The Commission is recognizing a recent Postal Service filing of making material changes to the description of International Direct Sacks--Airmail M-Bags, along with related prop...
The Commission is recognizing a recent Postal Service filing of making material changes to the description of International Direct Sacks—Airmail M-Bags, along with related proposed changes to the
Mail Classification Schedule
(MCS), to be effective January 17, 2027. This document informs the public of the filing, invites public comment, and takes other administrative steps.
DATES:
Comments are due:
September 8, 2026.
ADDRESSES:
Submit comments electronically via the Commission's Filing Online system at
www.prc.gov.
Those who cannot submit comments electronically should contact the person identified in the
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
section by telephone for advice on filing alternatives.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
David A. Trissell, General Counsel, at 202-789-6820.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Table of Contents
I. Introduction
II. Contents of Filing
III. Commission Action
IV. Ordering Paragraphs
I. Introduction
On August 21, 2026, pursuant to 39 CFR 3040.180-3040.181, the Postal Service filed a request to make material changes to the description of International Direct Sacks—Airmail M-Bags (M-Bags) in the
Mail Classification Schedule
(MCS) section 2330 by removing outbound M-Bags, and to make accompanying changes to MCS sections 2320, 2615.1, and the Notes in Part D Country Price Lists for International Mail.[1]
II. Contents of Filing
The Postal Service states that it proposes these material changes to the MCS so that its offerings will align with certain amendments to the Universal Postal Union (UPU) Universal Postal Convention (Convention) that are related to M-Bags. Request at 1. The Postal Service states that the 2023 UPU Riyadh Extraordinary Congress amended the Convention to remove M-Bags as a basic service and instead add it as an optional supplementary service, effective January 1, 2025.[2]
The Postal Service states that the postal operators of 53 countries subsequently decided that they would no longer accept inbound M-Bags.[3]
The Postal Service states that the decision of these countries to leave the M-Bags network as well as the overall reduction in demand for printed matter distribution led to a significant decline in M-Bags volume.
Id.
Therefore, the Postal Service requests, effective January 17, 2027, to remove the outbound M-Bags from MCS section 2330 and to make the following accompanying changes to: (1) MCS section 2320, to provide additional information about International Priority Airmail M-Bags; (2) MCS section 2615.1, to remove the combination of International Certificate of Mailing with M-Bags; and (3) Notes in Part D Country Price Lists for International Mail.
Id.
The Postal Service includes a copy of Governors' Decision No. 26-4 supporting the Request in Attachment 1, and a copy of the applicable sections of the MCS and the proposed changes in legislative format in Attachment 2.
Id.
at 1-2;
id.
Attachments 1-2. The Postal Service provides supporting justification for the proposed material changes to the MCS, including a description of and rationale for the proposed changes, why the proposed changes will not result in the violation of any of the standards of 39 U.S.C. 3633 and 39 CFR part 3035, and the likely impact that the proposed changes will have on users of the product and on competitors.
See id.
at 4-8.
III. Commission Action
The Commission establishes Docket No. MC2026-356 for consideration of matters raised by the Request. The Commission invites comments on whether the Postal Service's filing is consistent with 39 U.S.C. 3633 and 39 CFR 3040.180 and 3040.181. Comments are due September 8, 2026. The public portions of the filings can be accessed via the Commission's website (
www.prc.gov).
The Commission appoints Samuel Robinson to represent the interests of the general public (Public Representative) in this docket, pursuant to 39 CFR 3010.101(q)(3). The Public Representative does not represent any individual person, entity, or particular point of view, and, when Commission attorneys are appointed, no attorney-client relationship is established.
IV. Ordering Paragraphs
It is ordered:
1. The Commission establishes Docket No. MC2026-356 for consideration of matters raised by the Postal Service's Request.
2. Pursuant to 39 CFR 3010.101(q)(3), Samuel Robinson is appointed to serve as an officer of the Commission (Public Representative) to represent the interests of the general public in this proceeding.
3. Comments are due September 8, 2026.
4. This Order, or an abstract thereof, shall be published in the
Federal Register
.
By the Commission.
Parvaneh Higareda,
Senior Paralegal Specialist.
Footnotes
1.
Request of the United States Postal Service for Classification Changes Concerning International Direct Sacks—Airmail M-Bags, August 21, 2026, at 1 (Request).
3.
Id.
at 3 (citing International Mail Manual, Exhibit 261.3, Countries for Which M-Bag Service Is Not Available,
pe.usps.com/text/imm/immc2_027.htm).
www.prc.gov
39 CFR 3040.180-3040.181
39 U.S.C. 3633
www.upu.int/UPU/media/upu/files/aboutUpu/acts/08-actsAndOtherDecisionsPreviousCongresses/actsAndOtherDecisions2021AbidjanCongressEn.pdf
pe.usps.com/text/imm/immc2_027.htm