[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 3 (Monday, January 6, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 638-645]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-106]
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POSTAL SERVICE
39 CFR Part 20
Global Package Link (Formerly International Package Consignment
Service)
AGENCY: Postal Service.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: The Postal Service, after considering the comments submitted
in response to its request in 61 FR 13,765 (March 28, 1996) for
comments on interim regulations implementing International Package
Consignment (IPCS) service to Canada and the United Kingdom, hereby
gives notice that it is adopting the interim regulations as amended on
a permanent basis, without substantive modification. The name of this
service has subsequently been changed to Global Package Link (GPL).
EFFECTIVE DATE: 12:01 a.m., January 6, 1997.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Michelson, (202) 268-5731.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On March 28, 1996, the Postal Service
published in the Federal Register interim regulations implementing
Global Package Link (GPL) to Canada and the United Kingdom and
requested comments (61 FR 13765 (March 28, 1996)). GPL is an
international mail service designed for mail order companies sending
merchandise packages to other countries. The service was initially
available to Japan.
For the service to Canada, a customer would be required to mail at
least 25,000 packages annually and to connect its information systems
to the Postal Service so that the Postal Service and the customer could
exchange information about the customer's packages. The customer would
also be required to designate the Postal Service as its carrier of
choice to Canada. There were two levels of service to Canada and there
were rate discounts for sending larger numbers of parcels during the
year.
For service to the United Kingdom, a customer would be required to
mail at least 10,000 packages annually and to connect its information
systems to the Postal Service so that the Postal Service and the
customer could exchange information about the customer's packages. The
customer would also be required to designate the Postal Service as its
carrier of choice to the United Kingdom. There were three levels of
service to the United Kingdom and there were rate discounts for sending
more than 100,000 packages annually.
Comments were due on or before May 31, 1996. Comments were received
from two commenters, a company engaged in international package
delivery, WorldPak, Inc., and an association of companies engaged in
international package delivery, the Air Courier Conference of America
(ACCA). After considering these comments, the Postal Service has
decided to adopt the regulations without substantive change.
WorldPak asserts that GPL rates to Canada and the United Kingdom
are not permitted under the Acts of the Universal Postal Union because
the rates for the highest level of GPL service are lower than domestic
rates for single-piece Express Mail. No citation of authority is given,
but the Postal Service believes that the commenter is referring to
article 6.2, of the Universal Postal Convention, which provides, ``The
charges collected, including those laid down for guideline purposes in
the Acts, shall be at least equal to those collected on internal
service items presenting the same characteristics (category, quantity,
handling time, etc.).'' The Postal Service does not agree that GPL
rates are inconsistent with article 6.2. In the Postal Service's view,
it is inappropriate to compare rates for the highest level of GPL
service with single-piece Express Mail rates. GPL is a bulk service, in
which customers tender many packages at one time. There is no bulk
Express Mail service and therefore no bulk Express Mail rates. Insofar
as quantity is specifically a characteristic that article 6.2
recognizes as making a difference, article 6.2 does not require a
comparison with single-piece rates. In addition, GPL does not guarantee
delivery within any specific time. Express Mail guarantees delivery
within one or two days, depending on destination, and postage is
refunded if the service standard is not met. This also makes any
comparison with domestic Express Mail rates inappropriate. Accordingly,
the Postal Service concludes that GPL rates are not lower than the
rates for any service having the same characteristics.
WorldPak also asserts that GPL service to Canada is unauthorized
because it is a freight service, not a postal service. WorldPak asserts
that GPL is a freight service because GPL items are delivered by a
private sector contractor, not Canada Post Corporation, and GPL items
are cleared through customs using commercial customs clearance
procedures. The commenter also asserts, contrary to its argument that
GPL rates are illegal because they are lower than domestic Express Mail
rates, that GPL delivery by private contractors is not authorized by
the Universal Postal Convention because it is not EMS service. The
Postal Service does not agree that GPL service is unauthorized. The
distinction this commenter attempts to draw does not appear to have any
significance. Delivery by a private contractor is, and long has been,
one of the ways mail is delivered. Moreover, in the current environment
in which postal administrations in other countries are being
privatized, e.g., Netherlands and
[[Page 639]]
Germany, delivery of international mail by privately owned companies is
becoming more commonplace. The use of commercial customs clearance
procedures is likewise not a consideration in determining whether GPL
service is authorized. While the Acts of the Universal Postal Union
provide for documentation that is used for clearing most postal items
through customs, the procedures that are followed in the destination
country are prescribed by that country. In most cases, the main
difference between commercial and postal customs clearance is the
preparation of a manifest. For most postal items, customs clearance can
be accomplished using documents on the package without preparing a
manifest, although nothing in the Acts precludes the preparation of a
manifest if the law of the destination country requires it. Finally,
this argument does not take into account that the Postal Service is
authorized to provide nonpostal as well as postal services. 39 U.S.C.
Sec. 404(a)(6). Even if GPL could be correctly characterized as not
being a postal service, that would not make it unauthorized.
