Paid." Larger post offices having sufficient need may requisition a rubber stamp from the Department on Form 1567.

(6) Mail of widows of Presidents. All mail bearing the written or facsimile signature of Mrs. Mamie Doud Eisenhower or of Mrs. Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy and the words "Postage and Fees Paid" shall be given the service indicated on its cover, subject to the conditions indicated in subparagraph (2) (i) of this paragraph.

(e) Reply Coupons. (1) Member countries of the Universal Postal Union purchase international reply coupons from the International Bureau of the Universal Postal Union and sell them at post offices. The selling price in the United States is 15 cents each. One of these coupons is exchangable in any other member country for a stamp or stamps representing the international postage on a single-rate surface letter. Upon presentation of a sufficient number of coupons, the stamp or stamps received in exchange may be used to prepay an international airmail letter. Chart 7 in the appendix to this subchapter shows the number of coupons required to be sent to other countries to prepay an airmail letter of the first unit of weight to the United States.

(2) International reply coupons (in French, "Coupon-Réponse International)" are printed in blue ink on paper having in the watermark the letters UPU in large characters. The name of the country, in French and the native language, and the selling price of the coupon are printed in black. Coupons purchased from the International Bureau prior to January 1, 1966, have the circles for the postmarks of the selling and exchanging post offices on the left- and right-hand sides; those purchased after January 1, 1966, have both these circles on the righthand side. The issuing office postmarks the left-hand circle of the old style coupons and the upper circle of the new style coupons. The period of exchange of international reply coupons is unlimited.

(3) U.S. post offices will requisition international reply coupons from the same sources from which they obtain postage stamps. The coupons should be stocked at offices having a demand for them. Since all U.S. coupons are of the old style, the selling post office will postmark them in the left-hand circle. Unused U.S. coupons may be redeemed by the original purchaser at a discount of 1 cent

on the purchase price. The post office redeeming the unused coupons will postmark them in the right-hand circle.

(4) Properly postmarked international reply coupons issued in other countries are exchangeable at U.S. post offices for postage stamps, aerogrammes, postcards, or envelopes at the rate of 13 cents each, except that Canadian and Mexican coupons are exchanged at the rate of 6 cents each in postage. The post office exchanging a foreign coupon postmarks it in the right-hand circle of the old style coupon or the lower circle of the new style coupon. Foreign coupons not properly postmarked by the foreign post office may be exchanged if there is no apparent reason to doubt their authenticity. Post offices must not accept foreign coupons that already bear a U.S. postmark.

(5) Reply coupons formerly issued by the Postal Union of the Americas and Spain are no longer valid. These coupons are printed in green ink and bear the caption "Cupón Respuesta AméricoEspañol." It is suggested that patrons possessing any of these coupons return them to their correspondents in the country of issue for redemption through the selling post office.

(6) Postmasters will dispose of exchanged foreign and redeemed U.S. coupons.

(f) Foreign reply-paid cards. The reply halves of post cards bearing foreign postage stamps, meter stamps, or imprinted postage and the heading "Carte postale réponse" (reply post card) are accepted as fully prepaid for ordinary surface transmission only if addressed to the country represented by the foreign postage. If this condition is not met, they are treated as unprepaid post cards. The initial half of the card may be left attached to the reply half, provided the address on the initial half is crossed out and folded on the inside of the card. Registry and special delivery fees can be prepaid only with U.S. stamps. See § 241.3 (c) of this chapter regarding additional U.S. postage required to transmit cards by airmail.

(g) Nonpostage stamps. Do not place nonpostage stamps, labels resembling postage stamps, or impressions resembling postage-paid impressions on the address side of mail articles.

(h) Remailed articles. New postage is required when remailing an article which has been returned from abroad because of insufficient address.

[32 F.R. 12252, Aug. 24, 1967 as amended at 33 F.R. 3280, Feb. 22, 1968; 33 F.R. 3635, Mar. 1, 1968; 33 F.R. 11598, Aug. 15, 1968; 34 F.R. 14028, Sept. 4, 1969]

§ 221.3 Prohibitions and restrictions.

(a) General list of prohibited articles. The following articles are prohibited transmission in the postal union mail to all countries:

(1) Any article without address or incorrectly, insufficiently, or illegibly addresed so that it cannot be sent to its destination.

(2) Any article addressed to go around the world or with the address side wholly or partly divided into several spaces intended for successive addresses.

(3) Poisons, including narcotics (opium, morphine, cocaine, etc.), explosives and flammable articles (see § 231.2(a) (8)) of this chapter, and all other articles excluded from the domestic mail, which either from their nature or packing are likely to soil or damage the mail or are injurious to health, life, or property. Articles containing gas or liquid under pressure, except that products incorporating compressed gas are acceptable if the mist produced is nonflammable, the quantity of contents are not more than a pint, and not more than one container per package. These restrictions as to quantity do not apply to aerosol containers holding mailable liquid and gas under pressure less than 40 pounds per square inch absolute (25 pounds gage pressure) at 70° F. Liquids with flash point below 150° F. are restricted (see § 231.2(b)(1)) of this chapter. The container must be completely surrounded with sawdust, bran, or other absorbent material sufficient to take up all the liquid contents.

