Registered MailTransmittal Letter Handbook DM-901 April 2010 Transmittal Letter A. Introduction. Handbook DM-901, Registered Mail, has been revised in accordance with the United States Postal Inspection Service’s® national security review of the Postal Service’s Registered Mail System. This Next Generation Registered Mail™ System is in alignment with the strategic goals outlined in the Postal Service™ Strategic Transformation Plan for improving security processes, streamlining operations, generating revenue, reducing cost, and achieving results with a customer-focused performance-based culture. The governing regulations for the domestic Registered Mail system are contained in the Mailing Standards of the United State Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual, S911. The governing regulations and individual country requirements for the international Registered Mail system are contained in the International Mail Manual. Additional instructions for the air transportation of Registered Mail are contained in the CON-CON section. B. Availability. Handbook DM-901 is available via the Postal Service PolicyNet Web site: Go to http://blue.usps.gov. In the left-hand column, under “Essential Links,” click on PolicyNet. Click HBKs. (The direct URL for the Postal Service PolicyNet Web site is http://blue.usps.gov/cpim.) C. Comments 1. Content. Refer all questions and suggestions about the content of this document to: PROCESSING OPERATIONS US POSTAL SERVICE 475 L’ENFANT PLAZA SW WASHINGTON, DC 20260-6808 2. Clarity. Refer all questions about the organization of this document and any editorial suggestions to: INFORMATION POLICIES AND PROCEDURES US POSTAL SERVICE 475 L’ENFANT PLAZA SW WASHINGTON, DC 20260-6808 Jordan M. Small Vice President Network Operations Contents Transmittal Letter . i 1 General Requirements . 1 1-1 Purpose. 1 1-1.1 Official Instructions . 1 1-1.1.1 Governing Regulations . 1 1-1.1.2 Exceptions . 1 1-1.1.3 Registry Responsibility . 1 1-1.1.3.1 District Manager and Senior Plant Manager . 1 1-1.1.3.2 Performance Cluster Registry Coordinator . 1 1-1.2 Description . 2 1-1.2.1 Purpose . 2 1-1.2.2 Eligibility. 2 1-1.2.3 Prohibitions . 2 1-2 Size of Registered Article . 3 1-2.1 Minimum Size of Registered Article . 3 1-2.2 Maximum Size of Registered Article . 3 1-3 Acceptance. 3 1-3.1 Retail Units, Rural Carriers, and Nonpersonnel Rural Units . 3 1-4 Postage. 5 1-4.1 Rate Classification. 5 1-4.2 Payment Method. 5 1-4.3 Ordinary Mail . 5 1-4.4 Official Government Mail. 5 1-5 Declaration of Value . 5 1-5.1 Ordinary Mail . 5 1-5.2 Official Government Mail. 6 1-6 Fee . 6 1-6.1 Current Schedules. 6 1-6.2 With Postal Insurance . 6 1-6.2.1 Fees and Charges Schedule . 6 1-6.2.2 Maximum Postal Liability. 6 1-6.2.3 Handling Charge . 6 1-6.2.4 Commercial Insurance. 7 1-6.3 Without Postal Insurance . 7 1-7 Additional Services . 7 1-7.1 Registered Collect on Delivery . 7 April 2010 iii Registered Mail 1-7.2 Return Receipt . 7 1-7.3 Restricted Delivery . 7 1-7.4 Registered Merchandise Return . 7 1-8 Refunds. 8 1-8.1 Registration Fee . 8 1-8.2 Return Receipt or Restricted Delivery Fee . 8 1-9 Additional Information Resources . 8 2 Preparation of Registered Articles . 9 2-1 Conditions. 9 2-1.1 General Requirements. 9 2-1.2 Addressing . 9 2-1.3 Packaging . 9 2-1.3.1 Open and Resealed . 9 2-1.3.2 Padded Envelopes or Bags . 9 2-1.3.3 Fragile Items . 9 2-2 Sealing . 10 2-2.1 Letter-Size Envelopes . 10 2-2.1.1 Construction . 10 2-2.1.2 Intersection of Flaps . 10 2-2.2 Flats and Parcels. 10 2-2.2.1 Sealing Materials . 10 2-2.2.2 Flat-Size Envelopes . 10 2-2.2.3 Tape. 10 2-2.2.4 Tamper-Proof Boxes . 10 2-3 Window Envelopes . ..