ACCA also asserts that GPL service is unauthorized, but argues that
it is unauthorized because it is a new classification of mail and must
be recommended by the Postal Rate Commission before it can be
established. The association asserts that Air Courier Conference of
America v. Postal Service, 959 F.2d 1213 (3d Cir. 1992), held that 39
U.S.C. Sec. 407 excepted only international rates from submission to
the Postal Rate Commission, not international classifications. The
association is mistaken. Section 407 has been consistently interpreted
as applying to both international rates and classifications since the
two things are largely inseparable from a practical point of view: one
cannot establish rates without reference to the items to which the
rates apply. Moreover, most international mail classifications and
services are established in postal treaties and conventions. The basic
classifications of LC, AO including both printed matter and small
packets, and parcels are established in the Universal Postal Convention
and Postal Parcels agreement, which are postal treaties ratified by the
President of the United States. The levels of service, surface, surface
air lift (SAL), airmail, and EMS are also established in the
Convention. GPL matches these classes and services with volume-discount
rates that are attractive to large volume mailers. It does not create
any new classes of mail or service. It should also be noted that the
Postal Rate Commission has never asserted jurisdiction over either
international rates or classifications.
Both WorldPak and the ACCA assert that GPL rates do not make an
appropriate contribution to overhead and do not take into account all
of the cost attributable to the service. WorldPak asserts that the
Postal Service's measurement of costs do not take into account the
program managers of the service, do not take into account the travel,
marketing, and related costs of the service, and do not take into
account the costs of contractors to operate the GPL and CPAS
information systems. ACCA asserts that the costs are understated
because they use terminal dues expense as opposed to the actual cost of
delivery incurred by the country of destination and do not take into
account the value of services provided in the country of destination
that are not generally available to the public. The Postal Service
disagrees.
WorldPak appears not to understand which costs are attributable and
which are not. It also appears not to understand that cost evaluations
are done at a service or category level, i.e. GPL as a whole, not at a
country specific level. In general, attributable costs are those that
vary with volume. The costs of program managers, travel, marketing,
etc., do not vary with volume and are not attributable. The other costs
that are attributable are those that, while not volume variable, are
exclusively associated with a particular service. An example of this
from the domestic context is Express Mail advertising. Since postal
managers, regardless of title, perform duties pertaining to more than
one service or category of mail, there are no such costs exclusively
associated with GPL service as a whole, much less GPL service to any
one country. Insofar as GPL incurs contractor costs to operate the GPL
and CPAS information systems, to the extent that these costs are volume
variable they are included in the costs of the service.
ACCA argues that the charges for delivery in the destination
country might not include all the costs incurred by the delivery agent
for delivery and that, therefore, the total economic cost for GPL
service might not be included in the GPL cost base. ACCA urges that the
cost base for GPL rates be revised to include any costs that the
delivery agent might have omitted. The association does not cite any
data source that might support its assertion, nor is the Postal Service
aware of any data that might relate to them. Accordingly, there is no
basis for believing that the charges do not cover the costs of delivery
in the destination country, and no basis to make any adjustment even if
there were some rational economic reason to include any cost other than
what the delivery agent in fact charges for its services.
Similarly, ACCA urges that the costs of GPL service be adjusted
upward to account for the economic value of the customs clearance
services provided by the delivery agent, which ACCA asserts might not
be correctly priced because such customs clearance services are not
available to other international transportation service providers. The
Postal Service disagrees. First, insofar as Canada is concerned, the
Postal Service uses commercial customs clearance procedures using a
customs broker. This is the same customs clearance that private sector
delivery companies use. Second, insofar as the United Kingdom is
concerned, there is no basis for believing that the cost of customs
clearance is not included in the charges established by the United
Kingdom postal administration, since such services are provided to all
mail of the kind sent by GPL regardless of the rate charged by the
Postal Service. Moreover, there are no data which could be used to make
such an adjustment even if it were appropriate.
ACCA asserts that the contribution to overhead could be as low as
one cent, and that such a low contribution would not be appropriate.
ACCA provided no data or analysis to support its position. The Postal
Service has reviewed the cost and revenue for GPL and has concluded
that in view of the competitive nature of the parcel market, GPL does
make a reasonable and appropriate contribution to overhead.
ACCA asserts that the rates for GPL to Canada and the United
Kingdom are unduly discriminatory because they are lower than rates for
single-piece EMS to those countries. The Postal Service disagrees.
Rates for GPL service reflect differences in the markets for bulk
parcels and single-piece parcels. The market for bulk parcels is highly
competitive and is characterized by substantial discounting by the
various competitors. No such discounting is present in the market for
single-piece parcels. The costs of the two kinds of service are also
different, with the bulk parcels being less costly to handle. These
differences in costs and market conditions lead the Postal Service to
conclude that the rates for GPL to Canada and the United Kingdom are
not unduly discriminatory.
