Postal Service Issues New Packaging Requirements for Hazardous Materials
The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) has issued a final rule amending its Publication 52, Hazardous, Restricted, and Perishable Mail, to require specific rigid outer packaging when mailing most hazardous materials (HAZMAT) or dangerous goods (DG).
Effective Jan. 27, 2025, and with a few exceptions, USPS will require mailers shipping HAZMAT or DG to utilize rigid outer packaging that meets minimum edge crush test (ECT) or burst test strength requirements. Packages weighing 20 pounds or less must have an ECT rating of at least 32 or burst strength of 200 lbs. Packages over 20 lbs must have at least ECT 44 or 275 lbs burst strength.
USPS says the new rule will increase the capability of mailed packages to withstand normal processing and handling, thereby reducing the overall potential for environmental and safety incidents. “Rigid” is generally interpreted to mean a fiberboard (cardboard) box.
USPS also is removing quantity restrictions for nonregulated liquid and solid toxic materials and products, such as pesticides, insecticides and herbicides; however, any such items must be contained within outer packaging meeting the new requirements of Pub. 52 set forth above.
The postal service originally published its proposed rule on Dec. 15, 2023, and the pending changes were discussed at several meetings of ILMA’s Safety, Health, Environmental and Regulatory Affairs (SHERA) Committee. Many ILMA member companies use USPS to ship samples and products.
Publication 52 is publicly available from the USPS at pe.usps.com.
