2016-23334. International Mail Manual; Incorporation by Reference

AGENCY:

Postal Service^TM.

ACTION:

Final rule.

SUMMARY:

The Postal Service announces the issuance of the Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, International Mail Manual (IMM®) dated July 11, 2016, and its incorporation by reference in the Code of Federal Regulations.

DATES:

This final rule is effective on September 29, 2016. The incorporation by reference of the IMM is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as of September 29, 2016.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Lizbeth Dobbins, [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The International Mail Manual was issued on July 11, 2016, and was updated with Postal Bulletin revisions through June 23, 2016. It replaced all previous editions. The IMM continues to enable the Postal Service to fulfill its long-standing mission of providing affordable, universal mail service. It continues to: (1) Increase the user's ability to find information; (2) increase the user's confidence that they have found the information they need; and (3) reduce the need to consult multiple sources to locate necessary information. The provisions throughout this issue support the standards and mail preparation changes implemented since the version of January 25, 2015. The International Mail Manual is available to the public on the Postal Explorer® Internet site at http://pe.usps.com.

List of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 20

• Foreign relations; Incorporation by reference

In view of the considerations discussed above, the Postal Service hereby amends 39 CFR part 20 as follows:

PART 20—INTERNATIONAL POSTAL SERVICE

1. The authority citation for part 20 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 5 U.S.C. 552(a); 13 U.S.C. 301-307; 18 U.S.C. 1692-1737; 39 U.S.C. 101, 401, 403, 404, 407, 414, 416, 3001-3011, 3201-3219, 3403-3406, 3621, 3622, 3626, 3632, 3633, and 5001.

2. Amend § 20.1 by revising paragraph (a), revising the introductory text of the table in paragraph (b), and adding a new entry at the end of the table, to read as follows:

§ 20.1

International Mail Manual; incorporation by reference.

(a) Section 552(a) of title 5, U.S.C., relating to the public information requirements of the Administrative Procedure Act, provides in pertinent part that matter reasonably available to the class of persons affected thereby is deemed published in the Federal Register when incorporated by reference therein with the approval of the Director of the Federal Register. In conformity with that provision and 39 U.S.C. 410(b)(1), and as provided in this part, the Postal Service hereby incorporates by reference its International Mail Manual (IMM), issued July 11, 2016. The Director of the Federal Register approves this incorporation by reference in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.

(b) The current Issue of the IMM is incorporated by reference in paragraph (a) of this section. Successive Issues of the IMM are listed in Table 1:

Table 1 to Paragraph (b)

International Mail Manual	Date of issuance
*    *    *    *
IMM	July 11, 2016.

3. Revise § 20.2 to read as follows:

§ 20.2

Effective date of the International Mail Manual.

The provisions of the International Mail Manual issued July 11, 2016, are applicable with respect to the international mail services of the Postal Service.

Stanley F. Mires,

Attorney, Federal Compliance.