WorldPak asserts that the interim regulations are unlawful because
they contain misstatements and lend
[[Page 640]]
themselves to unreasonable discrimination. As an example, WorldPak
asserts that the regulations are inaccurate in that they state that the
Postal Service's Customs Pre-Advisory System (CPAS) electronically
advises the GPL delivery agent and Canadian Customs of the contents of
each package. According to WorldPak, the information is transmitted
customs clearance information is transmitted electronically to a
customs broker. The Postal Service agrees that this provision is
technically inaccurate, in that the data is transmitted to a customs
broker who is an agent for the Postal Service's delivery agent and who
provides the data to Canadian Customs. The technical inaccuracy does
not, in the Postal Service's view, make the interim regulations
illegal. The provision will be amended, however, to remove the
reference to transmitting data to the delivery agent and Canadian
Customs.
As a second example, WorldPak asserts that the provisions
concerning Air Courier Service are inaccurate in that they state that
Air Courier Service packages will be transported to Canada overnight.
According to WorldPak, overnight air transportation to Canada depends
on a number of variables, and in certain hypothetical cases, might not
be transported overnight. The Postal Service disagrees with this
assertion. Overnight transportation to Canada is the service commitment
for Air Courier Service and the Postal Service sees no problem in
meeting this commitment.
As a third example, WorldPak asserts that the interim regulations
suggest that there are or will be more GPL processing facilities than
the one at New York's JFK Airport. According to WorldPak, this could be
unduly discriminatory in that additional facilities could be located
close to favored customers. WorldPak also asserts that the use in the
regulations of the term ``in general'' suggests that subjective
criteria would govern where facilities would be located. The Postal
Service concludes that these objections have no merit. The phrase ``in
general'' allows the possibility for customers who are more than 500
miles from a GPL processing facility to process packages at their
facility for pickup by the Postal Service. At the time the interim
regulations were published, the Postal Service was constructing an
additional GPL facility near the Dallas-Fort Worth International
Airport and was planning facilities in Chicago, San Francisco, Seattle,
and Miami. Those new facilities were announced in the Federal Register
on July 30, 1996, 61 FR 39592-93. Whatever concern might have been
engendered by the wording of the provision in question was addressed in
that publication.
As a fourth example, WorldPak asserts that GPL to Canada and the
United Kingdom will not benefit all postal customers by generating
revenues which will contribute to fixed costs because the Postal
Service does not know enough about the costs of these new services.
According to WorldPak, GPL to Canada and GPL to the United Kingdom
should be considered as separate services which should individually
satisfy the requirements of the Postal Reorganization Act. The Postal
Service disagrees. First, the prices for GPL to Canada and the United
Kingdom take into account the variable costs and are designed to make a
contribution to fixed costs on an individual basis. However, the Postal
Reorganization Act does not require that the rates of international
postal services be evaluated on a country by country basis. It requires
only that each type or category of service cover its variable costs and
make a contribution to fixed costs. GPL as a whole certainly meets this
requirement. Moreover, differences in the details of how a service is
provided to different countries do not change how the requirements of
the Act are applied to the service as a whole.
Accordingly, the Postal Service adopts the following amendments to
the International Mail Manual which is incorporated by reference in the
Code of Federal Regulations, See 39 CFR 20.1. All other interim changes
in the rule for Global Package Link service which were published in the
Federal Register as amendments of this interim rule remain in effect as
interim rules.
List of Subjects in 39 CFR part 20
International postal service, Foreign relations.
PART 20--[AMENDED]
1. The authority citation for 39 CFR part 20 continues to read as
follows:
Authority: 5 U.S.C. 552(a); 39 U.S.C. 401, 404, 407, 408.
2. Subchapter 620 of the International Mail Manual, Issue 16, is
amended as follows:
6 Special Programs
* * * * *
620 Global Package Link
621 Description
621.1 General
Global Package Link is a bulk mailing system that provides fast,
economical international delivery of packages containing merchandise.
Global Package Link is designed to make it easier and less costly for
mail-order companies to export goods. The Postal Service provides
Global Package Link on a destination country-specific basis pursuant to
the terms and conditions stipulated in 620 and the Individual Country
Listings.
* * * * *
621.3 Availability
Global Package Link is available only to destination countries
identified in 620 and the Individual Country Listings.
622 Qualifying Customers
To qualify, a customer must enter into a service agreement
containing the commitments stipulated in 625.2 and must be able to meet
the general and destination country-specific preparation requirements
stipulated in 620 and the Individual Country Listings.
623 General
623.1 Special Services
The special services provided for in Chapter 3 are not available
for packages sent by Global Package Link unless specifically provided
for in 620 or the Individual Country Listings.
623.2 Customs Documentation
The requirements for customs forms vary by destination country as
stipulated in 620 and the Individual Country Listings.
623.3 Size and Weight Limits
Size and weight limits for packages sent by Global Package Link
vary by destination country as stipulated in 620 and the Individual
Country Listings.
623.41 Rates
Rates vary by destination country as stipulated in 620 and the
Individual Country Listings.
623.42 Postage Payment Method
Postage must be paid by permit imprint or any other Postal Service
approved method.
624 Preparation Requirements
624.1 General Requirements
* * * * *
624.2 Destination Country-Specific Requirements
Certain preparation requirements vary by destination country as
stipulated in 620 and the Individual Country Listings.
