forms (see § 121.6 of this chapter) will be furnished without charge. (3) Postage rates. Parcel post rates to the various countries of destination are shown in the individual country items in § 168.5 of this chapter. The rates for surface parcels are 80 or 90 cents for the first 2 pounds and 30 or 35 cents for each additional pound, a fraction of a pound being charged as a full pound. Air parcel rates are on the basis of each 4 ounces, a fraction of 4 ounces being charged as a full 4 ounces. The weight of the customs declaration and other postal forms will not be included with that of the parcel (surface or air) in determining the amount of postage required. [26 F.R. 8704, Sept. 19, 1961, as amended at 27 F.R. 2688, Mar. 22, 1962, 27 F.R. 11424, Nov. 20, 1962, 30 F.R. 2549, Feb. 26, 1965] (a) At mailing office. Outgoing parcels shall be checked carefully for postage payment before they are dispatched. Shortpaid parcels which bear a return address at the office of mailing shall be either returned to the sender for the deficient postage or held and the sender requested to supply the missing postage. The original postage is still valid when the parcel is remailed. If the return address is not at the mailing office the parcel shall be dispatched to the exchange office, unless the parcel is totally unpaid. (b) In transit. Sectional centers and other intermediate offices rehandling parcel in transit shall not attempt to check the postage paid, but shall return to the senders any parcels observed to be totally unpaid. (c) Reported by exchange office. Shortpaid parcels observed at exchange offices are dispatched to destination and a notice on Form 2947-A, "Notice to Mailer-Irregularity in International Mail," is sent requesting that the deficiency be supplied to the exchange office. If the deficiency is not supplied, the exchange office will request the postmaster to collect from the sender. [27 F.R. 9259, Sept. 19, 1962] § 121.5 Prohibitions and restrictions. (a) General list of prohibited articles. The following are prohibited by parcel post to all countries: (1) Articles which are excluded from the domestic mails of the United States. (See Part 14 of this chapter.) Although safety matches are admitted in the domestic mail, they are prohibited in the international mail. (2) Written communications of the nature of personal correspondence, or recorded correspondence. (See § 121.2 (c) of this chapter.) (3) Enclosures which bear an address different from that appearing on the parcel itself. (4) Pistols, revolvers, and other firearms capable of being concealed on the person, with certain exceptions. (See § 15.5 and § 143.1 of this chapter.) (5) Live or dead creatures, except live bees, leeches, and silkworms and dead insects or reptiles when thoroughly dried. (6) Fruits and vegetables which easily decompose and any substances which exhale a bad odor. (7) Gold coin, gold bullion, or gold dust exceeding $100 in value. (See § 144.4 of this chapter.) (8) Articles which may in any way damage or destroy the mail or injure the persons handling them. This includes liquids which may cause injury by contact with the skin or give off irritating vapors; also explosives and inflammable liquids having a flash point by the Tagliabue open tester of 80° F. or lower, and inflammable solids which are likely, under conditions incident to transportation, to cause fires through friction, through absorption of moisture, or through spontaneous chemical changes. (9) Articles containing gas or liquid under pressure, except that products incorporating compressed gas are acceptable if the mist produced is noninflammable, the quantity of contents 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 gauge pressure) at 70° F. Liquids with flash point below 150° F. are restricted as stated in § 121.5(b) (1) of this chapter. (10) Oxidizing materials such as chlorates, permanganates, peroxides, or nitrates, which yield oxygen readily to stimulate the combustion of organic matter. (11) For articles prohibited in postal union mail, see § 111.3 of this chapter. (b) Restricted articles-(1) Combustible liquids. Combustible liquids having a flash point of 150° F. or lower but above 80° F. (Tag, open tester) may be sent to foreign countries generally in quantities not exceeding 1 quart in any one parcel, except that paints, varnishes, turpentine, and similar substances may be sent in quantities of less than 1 gallon in any one parcel. The container must be completely surrounded with sawdust, bran, or other absorbent material sufficient to take up all the liquid content. Each parcel containing a combustible liquid must be marked by the sender to indicate that the flash point is above 80° F. (2) Gold and gold certificates. § 144.1 of this chapter.) (See (3) Jewelry. Some countries prohibit the importation of jewelry or other precious articles by parcel post, and others admit them only in registered or insured parcels. (See country items in § 168.5 of this chapter.) 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, its acceptance to countries to which jewelry is prohibited is at the risk of the sender. (4) Tobacco seed and plants. (See § 145.2 of this chapter.) (5) Plant material generally. Plants, seeds, and plant material are subject to the quarantine regulations of the country of destination. Patrons can obtain information from the Plant Quarantine Branch, Department of Agriculture, Washington 25, D.C., or from one of the offices of that branch located at principal ports of entry. (6) Radioactive materials. Radioactive materials are restricted as stated in § 15.2(d) of this chapter. (c) Individual country prohibitions and restrictions. See individual country regulations in § 168.5 of this chapter. [26 F.R. 8706, Sept. 19, 1961, as amended at 27 F.R. 2688, Mar. 22, 1962, 29 F.R. 3518, Mar. 19, 1964, 30 F.R. 2549, Feb. 26, 1965] (a) Customs declaration, Form 