SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

All submitted comments and attachments are part of the public record and subject to disclosure. Do not enclose any material in your comments that you consider to be confidential or inappropriate for public disclosure.

The Postal Service is proposing to discontinue the use of Label 888 (Tracking), Label 889 (Signature Confirmation), Label 891 (Insurance up to $500) and Label 892 (Insurance over $500). These labels are incompatible with updated USPS processing equipment and no longer support operational needs of the Postal Service. Eliminating these labels will improve visibility, tracking, service performance and customer experience.

Customers will continue to have many options to service their shipping needs. Most Post Offices have the capability to print a complete 4”x 6” Intelligent Mail® package barcode (IMpb®) compliant shipping label, and the remaining offices are being upgraded with RSS capabilities and/or will receive new printing devices that ( printed page 57302) will allow them to print the 4”x 6” IMpb compliant shipping label. Metered customers should contact their postage meter provider for assistance with printing postage labels with tracking, signature confirmation, or insurance. Mailers using Label 888 for Marketing Mail parcels or Heavy Printed Matter parcels will need to use alternative methods for tracking. Additional information on postage and tracking options for both metered and commercial customers can be found at www.usps.com/​business/​postage-options.htm.

The Postal Service will no longer print these labels for distribution and as the non-RSS offices are upgraded will no longer apply the labels. However, the Postal Service will allow customers to use their existing stock until January 31, 2028.

The Postal Service is proposing to implement this change effective January 17, 2027.

Although exempt from the notice and comment requirements of the Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 553(b), (c)) regarding proposed rulemaking by 39 U.S.C. 410(a), the Postal Service invites public comment on the proposed revisions to Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM), incorporated by reference in the Code of Federal Regulations. See39 CFR 111.1.

We will publish an appropriate amendment to 39 CFR part 111 to reflect these changes.

Accordingly, 39 CFR part 111 is proposed to be amended as follows:

1. The authority citation for 39 CFR Part 111 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 5 U.S.C. 552(a); 13 U.S.C. 301-307; 18 U.S.C. 1692-1737; 39 U.S.C. 101, 401-404, 414, 416, 3001-3018, 3201-3220, 3401-3406, 3621, 3622, 3626, 3629, 3631-3633, 3641, 3681-3685, and 5001.

2. Revise the 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)

500 Additional Mailing Services

503 Extra Services

7.0 USPS Tracking

7.1 Basic Standards

7.1.2 Electronic Option USPS Tracking for USPS Marketing Mail and Heavy Printed Matter Parcels

[Revise the third sentence in 7.1.2 to read as follows:]

* * * Electronic-option USPS Tracking may be purchased for USPS Marketing Mail parcels and Heavy Printed Matter parcels by mailers using privately printed forms or labels and who establish an electronic link with the USPS to exchange acceptance and delivery data. * * *

7.2 Labels

7.2.1 Types of Labels

* * * Mailers not printing their own privately printed labels must use one of the label options as follows:

[Revise the text of item a to read as follows:]

a. A mailer may present mailpieces to a retail employee at a Post Office, station, or branch and the retail associate will affix a USPS Tracking label to the item.

7.2.2 Label Placement

[Revise the first sentence of 7.2.2 to read as follows:]

The barcoded label section of a USPS Tracking label must be placed completely on the address side of the mailpiece, above the delivery address and to the right of the return address, or to the left of the delivery address. * * *

8.0 USPS Signature Services

8.1 Basic Standards

8.1.2 Standards for Signature Confirmation

For Signature Confirmation with Media Mail, Library Mail, Bound Printed Matter, or Parcel Select pieces meeting the physical standards under 201.7.0, the parcel must meet these additional requirements:

d. Mailers must use one of the following labels:

[Delete item d3 in its entirety and renumber item d4 as d3.]

[Revise the first sentence of item e to read as follows:]

e. The barcoded label section of PS Form 153 (see “Forms” at pe.usps.com/​) must be placed completely on the address side, either above the delivery address and to the right of the return address, or to the left of the delivery address. * * *

91 FR 57301