625 Global Package Link Service Agreements
* * * * *
[[Page 641]]
625.2 Required Provisions
a. The customer's commitment to send at least 25,000 packages (or
10,000 to the United Kingdom) by Global Package Link during the next 12
months to the specified destination country.
* * * * *
626 Global Package Link to Japan
* * * * *
[Change 627 to 626.7 Customs Forms Required]
* * * * *
[Change 628 to 626.8 Preparation Requirements]
* * * * *
[Change 628.1 to 626.81 Express Service]
* * * * *
[Change 628.11 to 626.811 Processing at JFK]
* * * * *
[Change 628.12 to 626.812 Processing Mailer's Plant]
* * * * *
[Change 628.2 to 626.82 Standard Air Service]
* * * * *
[Change 628.3 to 626.83 Economy Air Service]
* * * * *
3. Effective immediately, chapter 6 of the International Mail
Manual, Issue 16, is amended by adding new section 627 as follows:
6 Special Programs
* * * * *
620 Global Package Link
* * * * *
627 Global Package Link to Other Destination Countries
Information concerning Global Package Link for the following
designated countries is detailed in the Individual Country Listings
(ICLs) section.
a. Canada.
b. Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
* * * * *
4. Effective immediately, the Individual Country Listing for Canada
in the International Mail Manual, Issue 16, is amended by adding the
following information, concerning Global Package Link, to the end of
the listing.
Global Package Link
Description
Global Package Link to Canada provides the customer with two
delivery options and with preparation by the Postal Service of the
customs forms and delivery labels required by Canada.
Delivery Options
Air Courier Service
Air Courier Service is the fastest option. The Postal Service will
transport Air Courier Service packages from the customer's plant or
from the designated Global Package Link processing facility to Canada
overnight where they will receive expeditious customs clearance and be
released to the delivery agent. From there, the packages will receive
courier service throughout Canada and be delivered to major population
centers overnight. Normal delivery times will be two to three days from
dispatch to final delivery.
Ground Courier Service
Ground Courier Service will offer overnight transportation to
Canada and ground transportation to final destination in Canada. It
will receive the same expeditious customs clearance as Air Courier
Service and normal delivery times for 95 percent of all Canadian
addresses will be three to six days after dispatch from the customer's
plant, depending on the location of final destination. (For addresses
in the Maritimes and extreme northern territories where distance and
poor roads affect transportation, delivery times could be as long as
eight days.)
Processing and Acceptance
Within 500 Miles of a Global Package Link Processing Facility
If the plant at which the customer's Global Package Link packages
originate is located within 500 miles of a Global Package Link
processing facility, the Postal Service will verify and accept the
packages at the customer's plant and transport them to the Global
Package Link processing facility according to a schedule agreed upon by
the Postal Service and the customer.
More than 500 Miles from a Global Package Link Processing Facility
If the customer's plant from which the Global Package Link packages
will originate is located more than 500 miles from a Global Package
Link processing facility, the customer can choose one of two processing
options.
Option One: The customer will be required to present the packages
to the Postal Service for verification at the customer's plant and
transport them as a drop shipment to a Global Package Link processing
facility according to a schedule agreed upon by the Postal Service and
the customer.
Option Two: The customer will process the packages using Postal
Service-provided computer system workstations and sort and prepare the
packages as required by the Postal Service. Then, the Postal Service
verifies and accepts the packages at the customer's plant and
transports them by truck to the nearest air mail facility according to
a schedule agreed upon by the Postal Service and the customer. From the
air mail facility, the Postal Service dispatches the Global Package
Link packages to Canada, bypassing a Global Package Link processing
facility.
Required Package Specific Information
Requirements are the same as those detailed in Section 626.3.
Insurance and Indemnity
Air Courier Service
Packages sent through Air Courier Service are insured against loss,
damage, or rifling at no additional cost. Indemnity will be paid by the
Postal Service as provided in DMM S500. However, packages are not
insured against delay in delivery. Neither indemnity payments nor
postage refunds will be made in event of delay.
Ground Courier Service
Packages sent through Economy Service may be insured at an
additional cost. See 320.
Postage
General
The base rates for the two currently available options are set
forth below. These rates may be reduced by one or more of the three
additive annual discounts depending on how many packages the customer
mails to Canada using either of the two Global Package Link delivery
options in a twelve month period.
Base Rates
The Postal Service will charge the base rates, in 1-pound
increments, for the first 100,000 packages mailed by the customer
during a 12-month period.
Rate Reductions
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of packages Percent discount
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Up to 100,000............................. Base Rate.
100,001 to 500,000........................ 3% off base rates.
500,001 to 1,000,000...................... 4% off previously discounted
rates.
