Free Matter for the Blind and Other Physically Handicapped Persons
The Postal Service is revising Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM[supreg]) to clarify the applicability of the Hazmat Handling Fee,...
The Postal Service is revising
Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service,
Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®) to clarify the applicability of the Hazmat Handling Fee, and to require a parcel barcode, on parcels mailed as Free Matter for the Blind and Other Physically Handicapped Persons (Free Matter).
DATES:
Effective date:
October 4, 2026.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Steven Mills at (202) 268-7433 or Garry Rodriguez at (202) 268-7281.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
On July 12, 2026, the Postal Service introduced two new fees, the Hazmat Handling Fee for packages containing hazardous materials to cover the additional costs of transporting these items and the Hazmat Noncompliance Fee that will be applied when we detect a package that contains hazardous materials and that the customer did not appropriately declare and label.
The Postal Service is clarifying that pieces mailed under the standards for Free Matter will not be subject to the Hazmat Handling Fee. However, pieces mailed by commercial mailers under the standards for Free Matter are subject to the Hazmat Noncompliance Fee.
In addition, the Postal Service is adding to the standards governing Free Matter a requirement that all parcels bear an Intelligent Mail® package barcode (IMpb®) and an Intelligent Mail matrix barcode (IMmbTM). The requirement to include the barcodes will benefit mailers and the Postal Service. It will provide customers the ability to track their packages and it will give the Postal Service better visibility in processing these packages to achieve the expected expeditious handling and delivery of the mailpiece.
The barcode will require mailers to use specific HAZMAT Service Type Codes (STC). This requirement will improve processing and transportation
( printed page 56053)
safety, also beneficial to achieving the expected expeditious handling and delivery of the mailpiece.
Commercial mailers of mailpieces not meeting the requirement for using a unique IMpb and IMmb, as outlined in the DMM and Publication 199,
Intelligent Mail Package Barcode (IMpb) Implementation Guide for Confirmation Services and Electronic Payment Systems,
will be subject to the Package Quality Noncompliance Fee provided in the Notice 123-Price List.
The Postal Service adopts the described changes to
Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service,
Domestic Mail Manual (DMM), incorporated by reference in the
Code of Federal Regulations.
We will publish an appropriate amendment to 39 CFR part 111 to reflect these changes.
Accordingly, the Postal Service amends
Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service,
Domestic Mail Manual (DMM), incorporated by reference in the Code of Federal Regulations as follows (see 39 CFR 111.1):
PART 111—[AMENDED]
1. The authority citation for 39 CFR Part 111 continues to read as follows:
2. Revise Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service,
Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) as follows:
Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM)
* * * * *
700 Special Standards
703 Nonprofit USPS Marketing Mail and Other Unique Eligibility
* * * * *
5.0 Free Matter for the Blind and Other Physically Handicapped Persons
5.1 Basic Information
5.1.1 General
[Revise the first sentence of 5.1.1 to read as follows:]
Subject to the standards below, matter may be entered free of postage and is not subject to the Hazmat Handling Fee if mailed by or for the use of blind or other persons who cannot read or use conventionally printed materials due to a physical handicap. * * *
* * * * *
5.4 Preparation
5.4.1 Basic Standards
All matter mailed under this standard:
* * * * *
[Revise the text of 5.4.1 by adding a new item d to read as follows:]
d. Parcels mailed under this standard (outbound and returns) must bear an Intelligent Mail package barcode (IMpb) and an Intelligent Mail matrix barcode (IMmb) prepared under 204.2.0. Commercial mailers of mailpieces not meeting the requirements for using a unique IMpb and IMmb, as outlined in 204.2.1.6 and Publication 199,
Intelligent Mail Package Barcode (IMpb) Implementation Guide for Confirmation Services and Electronic Payment Systems,
will be subject to the Package Quality Noncompliance Fee (See Notice 123-Price List.). For details see PostalPro at
postalpro.usps.com.
Use this for formal legal and research references to the published document.
91 FR 56052
Web Citation
Suggested Web Citation
Use this when citing the archival web version of the document.
“Free Matter for the Blind and Other Physically Handicapped Persons,” thefederalregister.org (September 1, 2026), https://thefederalregister.org/documents/2026-17884/free-matter-for-the-blind-and-other-physically-handicapped-persons.
39 CFR part 111
5 U.S.C. 552(a)
postalpro.usps.com