(4) Articles excluded from the domestic mail of the United States. (See Part 124 of this chapter.) Although safety matches are admitted in the domestic mail, they are prohibited in the international mail.

(5) Live or dead animals and insects, except: (i) live bees, leeches, and silk worms; (ii) dead insects or reptiles when thoroughly dried; and (iii) parasites and predators of injurious insects intended for the control of such insects and exchanged between officially recognized agencies.

(6) The following are prohibited to all countries unless sent in registered letter mail-coins, bank notes, or paper money; manufactured or unmanufactured platinum, gold, or silver; precious stones,

50-087-71-14

jewelry, or other precious articles. These articles are absolutely prohibited even in registered letter mail to some countries. See heading "Prohibitions" for Postal Union mail in the Directory of International Mail. The term "jewelry" is generally understood to denote articles of more than nominal value. Low priced jewelry, such as tie clasps, costume jewelry, and other items containing little or no precious metal, is not considered to be jewelry within the meaning of this section and is accepted under the same conditions as other mailable merchandise to any country. However, it is accepted only at the sender's risk to countries which prohibit jewelry.

(7) Values payable to bearer, unless sent by registered mail. Some countries prohibit such values entirely (see country items in Directory of International Mail). The term "values payable to bearer" includes checks, drafts, or securities which can be legally cashed or easily negotiated by anyone who may come into possession of them. A check or draft payable to a specific payee is not regarded as payable to bearer unless the payee has endorsed it in blank. If not endorsed, or if endorsed in favor of another specific payee, it is not regarded as payable to bearer.

(8) Gold coin, gold bullion, or gold dust exceeding $100 in value. (See § 254.4 of this chapter.)

(9) Articles whose acceptance or circulation is prohibited in the country of destination.

(10) Written communications having the character of current correspondence, except in the form of letters or post cards, or under the conditions stated in §§ 222.4(d) (2) (i), 222.4(d) (4) (v) or § 222.5 of this chapter. Sound recorded communications having the character of current correspondence, except as letters,

or

under the conditions stated in § 222.4(d) (2) or 222.5 of this chapter. NOTE: Recordings of music or other sounds not of the nature of letters are mailable under the classes of postal union mail available for the transmission of merchandise-see § 222.1(e) or 222.7(g) of this chapter; or as parcel post. The same applies to opened correspondence, written or recorded, that has already reached the original addressee and is no longer current.

(11) Articles may not contain any card or envelope intended for reply purposes with postage denoted by U.S. stamps, business reply, or other indicia.

NOTE: The prohibition against business reply items need not be applied when they are bound or stapled into a magazine or other publication, or form an integral part of the printed page. These may be accepted so long as no objection is raised by the postal administrations of the countries concerned. NOTE: For general parcel post prohibitions, see § 231.2(a) of this chapter.

(b) Restricted articles-(1) Gold and gold certificates. (See Part 254 of this chapter.)

(2) Tobacco seed and plants. (See § 255.2 of this chapter.)

(3) Plant material generally. (See § 231.2(b) (5) of this chapter.)

(4) Combustible liquids. (See § 231.2 (b)(1) of this chapter.)

(5) Perishable biological materials. Perishable biological materials, including those of pathogenic nature, when sent in the postal union mail are accepted only as letter packages. The following conditions apply:

(1) Mailing restrictions. If a country prohibits perishable biological materials this is shown under "Prohibitions” in the country item in the Directory of International Mail. The packages must be packed as prescribed in paragraph (b) (5) (iii) of this section, and must bear distinctive violet labels by which they can be readily recognized and receive careful handling and prompt delivery.

(ii) Qualification of mailers. (a) Only officially recognized laboratories may send or receive letter packages containing perishable biological materials. Laboratories of the following categories are so designated:

Laboratories of local, State, and Federal Government agencies.

Laboratories of federally licensed manufac

turers of biologic substances derived from bacteria and viruses. Laboratories affiliated with or operated by hospitals, universities, research facilities, and other teaching institutions. Private laboratories licensed, certified, recognized, or approved by a public authority.

(b) A laboratory desiring to mail letter packages containing materials of this kind shall make written application on its letterhead stationery to the Classification and Special Services Division, Bureau of Operations, Post Office Department, Washington, D.C. 20260, explaining its qualifications and those of the prospective addressee to send and receive such materials, and stating how many packages are to be mailed. On approval, the mailer will receive a suffi

cient number of the violet labels for the contemplated shipments.

(iii) Packaging. (a) Perishable biological material not of a pathogenic nature must be packed in a nonporous container surrounded by sufficient absorbent material to take up all the liquid and must be placed in an outer protective container where it should fit tightly to avoid any shifting.