1,000,001 and over........................ 5% off previously discounted
rates.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 642]]
Global Package Link To Canada
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Base Rates <100k 101k-500k="" 3.00%="" volume="" discounts="" 501k-1m="">1m 5.00%
---------------------------------------------------- 4.00% -------------------------
Pounds to: --------------------------
Air Ground Air Ground Air Ground Air Ground
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1.............................................. 10.15 8.55 9.85 8.29 9.45 7.96 8.98 7.56
2.............................................. 11.09 9.37 10.76 9.09 10.33 8.72 9.81 8.29
3.............................................. 12.74 10.92 12.36 10.60 11.86 10.17 11.27 9.66
4.............................................. 14.38 11.93 13.95 11.57 13.39 11.10 12.73 10.55
5.............................................. 16.03 12.95 15.55 12.56 14.93 12.06 14.18 11.46
6.............................................. 17.55 13.98 17.03 13.56 16.35 13.02 15.53 12.37
7.............................................. 19.19 14.93 18.61 14.48 17.87 13.90 16.98 13.20
8.............................................. 20.83 15.85 20.20 15.38 19.39 14.76 18.42 14.03
9.............................................. 22.46 16.80 21.79 16.29 20.92 15.64 19.87 14.86
10.............................................. 24.10 17.72 23.37 17.19 22.44 16.51 21.32 15.68
11.............................................. 25.55 18.55 24.78 17.99 23.79 17.27 22.60 16.41
12.............................................. 27.17 19.49 26.36 18.91 25.30 18.15 24.04 17.25
13.............................................. 28.81 20.45 27.95 19.84 26.83 19.05 25.49 18.09
14.............................................. 30.44 21.40 29.52 20.76 28.34 19.93 26.92 18.93
15.............................................. 32.06 22.36 31.10 21.69 29.85 20.82 28.36 19.78
16.............................................. 33.68 23.86 32.67 23.14 31.37 22.21 29.80 21.10
17.............................................. 35.32 24.84 34.26 24.09 32.89 23.13 31.25 21.97
18.............................................. 36.95 25.81 35.84 25.03 34.40 24.03 32.68 22.83
19.............................................. 38.57 26.99 37.41 26.18 35.92 25.14 34.12 23.88
20.............................................. 40.19 27.97 38.99 27.13 37.43 26.05 35.56 24.74
21.............................................. 41.53 28.74 40.29 27.88 38.68 26.76 36.74 25.43
22.............................................. 43.15 29.71 41.85 28.82 40.18 27.67 38.17 26.28
23.............................................. 44.76 30.69 43.42 29.77 41.68 28.58 39.59 27.15
24.............................................. 46.37 31.66 44.98 30.71 43.18 29.48 41.02 28.01
25.............................................. 48.00 32.65 46.56 31.67 44.69 30.40 42.46 28.88
26.............................................. 49.61 33.61 48.12 32.61 46.20 31.30 43.89 29.74
27.............................................. 50.85 34.60 49.32 33.56 47.35 32.22 44.98 30.61
28.............................................. 52.83 35.57 51.25 34.50 49.20 33.12 46.74 31.46
29.............................................. 54.46 36.55 52.83 35.45 50.71 34.03 48.18 32.33
30.............................................. 56.07 37.52 54.39 36.39 52.21 34.94 49.60 33.19
31.............................................. 57.27 38.21 55.55 37.06 53.33 35.58 50.66 33.80
32.............................................. 58.87 39.17 57.10 37.99 54.82 36.47 52.08 34.65
33.............................................. 60.49 40.14 58.67 38.94 56.32 37.38 53.51 35.51
34.............................................. 62.09 41.11 60.22 39.87 57.81 38.28 54.92 36.36
35.............................................. 63.69 42.08 61.78 40.82 59.31 39.19 56.34 37.23
36.............................................. 65.29 43.04 63.33 41.75 60.80 40.08 57.76 38.08
37.............................................. 66.90 44.02 64.90 42.70 62.30 40.99 59.18 38.94
38.............................................. 68.50 45.33 66.45 43.97 63.79 42.21 60.60 40.10
39.............................................. 70.10 46.49 68.00 45.09 65.28 43.29 62.02 41.12
40.............................................. 71.70 47.64 69.55 46.21 66.77 44.36 63.43 42.14
41.............................................. 72.79 48.26 70.60 46.81 67.78 44.94 64.39 42.69
42.............................................. 74.38 49.23 72.15 47.75 69.26 45.84 65.80 43.55
43.............................................. 75.97 50.21 73.69 48.71 70.74 46.76 67.20 44.42
44.............................................. 77.56 51.57 75.23 50.03 72.22 48.02 68.61 45.62
45.............................................. 79.16 52.56 76.78 50.99 73.71 48.95 70.03 46.50
46.............................................. 80.16 53.13 77.75 51.54 74.64 49.48 70.91 47.00
47.............................................. 81.74 54.94 79.28 53.29 76.11 51.16 72.31 48.60
48.............................................. 83.31 56.77 80.81 55.06 77.58 52.86 73.70 50.22
49.............................................. 84.78 58.64 82.24 56.88 78.95 54.60 75.00 51.87
50.............................................. 86.48 60.96 83.89 59.13 80.53 56.76 76.51 53.92
51.............................................. 88.06 62.45 85.42 60.58 82.00 58.15 77.90 55.24
52.............................................. 89.65 63.97 86.96 62.05 83.48 59.57 79.31 56.59
53.............................................. 91.23 65.52 88.49 63.56 84.95 61.01 80.70 57.96
54.............................................. 92.82 67.08 90.04 65.06 86.43 62.46 82.11 59.34
55.............................................. 94.40 68.64 91.57 66.58 87.90 63.92 83.51 60.72
56.............................................. 95.28 69.28 92.42 67.20 88.73 64.51 84.29 61.29
