USPS Allowing Reduced Size for Excepted Quantity & Limited Quantity Marking

From time to time the Universe aligns and changes in the dangerous goods shipping regulations actually make our lives a bit easier.  That is the case now that The United States Postal Service (USPS) has published new options for hazardous materials markings in their June 20^th Postal Bulletin. USPS is now piloting the use of smaller Excepted Quantity and Limited Quantity marks incorporated into or applied adjacent to the address label which allows a minimum size of no less than 50 millimeters (1.97 inches) in height and width.   For use of the smaller marks, you must first request authorization through the USPS Product Classification Group. Additionally The DOT has recently issued a special permit to allow a Limited Quantity mark of a minimum of 50 millimeters on each side when placed adjacent to the package tracking label. The Postal Service temporary authorizations are expected to align with DOT’s special permit process.

If you are interested you should request authorization through the USPS Product Classification group at the address below:

Manager, Product Classification
475 L’Enfant Plaza SW Rm 4446
Washington DC 20260

The request for authorization should include:

• A description of the general products you are shipping;
• Your company name and address;
• The requestor contact information (name, email, phone, etc.); and
• A picture of the proposed marking (size) on the postage label/address side of the package

This change can also possibly open the door for the Postal Service to consider smaller versions of other Department of Transportation (DOT) markings applied under the conditions specified above in the future Of course this would depend on how successful the outcome of this pilot turns out to be.

The full text of the article from the bulletin is provided below:

The Postal Service™ will pilot an authorization process to allow mailers to apply smaller versions of Excepted Quantity and Limited Quantity (square-on-point) hazardous materials markings to their outer packaging when these markings are incorporated into, or applied immediately adjacent to, the address label of the parcel. The Postal Service is:

• Permitting use of smaller labels in a test.
• Determining the feasibility of:
  • Revising Publication 52, Hazardous, Restricted, and Perishable Mail; and
  • Permanently allowing hazardous materials marks and labels in an optional reduced size when they are placed in close proximity to the delivery address, postage payment details, and routing barcode.

Although the markings are smaller, the Postal Service believes that hazardous materials markings in close proximity to the delivery address may improve visibility for employees and result in more consistent handling of parcels containing hazardous materials.

In the next few weeks, the Postal Service expects to approve temporary authorizations to mailers to allow Excepted Quantity markings and Limited Quantity (square-on-point) markings of no less than 50 millimeters (1.97 inches) in height and width when applied in close proximity to the delivery address.