in the left corner, immediately below the return address, with the words "Par Avion" in blue color. Post offices may furnish senders with Label 19 for the purpose. Articles which the senders have failed to mark "Par Avion" shall not be returned for marking or be marked by postal employees.

(b) Parcel post. Accepting clerks will place an airmail Label 19 on the address side of each parcel to be sent by air. Paste the label below and to the right of the name of the country destination. If a dispatch note, Form 2972, is required, the airmail label shall be placed on that form also.

[32 F.R. 12269, Aug. 24, 1967]

(a) Availability and use. Aerogrammes (air letter sheets), which can be folded into the form of an envelope and sealed, may be sent by air to all countries. These sheets bearing imprinted postage, are sold at all post offices at 13 cents each. All parts of the sheets may be used for the sender's message, except the address side. No enclosures are permitted. The use of tape or stickers to seal aerogrammes is prohibited. Aerogrammes may be sent under registration on payment of the required registry fee in addition to the postage.

(b) Private manufacture. Aerogrammes without imprinted postage may be manufactured, subject to prior approval by the Department, by private individuals or firms, for their own use or

for sale to the public. These sheets must average not less than 150 to the pound (approximately 9 per ounce) and be similar in size, color, and border markings to the regular form issued by the Post Office Department. They must bear the same printed endorsements on the address and reverse sides as the regular form. In addition, the words "Authorized for mailing as aerogramme-P.O. Permit No.-" (the number to be filled in when issued) must appear in smaller type so they will be visible on the address side and near the lower edge when the sheet is folded for mailing. The quality and strength of the paper must be sufficient to guard against the likelihood of damage in the course of postmarking and handling, and to assure that the writing on the inner side will not interfere with the legibility of the address. Manufacturers must submit 10 samples of proposed aerogrammes to the Director, Classification and Special Services Division, Bureau of Operations, Post Office Department, Washington, D.C. 20260, for approval before engaging in their production. Approved private areogrammes may be paid at the aerogramme rate, except that to Canada and Mexico they may be paid at the regular airmail letter rate.

§ 242.1

What may be registered.

(a) Postal union mail. Postal union articles of all classes may be registered to all countries unless a specific exception is stated under the country item in the appendix to this subchapter. Direct sacks of prints, as described in § 222.4(f) of this chapter may not be registered.

(b) Parcel post. Parcel post packages may be registered only to countries with which there are arrangements for this service. See § 272.2(b) of this chapter and country items in the appendix to this subchapter.

§ 242.2 Preparation by mailer.

(a) Addressing. Mail which bears an address written in pencil or consisting of initials will not be accepted for registration. The address of mail other than that sent in transparent panel (window) envelopes may be written in indelible pencil.

(b) Sealing. (1) Senders must securely seal letters or letter packages presented for registration. Wax or paper seals on envelopes must bear a distinctive mark of the sender and shall be affixed in such a way as to allow sufficient space at the intersections of the flaps for postmarking. Self-sealing envelopes and envelopes or packages that appear to have been opened and resealed will not be registered.

(2) Articles under the classifications of "printed matter, books, matter for the blind, samples of merchandise and small packets," presented for registration, "Must not" be sealed.

(3) Parcel post packages presented for registration "Must" be sealed. See § 231.3 (c) of this chapter as to manner of sealing. Parcels that appear to have been opened and resealed will not be registered.

(c) Declaration of value. The sender must declare the full value of Postal Union mail offered for registration to enable the accepting clerk to identify valuable registered mail for recording purposes. (See § 242.7(a) (3).) Senders presenting valuable mail for registration listed on firm mailing sheets must indicate values opposite the respective entries. The declared value must not be regarded as the amount of indemnity payable in case of loss. See § 272.2 (a) of this chapter concerning limits of indemnity for registered Postal Union mail. § 242.3

Fees.

For Postal Union mail, the fee is 80 cents. The same fee applies to parcel post.

See country items in the appendix of this subchapter. (See § 272.2 of this chapter for indemnity provisions.)

[34 F.R. 9342, June 13, 1969]

§ 242.4 Mailing receipts.

(a) Issuance. A receipt is issued to the sender for mail matter accepted for registration to other countries.

(b) Post office handling. (1) Endorse receipts and mailing office record "P.P." to distinguish parcel post from Postal Union mail accepted for registration.

(2) Endorse the receipt and office record "Free" for articles registered free pursuant to § 221.2(d) (i) of this chapter. Endorse "Official Paid or Off. Pd." for articles or parcels registered pursuant to § 221.2(d) (2) (i) of this chapter.

§ 242.5 Return receipts.

(a) Requested at time of mailing. (1) Fee: 15 cents. If the mailer desires that his return receipt be sent back by airmail, the article must be prepaid an additional fee equal to the airmail postage on a single post card to the country of destination.

(2) When the mailer desires a return receipt, the post office will proceed as follows:

(1) Endorse the article on the address side "Avis de reception" (meaning return receipt "or A.R." Add "Par Avion" to the endorsement if the return receipt is to be returned by air and the additional fee prescribed in subparagraph (1) of this paragraph has been paid.

(ii) Complete international return receipt, Form 2865, and attach to article or parcel. The form is gummed so it can be securely attached, and is perforated to facilitate completion and return.

(iii) When the receipt is to be returned by airmail, mark it on the address side "RENVOI PAR AVION" (meaning return by airmail) and attach Label 19 bearing the words "Par Avion."

(iv) Put postage for the return receipt fee, and for the airmail postage if the sender has requested return of the receipt by air, on the registered article and cancel.

(v) Do not include weight of the return receipt in determining the postage.

(b) Requested after mailing. (1) Within a period of 1 year from the day following that on which a registered article or parcel was mailed, the sender, on showing the registry receipt, may request a return receipt. The fee is 25 cents. To have the request for return