57.............................................. 96.85 70.37 93.94 68.26 90.19 65.53 85.68 62.25
58.............................................. 98.43 71.48 95.48 69.34 91.66 66.56 87.07 63.24
59.............................................. 99.99 72.58 96.99 70.40 93.11 67.58 88.46 64.20
60.............................................. 101.57 74.18 98.53 71.96 94.59 69.08 89.86 65.62
61.............................................. 103.14 75.30 100.05 73.04 96.04 70.12 91.24 66.61
62.............................................. 104.72 76.40 101.58 74.11 97.51 71.14 92.64 67.59
63.............................................. 105.51 77.48 102.35 75.16 98.25 72.15 93.34 68.54
64.............................................. 107.07 78.55 103.85 76.19 99.70 73.15 94.71 69.49
65.............................................. 108.63 79.70 105.37 77.31 101.16 74.22 96.10 70.51
66.............................................. 110.19 80.85 106.88 78.42 102.61 75.29 97.48 71.52
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[[Page 643]]
Size and Weight Limits
All Air Courier and Ground Courier Service packages must meet the
following size and weight limits:
Size Limits
a. Minimum length and width: large enough to accommodate the
necessary labels and customs forms on the address side.
b. Maximum length: 60 inches.
c. Maximum length and girth combined: 108 inches.
Weight Limit
Maximum weight: 66 pounds.
Customs
Customs Forms
Normally all necessary Canadian customs forms will be automatically
generated by the Postal Service computer workstations. Packages mailed
to Canada through a Global Package Link facility will not be required
to bear customs forms when they are tendered to the Postal Service. The
Postal Service will verify, accept, and transport these packages to a
designated Global Package Link processing facility. After scanning the
customer-printed barcode on each package and correlating it with the
package-specific information transmitted by the customer, the Postal
Service will print the necessary customs forms and then affix them to
the customer's packages as part of the processing operation at the
Global Package Link processing facility. However, during the interim
period in which the Postal Service and the customer are working
together to establish the information systems linkages to enable the
Postal Service to accomplish this, the customer may be required to
prepare the necessary customs forms on its own and affix the forms to
the packages before tendering them to the Postal Service. In those
cases where the computer workstations are located at the customer's
plant and operated by customer employees, the USPS computer will print
the customs forms, and the customer will be required to affix these
forms to the appropriate packages as instructed by the Postal Service
prior to verification and acceptance of the mail.
Customs Clearance
The Postal Service has developed the Customs Pre-Advisory System
(CPAS) as part of Global Package Link processing. This electronic
system collects package-specific data to satisfy customs requirements
as packages are processed using the USPS computer workstations located
at either a Global Package Link facility or the customer's plant. The
system electronically advises the USPS agent of the contents of each
package mailed. Since this advisory information arrives before the
mail, CPAS facilitates and simplifies customs clearance. Electronic
pre-notification of the package contents and automatic preparation of
required customs declarations assures the fastest clearance through
Canadian Customs and reduces costs for the customer and the Postal
Service.
Preparation Requirements
Air Courier Service
Every package sent through Air Courier Service must bear a label
identifying it as an Air Courier Service package. The customer is not
normally required to affix this label. The Postal Service prints the
necessary label and affixes it to the Air Courier Service package.
However, during the interim period in which the Postal Service and the
customer are establishing the information systems linkages to enable
the Postal Service to accomplish this, the customer is required to
affix an alternative label as instructed by the Postal Service to every
Air Courier Service package.
Ground Courier Service
There are no Canada-specific preparation requirements for packages
sent through Ground Courier Service. Packages weighing 1 pound or less
must bear the Small Packet marking (see 264.21).
* * * * *
5. Effective immediately, the Individual Country Listing for the
Great Britain and Northern Ireland in the International Mail Manual,
Issue 16, is amended by adding the following information, concerning
Global Package Link, to the end of the listing.
Global Package Link
Description
Global Package Link to the United Kingdom (U.K.) provides the
customer with three delivery options and with preparation by the Postal
Service of the customs and delivery labels required by the British Post
Office.
Delivery Options
Premium Service
The Postal Service will transport Premium packages to the U.K. by
air. Once a package is dispatched from the customer's facility, it
should clear Customs and be delivered in the U.K. by close of business
on the third working day. The customer can track packages through
delivery and reports on delivery performance are furnished to the
customer in the formats and at the frequencies agreed upon by the
Postal Service and the customer.
Standard Service
The Postal Service will transport Standard packages to the U.K. by
air. Once a package is dispatched from the customer's facility, it
should clear Customs and be delivered by close of business on the
fourth working day. The customer can track packages through delivery
and reports on delivery performance are furnished to the customer in
the formats and at the frequencies agreed upon by the Postal Service
and the customer.
