95-3433. Discontinuation of Authorization to Use Domestic Postal Money Orders Internationally  

  • [Federal Register Volume 60, Number 28 (Friday, February 10, 1995)]
    [Rules and Regulations]
    [Pages 7912-7913]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 95-3433]
    
    
    
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    POSTAL SERVICE
    
    39 CFR Part 20
    
    
    Discontinuation of Authorization to Use Domestic Postal Money 
    Orders Internationally
    
    AGENCY: Postal Service.
    
    ACTION: Final rule.
    
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    SUMMARY: The Postal Service is discontinuing the Semidomestic Money 
    Order Service. The domestic money order form is no longer being used 
    for payments to Anguilla; Antigua and Barbuda; Bahamas; Barbados; 
    Belize; British Virgin Islands; Canada; Dominica; Grenada; Jamaica; 
    Montserrat; St. Christopher and Nevis; St. Lucia; St. Vincent and the 
    Grenadines; and Trinidad and Tobago. In place of the domestic form, the 
    Postal Service will use the international postal money order form (MP1) 
    when issuing a money order for payment in these countries.
    
    EFFECTIVE DATE: March 1, 1995.
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
    Al Gillum, (703) 905-3818.
    
    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Postal Service has received numerous 
    complaints from foreign postal administrations regarding the acceptance 
    of domestic postal money orders by the banking system in those 
    countries. This practice circumvents the policies and procedures 
    regarding the acceptance of international postal money orders agreed to 
    within the Universal Postal Union.
        The Postal Service is committed to enforcing the agreements with 
    its foreign partners. A concerted effort is being made to restrict the 
    negotiation of domestic postal money orders to the United States and 
    its possessions and territories, and the Freely Associated States 
    (FAS). Possessions and territories are American Samoa (including Manua 
    Island, Swain's Island, Tutuila Island); Baker Island; Guam; Howland 
    Island; Jarvis Island; Johnston Island; Kingman Reef; Midway Island; 
    Navassa Island; Northern Mariana Islands (including Rota Island; Saipan 
    Island, Tinian Island); Palmyra Island; Puerto Rico; Sand Island; U.S. 
    Virgin Islands (including St. Croix Island; St. John Island, St. Thomas 
    Island); and Wake Island. The FAS are Marshall Islands (including Ebeye 
    Island, Majuro Island); Palau (including Koror Island); and Micronesia 
    (including Chuuk (Truk) Island, Kosrae Island, Pohnepi Island, Yap 
    Island).
        Semidomestic Money Order Service permits the negotiation of 
    domestic postal money orders in the countries listed in the Summary. In 
    order to restrict uniformly the negotiation of domestic postal money 
    orders to the United States and its possessions and territories and to 
    the FAS, it is necessary to discontinue Semidomestic Money Order 
    Service.
        In light of the foregoing, the Postal Service hereby 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.
    
    List of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 20
    
        Foreign relations, International postal service.
    
    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. Chapter 3 of the International Mail Manual is amended by 
    revising subchapter 390 as follows:
    
    CHAPTER 3--SPECIAL SERVICES
    
    * * * * *
    
    390 Supplementary Services
    
    391 International Money Orders
    
    * * * * *
    [Revise section 391.11 by deleting ``and Semi-Direct Service'' to read 
    as follows:]
    
        International postal money order service is available to transfer 
    funds to individuals or firms in countries that have entered into 
    agreements with the United States Postal Service for the exchange of 
    postal money orders. International postal money orders sent by Direct 
    Service may be sent by letter mail or Express Mail International 
    Service (EMS).
    * * * * *
    [Revise section 391.2 by replacing ``three'' in the first sentence with 
    ``two''; by deleting section 391.2a in its entirety and renumbering 
    sections 391.2b and 391.2c to sections 391.2a and 391.2b, respectively; 
    and by adding the countries in the Summary to the renumbered section 
    391.2b to read as follows:]
    
        Postal money orders are exchanged with countries in one of two 
    ways:
        a. Standard international postal money orders. This method uses the 
    Authorization to Issue an International Money Order form set. See 
    Individual Country Listings.
        b. Direct international postal money orders. This method uses the 
    pink international postal money order form (MP1). The following 
    countries accept this form: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, 
    Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Cape Verde, 
    Costa Rica, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, 
    Grenada, Guyana, Honduras, Jamaica, Japan, Mali, Mexico, Montserrat, 
    Nigeria, Panama, St. Christopher and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and 
    the Grenadines, Sierra Leone, and Trinidad and Tobago. Money orders 
    issued by these countries in U.S. dollars, with the exception of 
    Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago, are negotiable in the United States. 
    There will be no money orders issued in Bolivia, Cape Verde, Dominican 
    Republic, Ecuador, Honduras, Mexico, Nigeria, Panama, and Sierra Leone 
    for payment in the United States. The MP1 cards issued in Japan for 
    payment in the United States must be shown in U.S. dollars preceded by 
    the capital letters ``USD.''
        Money orders issued in Mali for payment in the United States will 
    be the standard international postal money order.
    [Revise section 391.3 by replacing ``three'' with ``two'' in the first 
    sentence; by deleting section 391.3a in its entirety and renumbering 
    section 391.3c to section 391.3a; and by adding the countries in the 
    Summary to the renumbered section 391.3a to read as follows:]
    
