USPS to Accept Lithium Batteries for Global Mailing Effective November 15

      

Effective Thursday, November 15, Post Offices will begin accepting packages containing lithium batteries installed in electronic devices bound for many international destinations, and Army (APO), Fleet (FPO) and Diplomatic Post Office (DPO) locations. 

The Postal Service has worked collaboratively with the International Civil Aviation Organization, the Universal Postal Union, and the Federal Aviation Authority to secure the changes needed to allow acceptance of international mail shipments containing lithium batteries.  (Based on the requirements of international organizations, including the International Civil Aviation Organization and the Universal Postal Union, as of May 16, 2012, the Postal Service was unable to accept international mail shipments containing lithium batteries.)

Items which can be shipped may include cameras, video cameras, mobile/smart phones, Bluetooth headsets, laptop computers, shavers, portable DVD players, tablets, two-way radios, GPS devices and most other small electronic devices requiring lithium batteries to operate.  Items which cannot be shipped include any lithium batteries not installed in the equipment they are intended to operate. 

Easy, convenient, multilingual and always at the fingertips, usps.com has a complete suite of tools to help with shipping gifts containing lithium batteries:

 APO/FPO/DPO Mailing Guidelines: www.usps.com/send/apo.htm

 Preparing International Mail Shipments: www.usps.com/send/prepare-international-shipments.htm

 Free Shipping Supplies: www.prioritymail.com/freesupplies.asp

 Create Package Labels: cns.usps.com/go

 Fill Out Customs Forms Online: usps.com/ship/customs-forms.htm

 Pay For Postage Online with Click-N-Ship: reg.usps.com/entreg/RegistrationAction!input.action

 Request Free Package Pickup: tools.usps.com/go/ScheduleAPickupAction!input.action

 International Holiday Shipping/Mailing Dates: www.usps.com/shippingdates/welcome.htm