Economy Service
The Postal Service will transport Economy packages to the U.K. by
air. Once a package is dispatched from a customer's facility, it should
clear Customs and be delivered by close of business the fifth or sixth
working day. Tracking and tracing is available to the point of entry
into the U.K. domestic mail stream.
Processing and Acceptance
Within 500 Miles of a Global Package Link Processing Facility
If the plant at which the customer's Global Package Link packages
originate is located within 500 miles of a Global Package Link
processing facility, the Postal Service will accept the packages at the
customer's plant and transport them by truck to the Global Package Link
processing facility according to a schedule agreed upon by the Postal
Service and the customer.
More than 500 Miles from a Global Package Link Processing Facility
If the customer's plant from which the Global Package Link packages
will originate is located more than 500 miles from a Global Package
Link processing facility, the customer can choose one of two processing
options.
Option One: The customer will be required to present the packages
to the Postal Service for verification at the customer's plant and
transport them as a drop shipment to a Global Package Link processing
facility according to a schedule agreed upon by the Postal Service and
the customer.
Option Two: The customer will process the packages using Postal
Service-provided computer system workstations and sort and prepare the
packages as required by the Postal Service. Then, the Postal Service
accepts the packages at the customer's plant and transports them by
truck to
[[Page 644]]
the nearest air mail facility according to a schedule agreed upon by
the Postal Service and the customer. From the air mail facility, the
Postal Service dispatches the Global Package Link packages to the U.K.,
bypassing a Global Package Link processing facility.
Required Package-Specific Information
Requirements are the same as those detailed in Section 626.3.
Insurance and Indemnity
Premium and Standard Services
Packages sent through the Premium or Standard Services are insured
against loss, damage, or rifling at no additional cost. Indemnity will
be paid by the Postal Service as provided in DMM S500. However, Premium
and Standard packages are not insured against delay in delivery.
Neither indemnity payments nor postage refunds will be made in event of
delay.
Economy Service
Packages sent through Economy Service may be insured at an
additional cost. See 320.
Postage
General
The base rates for the three available delivery options are set
forth below. These rates may be reduced by an annual discount depending
on how many packages the customer mails to the U.K. using any of the
three Global Package Link delivery options in a twelve month period.
Base Rates
The Postal Service will charge the base rates, in 1-pound
increments, for the first 100,000 packages mailed by the customer
during a 12-month period.
Rate Reductions
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of packages Percent discount
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Up to 100,000............................. Base Rate.
100,001 and over.......................... 2%
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Global Package Link
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Base rates For volumes > 100,000
Pounds to: -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Premium Standard Economy Premium Standard Economy
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1................................. 13.87 11.17 9.95 13.59 10.95 9.75
2................................. 15.21 12.46 11.19 14.90 12.21 10.97
3................................. 16.54 13.75 12.43 16.21 13.47 12.18
4................................. 17.88 15.04 13.67 17.52 14.73 13.39
5................................. 19.21 16.32 14.91 18.83 16.00 14.61
6................................. 20.55 17.61 16.15 20.14 17.26 15.82
7................................. 21.88 18.90 17.39 21.44 18.52 17.04
8................................. 23.71 20.18 18.63 23.24 19.78 18.25
9................................. 25.08 21.47 19.87 24.58 21.04 19.47
10................................ 26.63 22.76 21.11 26.09 22.30 20.68
11................................ 28.00 24.05 22.35 27.44 23.57 21.90
12................................ 29.37 25.33 23.59 28.79 24.83 23.11
13................................ 30.96 26.62 24.82 30.34 26.09 24.33
14................................ 32.34 27.91 26.06 31.70 27.35 25.54
15................................ 33.96 29.20 27.30 33.28 28.61 27.76
16................................ 35.35 30.48 28.54 34.64 29.87 27.97
17................................ 36.99 31.77 29.78 36.25 31.13 29.19
18................................ 38.66 33.06 31.02 37.88 32.40 30.40
19................................ 40.61 34.35 32.26 39.80 33.66 63.62
20................................ 42.04 35.63 33.50 41.20 34.92 32.83
21................................ 43.47 36.92 34.74 42.60 36.18 34.05
22................................ 44.90 38.21 35.98 44.00 37.44 35.26
23................................ 46.33 39.49 37.22 45.40 38.70 36.48
24................................ 47.76 40.78 38.46 46.81 39.97 37.69
25................................ 49.19 42.07 39.70 48.21 41.23 38.91
26................................ 50.62 43.36 40.94 49.61 42.49 40.12
27................................ 53.44 44.64 42.18 52.37 43.75 41.34
28................................ 54.91 45.93 43.42 53.81 45.01 42.55
29................................ 56.38 47.22 44.66 55.25 46.27 43.77
30................................ 57.85 48.51 45.90 56.69 47.54 44.98
31................................ 59.31 49.79 47.14 58.13 48.80 46.20
32................................ 60.78 51.08 48.38 59.57 50.06 47.41