(b) Perishable biological material of a pathogenic nature must be packed in a tightly closed bottle or tube or heavy glass wrapped in thick absorbent material rolled several times around the bottle or tube and tied at the ends, sufficient in quantity to absorb all the liquid; the wrapped container must be placed in a strong well-closed metal box constructed to prevent any contamination outside of it. This metal box must be wrapped in cushioning material and placed in an outer protective box where it should fit tightly to avoid shifting. The outer container must consist of a hollow block of strong wood, metal, or other equally strong material with a tight lid so fitted that it cannot open during transportation.

(c) In addition to the requirements in (a) and (b) of this subdivision, packages must comply with the regulations governing the transmission of such materials in the domestic mail.

(d) The mailer must place on each package one of the violet labels mentioned in subdivisions (i) and (ii) (b) of this subparagraph.

(6) Radioactive materials. Radioactive materials are restricted as provided in § 125.2(e) of this chapter. Senders of mailable radioactive materials must place on the wrapper of the package a white label bearing the French words "Matiéres radioactives." The label must be supplied by the sender and is to be gummed or taped to the address side of the package. The package must also bear a conspicuous request for return to sender in case of nondelivery.

(c) Individual country prohibitions and restrictions. See § 231.2 (c) of this chapter.

(d) Foreign customs information. See § 231(b) (4) of this chapter.

[32 F.R. 12252, Aug. 24, 1967, as amended at 33 F.R. 3280, Feb. 22, 1968; 33 F.R. 3635, Mar. 1, 1968; 33 F.R. 12907, Sept. 12, 1968] § 221.4

Documentation.

(a) Green customs label. A green customs label, Form 2976, must be obtained

at the post office and placed by the sender on each letter or letter package containing dutiable merchandise, on each package of dutiable prints, and on each small packet. The label is placed on the address side of each article. See §§ 222.1(e), 222.4(e) (6) and 222.7(f) of this chapter. The label is also used on merchandise packages weighing 8 ounces or less mailed to Canada, as prescribed under the country heading in the appendix. The following facsimile illustrates the type of information the sender must supply when the label is used in its entirety:

When the label is used in its entirety there is no need to enclose the paper form of customs declaration, Form 2976-A, in the package (see § 221.4(b)), except for countries which specifically require it. (See country items in Directory of International Mail.) If the sender prefers not to show the nature and value of the contents on the outside of the article, or if for any reason the use of the label in its entirety is not practicable, the upper part (detached by cutting along the dotted line) may be affixed to the cover, and the paper customs declaration enclosed in the article. 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) Paper customs declaration. The paper form of customs declaration (Form 2976-A) is available at post offices for completion by the sender and enclosure within the classes of articles mentioned in paragraph (a) of this section. The contents of the article must be indicated in detail on the form. Notations 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 § 231.4 to be used on postal union articles. The following facsimile illustrates the type of information required on Form 2976-A:

Washington

n..., le6/23, 155

Sender:

(Place and date)

16-55508-2 U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

§ 222.1

Letters and letter packages.

(a) Rates (1) Surface. The surface rate for letters and letter packages to Canada and Mexico is 6 cents per ounce or fraction. To all other countries it is 13 cents for the first ounce and 8 cents for each additional ounce.

(2) Airmail. Canada and Mexico, 10 cents per ounce or fraction. To Central America, South America, the Caribbean islands, Bahamas, Bermuda, and St. Pierre and Miquelon, 15 cents per half ounce. To Europe (except Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and U.S.S.R.) and Mediterranean Africa, 20 cents per half ounce. To other countries, 25 cents per half ounce.

(b) Weight limits. (1) The weight limit for letters and letter packages to all countries except Canada is 4 pounds 6 ounces; 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 44 inches in length and 3 inches in width. When 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 dimen

sions are accepted on condition that a rectangular address tag is attached whose dimensions are not less than 4 by 234 inches.

(d) Restrictions. Letters and letter packages may not contain current communications exchanged between persons other than the sender and the addressee or persons 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. If a country prohibits dutiable merchandise in letters this is shown under "Prohibitions" in the country item in the Directory of International Mail. The postal service is not able to inform patrons 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 § 221.4 of this chapter and with any special instructions in the appendix to this subchapter.

(2) Nondutiable merchandise. ArtiIcles 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 Post Office Department 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 § 221.41 of this chapter 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 § 221.1 of this chapter.

[32 F.R. 12256, Aug. 24, 1967, as amended at 33 F.R. 3280, Feb. 22, 1968]

§ 222.2 Post cards.

(a) Rates (1) Surface. Canada and Mexico, 5 cents single; reply-paid, 5 cents each half. All other countries, 8 cents single; reply-paid 8 cents each half.

(2) Airmail. Canada and Mexico, 8 cents single; reply-paid, 10 cents on message half, 5 cents (surface rate) on reply half. All other countries, 13 cents single;