2966— (1) Preparation by accepting clerk. The accepting clerk will give the sender the number of forms required for the country concerned, and will see that he fills them out in accordance with subparagraph (2) of this paragraph, and any special instructions under the country item in § 168.5 of this chapter. Request senders to fill out declarations in ink or by typewriter, but packages presented with declarations completed in ordinary pencil are not to be rejected for that reason. Enter the weight of the parcel and, if insured, the insurance number. Postmark the form in the space provided and return it to the sender to be attached to the parcel as described in subparagraph (3) of this paragraph. (2) Preparation by sender. Complete the declarations in ink or by typewriter. The postal service assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of the indications shown by the sender. Show on each declaration the following: (i) The name and address of the sender and the addressee: (ii) The disposal to be made of the parcel if it proves to be undeliverable as addressed. If an alternate addressee is given, it is recommended that the sender also indicate whether he wishes to have the parcel returned or treated as abandoned if it proves to be undeliverable to both the original and alternate addressees. This is done by checking the ultimate disposal in addition to the one showing the alternate addressee. (See illustrations in paragraph (c) (4) of this section.) Senders should give instructions for abandonment of any parcels on which they are not willing to pay the return charges mentioned in § 122.5(a) (1) of this chapter. (iii) A complete and accurate description of the contents in the English language. An interlineation in another language is permitted, and in some cases is required (see part 168 of this chapter). In the case of parcels containing more than one article, or articles of different kinds, state the exact quantity and value of each kind or article. If the sender wishes to declare that the contents of a parcel have "No Value", he is permitted to do so. It is sufficient to use simply such words as coat, or stockings, but the materials of which the articles are composed must be shown, as fur coat, silk stockings. Also, for instance, in the case of dried fruits the particular kinds, such as figs, raisins, currants, etc., must be shown. General terms such as worn clothing, groceries, presents, merchandise, samples, and the like, will not suffice. In case the customs declaration does not furnish enough space on which to give a complete list of the contents, an additional declaration form may be used, or the list place on the wrapper, making reference to the fact on the declaration itself. (iv) If the parcel is to be insured, show in the space provided the amount for which it is insured (see §§ 133.4 and 133.5 (a) (2) of this chapter). (3) Affixing by sender. In addition to being tied by means of a strong cord passed through the eyelets, the tag must be bound to the parcel so that it lies flat and cannot be used as a handle to lift the parcel. (4) Facsimile of Form 2966. The following facsimile illustrates the information which the sender and the accepting clerk will add to complete the form. (b) Dispatch note, Form 2972-(1) Preparation by accepting clerk. The accepting clerk will give the sender a dispatch note if required for the country concerned and see that he fills it out in accordance with § 121.6 (b) (2) of this chapter. Re quest senders to fill out the dispatch note in ink or by typewriter, but packages presented with the forms completed in ordinary pencil are not to be rejected for that reason. Enter in the appropriate spaces the weight of the parcel, amount of postage paid, number of customs declarations, and, if insured, the insurance number and amount of insurance (see § 133.5 (b) (1) of this chapter). For parcels mailed by Government agencies pursuant to § 111.2 (d) (2) (ii), of this chapter, enter the words "Official Paid" or the abbreviation "Off. Pd." in lieu of the amount of postage. Postmark the form in the space provided and return it to the sender to be attached to the parcel as described in paragraph (a) (3) of this section. (2) Preparation and affixing by sender. Complete the dispatch note in ink or on the typewriter. Fill in the name and address of the sender and addressee and indicate alternate disposition to be made of the parcel. Attach the form to the parcel in the same manner as the customs declaration. (See paragraph (a) (3) of this section.) (3) Facsimile. The following facsimile illustrates the information the sender must supply and which the accepting clerk will add to complete the form: (c) Parcel post sticker, Form 2922(1) Preparation by accepting clerk. Give the sender a yellow International parcel-post sticker and see that he fills it out in accordance with paragraph (c) (2) of this section. Enter in the spaces provided the weight of the parcel and the postage paid (not including insurance or other fees), and initial the form. For parcels mailed by Government agencies pursuant to § 111.2(d) (2) (ii) of this chapter, enter the words "Official Paid" or the abbreviation "Off. Pd." in lieu of the amount of postage. See that the form is securely attached (see paragraph (c) (3) of this section). (2) Preparation by sender. Prepare a parcel post sticker for each parcel. Indicate alternative disposition and place name at bottom of the form. Do not use Form 2922 on parcels for U.S. possessions. (3) Manner of affixing. Form 2922 should be pasted to the wrapper of the parcel, preferably on the address side, but if the shape or size of the parcel makes this impracticable, the sticker may be fixed to a tag which shall in turn be securely attached to the parcel. (4) Facsimile. The following facsimile illustrates the information which the sender and the accepting clerk will add to complete the form: |