33................................ 62.25 52.37 49.62 61.01 51.32 48.63
34................................ 63.72 53.65 50.86 62.45 52.58 49.84
35................................ 65.19 54.94 52.10 63.88 53.84 51.06
36................................ 66.66 56.23 53.34 65.32 55.10 52.27
37................................ 68.13 57.52 54.58 66.76 56.37 53.48
38................................ 69.59 58.80 55.82 68.20 57.63 54.70
39................................ 72.45 60.09 57.06 71.00 58.89 55.91
40................................ 73.94 61.38 58.30 72.46 60.15 57.13
41................................ 75.44 62.67 59.54 73.93 61.41 58.34
42................................ 76.94 63.95 60.77 75.40 62.67 59.56
43................................ 78.44 65.24 62.01 76.87 63.94 60.77
44................................ 79.93 66.53 63.25 78.33 65.20 61.99
45................................ 81.43 67.82 64.49 79.80 66.46 63.20
46................................ 82.93 69.10 65.73 81.27 67.72 64.42
47................................ 84.42 70.39 66.97 82.74 68.98 65.63
48................................ 85.92 71.68 68.21 84.20 70.24 66.85
49................................ 87.42 72.96 69.45 85.67 71.51 68.06
[[Page 645]]
50................................ 88.91 74.25 70.69 87.14 72.77 69.28
51................................ 90.41 75.54 71.93 88.60 74.03 70.49
52................................ 91.91 76.83 73.17 90.07 75.29 71.71
53................................ 93.41 78.11 74.41 91.54 76.55 72.92
54................................ 94.90 79.40 75.65 93.01 77.81 74.14
55................................ 96.40 80.69 76.89 94.47 79.07 75.35
56................................ 97.90 81.98 78.13 95.94 80.34 76.57
57................................ 99.39 83.26 79.37 97.41 81.60 77.78
58................................ 100.89 84.55 80.61 98.87 82.86 79.00
59................................ 102.39 85.84 81.85 100.34 84.12 80.21
60................................ 103.89 87.13 83.09 101.81 85.38 81.43
61................................ 105.38 88.41 84.33 103.28 86.64 82.64
62................................ 106.88 89.70 85.57 104.74 87.91 83.86
63................................ 108.38 90.99 86.81 106.21 89.17 85.07
64................................ 109.87 92.27 88.05 107.68 90.43 86.29
65................................ 111.37 93.56 89.29 109.14 91.69 87.50
66................................ 112.87 94.85 90.53 110.61 92.95 88.72
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Size and Weight Limits
All packages must meet the following size and weight limits:
Size Limits
a. Minimum length and width: large enough to accommodate the
necessary customs/delivery label on the address side.
b. Maximum length: 60 inches.
c. Maximum length and girth combined: 108 inches.
Weight Limit
Maximum weight: 66 pounds.
Customs
Customs Forms
Normally all necessary U.K. customs forms will be automatically
generated by the Postal Service computer workstations. Packages mailed
to the U.K. through a Global Package Link processing facility will not
be required to bear customs forms when they are tendered to the Postal
Service. The Postal Service will verify, accept, and transport these
packages to a designated Global Package Link processing facility. After
scanning the customer-printed barcode on each package and correlating
it with the package-specific information transmitted by the customer,
the Postal Service will print the necessary customs forms and then
affix them to the customer's packages as part of the processing
operation at the Global Package Link Processing Facility. However,
during the interim period in which the Postal Service and the customer
are working together to establish the information systems linkages to
enable the Postal Service to accomplish this, the customer may be
required to prepare the necessary customs forms on its own and affix
the forms to the packages before tendering them to the Postal Service.
In those cases where the computer workstations are located at the
customer's plant and operated by customer employees, the USPS computer
workstations will print the customs forms, and the customer will be
required to affix these forms to the appropriate packages as instructed
by the Postal Service prior to verification and acceptance of the mail.
Customs Clearance
The Postal Service has developed the Customs Pre-Advisory System
(CPAS) as part of Global Package Link processing. This electronic
system collects package-specific data to satisfy customs requirements
as packages are processed using the USPS computer workstations located
at either a Global Package Link facility or the customer's plant. The
system electronically advises the USPS delivery agent and Customs in
the U.K. of the contents of each package mailed. Since this advisory
information arrives before the mail, CPAS facilitates and simplifies
customs clearance. Electronic pre-notification of the package contents
and automatic preparation of required customs declarations assures the
fastest clearance through U.K. Customs and reduces costs for the
customer and the Postal Service.
Preparation Requirements
Every package sent through Premium, Standard or Economy Service
must bear a label identifying it as a Premium, a Standard or an Economy
Service package. The customer is not normally required to affix this
label. The Postal Service prints the necessary label and affixes it to
the package. However, during the interim period in which the Postal
Service and the customer are establishing the information systems
linkages to enable the Postal Service to accomplish this, the customer
is required to affix an alternative label as instructed by the Postal
Service to every package.
Stanley F. Mires,
Chief Counsel, Legislative.
[FR Doc. 97-106 Filed 1-3-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P
