(3) Exceptions. To some countries, dimensions other than the general dimensions indicated are applicable. A parcel must not exceed the maximum dimensions allowed to the country to which it is addressed. See § 168.5 of this chapter for individual country limits.

(4) Weight limits. For weight limits applicable to each country of destination, see individual country items in § 168.5 of this chapter.

(c) Permissible enclosures and attachments (1) In general. A communication of the nature of personal correspondence must not be enclosed in or written on any parcel. However, a parcel may contain an open invoice, confined to the particulars which constitute an invoice, and a simple copy of the address of the parcel, with mention of the address of the sender. If a written communication in the nature of personal correspondence is found in the parcel, it will be placed in the mails if separable. If unseparably attached the entire parcel must be rejected.

(2) Exceptions. In the case of parcel post packages for Canada, a letter and for Switzerland a letter or card, fully

prepaid and bearing the same address as that of the parcel, may be tied or otherwise securely attached to the outside of the parcel in such manner as to prevent its separation therefrom or its interference with the address of the parcel. Stamps to cover postage on the parcel must be fixed to the wrapper of the parcel; stamps to pay postage on the letter must be fixed to the envelope thereof. Parcels to which such letters are attached are treated as parcel post.

(d) Addressing and mailing—(1) Addressing. The name and address of the sender and of the addressee must be legibly and correctly written in every case when possible on the parcel itself or on a label gummed thereto, and must also be written on a separate slip enclosed in the parcel. Parcels will not be accepted when addressed to a "care" in one country and the addressee (or person for whom intended) in another country or when addressed to or sent by initials, unless the initials are the adopted trade name of the senders or addressees. Addresses in ordinary pencil are not allowed, but copying ink or indelible pencil on a surface previously

dampened may be used. Sufficient space must be left for the addition of necessary service notations and for stamps or labels.

(2) Mailing. Parcels may not be mailed in letter boxes. Patrons must present them at parcel-post windows of post offices, where the necessary postal 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 for each 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.

(a) Observed at mailing office. Shortpaid parcels observed at the office of mailing 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.

(b) Reported by exchange office. Shortpaid parcels observed at exchange offices are dispatched to destination and a notice on Form 2947-a, Notice to Mailer of Irregularities in International Mail, is sent requesting that the deficiency be supplied to the exchange office.

§ 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. (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, through spontaneous chemical changes.

or

(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. The container must be completely surrounded with sawdust, bran, or other absorbent material sufficient to take up all the liquid content.

(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,

(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.

(c) Individual country prohibitions and restrictions. See individual country regulations in § 168.5 of this chapter. § 121.6

Documentation.

(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. Show on each declaration the following:

(i) The name and address of the sender and the addressee.

(ii) Instructions as to disposal of the parcel if undeliverable as addressed. Three alternatives are printed on the form, that the parcel be (a) returned postage due, (b) offered for delivery to a second addressee in the country of destination (name and complete address to be given), or (c) abandoned. The sender must indicate his choice by crossing out the unwanted alternatives and placing his name and address in the spaces provided. If the sender is not willing to pay return postage on his parcel, he should indicate that it is to be abandoned in case of nondelivery.

(iii) Describe the contents completely and accurately in the English language, although 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. It is not 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 placed 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 § 133.5(a) (2) of this chapter).

(3) Affixing by sender. In addition to being tied by means of a cord passed through the eyelets, the tag must be bound to the parcel so that it lies flat thereon and cannot be used as a handle to lift the parcel while in transit. The tag is not to be tied to the parcel and allowed to hang loose.

(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. Request 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