        There are two separate fees for international money orders:
        a. The fee for money orders payable in countries that accept the 
    pink international postal money order form (MP1) is $3 per money order. 
    These countries are:
    
    Anguilla [[Page 7913]] 
    Antigua and Barbuda
    Bahamas
    Barbados
    Belize
    Bolivia
    British Virgin Islands
    Canada
    Cape Verde
    Costa Rica
    Dominica
    Dominican Republic
    Ecuador
    El Salvador
    Grenada
    Guyana
    Honduras
    Jamaica
    Japan
    Mali
    Mexico
    Montserrat
    Nigeria
    Panama
    St. Christopher and Nevis
    St. Lucia
    St. Vincent and the Grenadines
    Sierra Leone
    Trinidad and Tobago
    * * * * *
    [Delete section 391.411 in its entirety.]
    [Renumber former section 391.412 as 391.411.]
    [Renumber former section 391.413 as 391.412 and add the countries in 
    the Summary to read as follows:]
    
        Use the pink international money order form (MP1) for money orders 
    payable in Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, 
    Bolivia, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Cape Verde, Costa Rica, 
    Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guyana, 
    Honduras, Jamaica, Japan, Mali, Mexico, Montserrat, Nigeria, Panama, 
    St. Christopher and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, 
    Sierra Leone, and Trinidad and Tobago. Follow the issuance procedures 
    in DMM S020.
    
        Note: Money orders payable in Canada, the amount of the money 
    order must be expressed in U.S. currency only. Issuing clerks must 
    use the money order imprinter in the usual manner, printing the 
    amount received in U.S. currency. Clerks must not write the word 
    ``Canadian,'' followed by the equivalent amount in Canadian 
    currency, on the money order.
    * * * * *
    [Revise section 391.421 by deleting ``the domestic money order or'' 
    from the first sentence to read as follows:]
    
        When the international postal money order form (MP1) is used to 
    send funds, the purchaser should complete the information requested on 
    both the money order and the customer's receipt. The Postal Service is 
    not liable for money orders that are lost before the purchaser 
    completes this information. Money orders may be made payable to the 
    purchaser, a person or a firm, or a payee by official title. (Example: 
    Director of Publications, Canada.)
    * * * * *
    [Revise section 391.423 by deleting country names to read as follows:]
    
        Follow the instructions for preparing domestic money orders in DMM 
    S020 when using the pink international postal money order form (MP1).
    * * * * *
    [Revise section 391.431 by deleting ``Domestic Postal Money Orders 
    and'' from the title and by deleting country names to read as follows:]
    
    391.431  International Postal Money Order Form (MP1)
    
        Follow the instructions for preparing domestic money orders in DMM 
    S020 when issuing the pink international postal money order form (MP1).
    * * * * *
    [Delete section 391.721 in its entirety.]
    [Renumber former section 391.722 to 391.721.]
    [Revise former section 391.723 by renumbering to section 391.722 and by 
    deleting country names to read as follows:]
    
        Use Form 6401, Domestic Money Order Inquiry, in accordance with DMM 
    S020.2.14 when filing inquiries or requests for replacement of 
    international postal money order form (MP1). Only the purchaser may 
    file and receive payment. Replacement will not be made before 6 months 
    after the date of issuance.
    * * * * *
    [Delete sections 391.9, 391.91, and 391.92 in their entirety.]
    * * * * *
        A transmittal letter making the changes in the pages of the 
    International Mail Manual will be published and transmitted to 
    subscribers automatically. Notice of issuance of the transmittal letter 
    will be published in the Federal Register as provided by 39 CFR 20.3.
    Stanley F. Mires,
    Chief Counsel, Legislative.
    [FR Doc. 95-3433 Filed 2-9-95; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 7710-12-P
    
    

Document Information

Effective Date:
3/1/1995
Published:
02/10/1995
Department:
Postal Service
Entry Type:
Rule
Action:
Final rule.
Document Number:
95-3433
Dates:
March 1, 1995.
Pages:
7912-7913 (2 pages)
PDF File:
95-3433.pdf
CFR: (1)
39 CFR 20