Environmental Health & Safety

EH&S Home
Emergencies 
MSDS/Links
Training
Shipping
Search

United States Postal Service (USPS) New Mailing Standards and Packaging Requirements for Division 6.2 Infectious Substances

Nov 1 2006-NOTICE Changes Effective Immediately

Please be advised that the United States Postal Service (USPS) has declared that, effective immediately, no packages will be accepted with the markings Clinical or Diagnostic Specimens. In addition, the USPS will no longer be accepting any Category A packages in the mail.

As per the USDOT 49CFR regulation change (effective October 1, 2006) the marking must now state Biological substance, Category B.

To quote from the Federal Register: November 1, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 211): (From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr01no06-6])

"The Postal Service is revising its mailing standards and packaging requirements for Division 6.2 infectious substances based on the criteria published by the World Health Organization. Our revised standards adopt many of the changes the Department of Transportation made to its regulations for the shipment and packaging of hazardous materials. We also harmonize our standards with the World Health Organization Guidance on Regulations for the Transport of Infectious Substances and the International Civil Aviation Organization Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air. In addition, we prohibit Category A infectious substances in the mail."

Action Required:

In order to meet these requirements, the marking on the STP230 top flap that states "DIAGNOSTIC SPECIMENS OR CLINICAL SPECIMENS" must be covered with a label which states:

Biological substance, Category B