USPS: Ban on mailing electronic smoking devices

Effective Oct. 21, the Postal Service’s mailing requirements will include vape pens, e-cigarettes, e-liquid pods, and other electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) as generally nonmailable matter. The change is required by the Preventing Online Sales of E-Cigarettes to Children Act, a federal law that recently took effect. ENDS are defined as electronic devices that deliver…

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USPS seeks feedback on proposed restrictions for shipping e-cigarettes

The Postal Service has proposed a rule change that would extend the mailing restrictions for cigarettes and smokeless tobacco products to include electronic cigarettes and other vaping-type products. The proposed rule change follows the recent enactment of the Preventing Online Sales of E-Cigarettes to Children Act, a federal law that restricts the shipping of such…

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USPS: Time to kick your smoking habit

The USPS Wellness team wants to educate Postal Service employees on the importance of quitting smoking. Approximately 38 million adults in the United States smoke cigarettes, and 58 million nonsmokers are subjected to secondhand smoke. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), smoking is the leading cause of preventable death and harms…

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USPS OIG Report: Prohibited Inbound International Mailings

Background Inbound international mail originates in foreign countries for delivery in the U.S. This mail typically arrives at one of the five U.S. Postal Service International Service Centers (ISC), the Honolulu Processing and Distribution Center, or the New Jersey International Network Distribution Center. In fiscal year (FY) 2016, the Postal Service recorded inbound international mail…

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USPS: Know the restrictions – Tobacco prohibited in international mailings

The Postal Service reminds employees that cigarettes and smokeless tobacco products are prohibited in both inbound and outbound international mail. The prohibition overrides any statements about tobacco products in the International Mail Manual’s individual country listings. In addition, exceptions for mailing cigarettes and smokeless tobacco described in Publication 52, Hazardous, Restricted, and Perishable Mail, apply…

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Changes to Age Verification for Mailing of Cigarettes, Smokeless Tobacco Products

Cigarettes and smokeless tobacco are subject to numerous mailability restrictions. These restrictions may require Postal Service™ employees to conduct age verification of the sender and/or recipient of the item, as indicated below. DMM 601.11.5.3(a): For the exception for businesses mailing cigarettes and smokeless tobacco products to other businesses or government agencies, the recipient must be…

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