FACTS about mailing tropical fish via the USPS, as written by the USPS.

Below, please see my email to and the response from the USPS regarding shipping small cold blooded animals.

        pexplore@usps.gov wrote:

Dear Mr. Alston;

 I apologize for taking so much time to get back with you.  I was checking to make sure that our regulations concerning “lives” have not changed.  The regulations that you mentioned which are outlined in the Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®) section 601.9 (http://pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/601.htm) are still current and correct.  The DMM® is available on line at the Postal Explorer website pe.usps.com.  The statement that you have printed below that you say was released around March 4th is not correct.

 Thank you for using the United States Postal Service.

 Postal Explorer

  -----Original Message-----
From: Bob Alston
Sent: Tuesday, April 19, 2005 8:43 PM
To: DMMAdvisory
Subject: Question on shipping small cold-blooded animals

I have been told that on or about March 4, 2005 the USPS issued a change in regulations as stated below:

The Commercial Airlines will no longer accept "lives" to transport as mail.

If you have any known customers that normally mail birds, crickets, bees,
reptiles, etc please make sure you inform them NOW that we can not accept as mail (Express Mail, Priority etc) so they can make other arrangements.  They may have to contact the airlines to ship "as cargo".

As of right now if they are mailing to local destinations (i.e. Albany to
Syracuse) we can send them on a truck.  If you are not sure if destination
is considered local, call your local Express Mail Office and they will get
the information for you.  I will send this out hardcopy to post in your
office.

I am told the above is the exact text of the memo.

Can you advise if the above information is accurate?

If accurate, where can I find reference to it in official USPS information?
Note I could not find reference to such in your DMM advisory

http://pe.usps.gov/dmmAdvisory.asp

nor in the Postal Bulletins

http://www.usps.com/cpim/ftp/bulletin/pb.htm

nor in the summary of changes

http://pe.usps.gov/text/dmm300/Summary_of_Changes.htm

nor in the DMM regs themselves

http://pe.usps.gov/text/dmm300/pub268.htm


This is important to an association of hobbyists in the USA who ship harmless, small cold blooded animals frequently.

To date we understand the pertinent sections of the DMM which apply to us are Section 601 9.3.3 Small Cold-Blooded Animals and Section 601 2.4 liquids.

Thank you very much


Bob Alston

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In a subsequent phone conversation with the USPS Albany District personnel, I was told that the above referenced e-mail from the Albany District is valid but should only apply to Express Mail and NOT to Priority Mail.  The originator understood incorrectly initially that Priority Mail was covered.


For reference here is the link to and contents of DMM 601 9.3.3 Small Cold-Blooded Animals

http://pe.usps.gov/text/dmm300/601.htm

9.3.3 Small Cold‑Blooded Animals Small, harmless, cold‑blooded animals (except snakes and turtles) that do not require food or water or attention during handling in the mail and that do not create sanitary problems or obnoxious odors are mailable (e.g., baby alligators and caimans not more than 20 inches long, bloodworms, earthworms, mealworms, salamanders, leeches, lizards, snails, and tadpoles). [C022.3.3]

and DMM 601.2.4 Liquids

http://pe.usps.gov/text/dmm300/601.htm

 

Also please note the following USPS document which also references the same 601 9.3.3 verbiage about small cold blooded animals but also includes a specific reference to tropical fish:

http://www.usps.com/cpim/ftp/pubs/pub52.pdf


Note specifically section 526.6  which includes the following: