Shape-Based Labeling Lists

POSTAL SERVICE <SUBAGY>39 CFR Part 111</SUBAGY> <SUBJECT>Shape-Based Labeling Lists</SUBJECT> <HD SOURCE="HED">AGENCY:</HD> Postal Service <E T="51">TM</E> . <HD SOURCE="HED">ACTION:</HD> Proposed rule. <SUM> <HD SOURCE="HED">SUMMARY:</HD> The Postal Service (USPS®) is proposing to amend <E T="03">Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service,</E> Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®) in various sections to implement shape-based labeling lists for SCF letters, flats, and parcels. </SUM> <EFFDATE> <HD SOURCE="HED">DATES:</HD> Submit comments on or before December 22, 2025. </EFFDATE> <HD SOURCE="HED">ADDRESSES:</HD> Mail or deliver written comments to the Director, Product Classification, U.S. Postal Service, 475 L'Enfant Plaza SW, Room 4446, Washington, DC 20260-5015. If sending comments by email, include the name and address of the commenter and send to <E T="03">PCFederalRegister@usps.gov,</E> with a subject line of “Shape-Based Labeling Lists.” Faxed comments are not accepted. 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. You may inspect and photocopy all written comments, by appointment only, at USPS® Headquarters Library, 475 L'Enfant Plaza SW, 11th Floor North, Washington, DC 20260. These records are available for review on Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., by calling 202-268-2906. <FURINF> <HD SOURCE="HED">FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:</HD> Steven Mills at (202) 268-7433 or Doriane Harley at (202) 268-2537. </FURINF> <SUPLINF> <HD SOURCE="HED">SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:</HD> The Postal Service is proposing to implement labeling list changes for SCF letters, flats, and parcels to align with its shape-based network updates. The Postal Service is proposing to implement these changes effective February 1, 2026. 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 comments on the following proposed revisions to <E T="03">Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service,</E> Domestic Mail Manual (DMM), incorporated by reference in the Code of Federal Regulations. We will publish an appropriate amendment to 39 CFR part 111 to reflect these changes. <LSTSUB> <HD SOURCE="HED">List of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 111</HD> Administrative practice and procedure, Postal Service. </LSTSUB> Accordingly, the Postal Service proposes the following changes to Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM), incorporated by reference in the Code of Federal Regulations (see 39 CFR 111.1): <HD SOURCE="HED">PART 111—[AMENDED]</HD> 1. The authority citation for 39 CFR part 111 continues to read as follows: <HD SOURCE="HED">Authority:</HD> 5 U.S.C. 552(a); 13 U.S.C. 301-307; 18 U.S.C. 1692-1737; 39 U.S.C. 101, 401, 403, 404, 414, 416, 3001-3011, 3201-3219, 3403-3406, 3621, 3622, 3626, 3632, 3633, and 5001. 2. Revise the <E T="03">Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service,</E> Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) as follows: <HD SOURCE="HD1">Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM)</HD> <STARS/> <HD SOURCE="HD1">207 Periodicals</HD> <STARS/> <HD SOURCE="HD1">18.0 General Mail Preparation</HD> <STARS/> <HD SOURCE="HD1">18.3 Presort Terms</HD> Terms used for presort levels are defined as follows:* * * <E T="03">[Revise items (p) and (q) to read as follows:]</E> p. <E T="03">SCF:</E> the separation includes pieces for two or more 3-digit areas served by the same sectional center facility (SCF)/local processing center (LPC [letters/flats]) or regional processing and distribution center (RPDC [parcels]) (see L005, Column B for letters, L016, Column B for flats, and L051, Column B for parcels) . q. <E T="03">Origin/entry SCF:</E> the separation includes bundles for one or more 3-digit areas served by the same sectional center facility (SCF)/local processing center (LPC [letters/flats]) or regional processing and distribution center (RPDC [parcels]) (see L005, Column B for letters, L016, Column B for flats, and L051, Column B for parcels) in whose service area the mail is verified/entered. <STARS/> <HD SOURCE="HD1">18.4 Mail Preparation Terms</HD> <STARS/> <HD SOURCE="HD1">22.0 Preparing Nonbarcoded (Presorted) Periodicals</HD> <STARS/> <HD SOURCE="HD1">22.6 Sack Preparation</HD> <STARS/> <E T="03">[Revise items (c) and (d) to read as follows:]</E> c. <E T="03">SCF/LPC,</E> required at 72 pieces, optional at 24 pieces minimum. 1. Line 1: use L016, Column B for flats, L051, Column B for parcels. 2. Line 2: “PER” or “NEWS” as applicable; followed by “FLTS” or “NONSTD” as applicable; followed by “SCF”; followed by “NON BC” for flats. d. <E T="03">Origin/entry SCF/LPC,</E> required for the SCF/LPC of the origin (verification) office, optional for the SCF/LPC of an entry office other than the origin office, (no minimum). 1. Line 1: use L016, Column B for flats, L051, Column B for parcels. 2. Line 2: use “PER” or “NEWS” as applicable; followed by “FLTS” or “NONSTD” as applicable; followed by “SCF”; followed by “NON BC” for flats. <STARS/> <HD SOURCE="HD1">22.7 Tray Preparation—Flat-Size Nonbarcoded Pieces</HD> <STARS/> <E T="03">[Revise items (d) and (e) to read as follows:]</E> d. <E T="03">SCF/LPC,</E> required at 72 pieces, optional at 24 pieces minimum. 1. Line 1: L016, Column B. 2. Line 2: “PER” or “NEWS” as applicable; followed by “FLTS”; followed by “SCF NON BC.” e. <E T="03">Origin SCF/LPC</E> (required) and entry SCF/LPC(s) (optional), no minimum, labeling: 1. Line 1: L016, Column B. 2. Line 2: “PER” or “NEWS” as applicable; followed by “FLTS”; followed by “SCF NON BC.” <STARS/> <HD SOURCE="HD1">23.0 Preparing Carrier-Route Periodicals</HD> <STARS/> <HD SOURCE="HD1">25.0 Preparing Flat-Size Barcoded (Automation) Periodicals</HD> <STARS/> <HD SOURCE="HD1">25.4 Sacking and Labeling</HD> <STARS/> <E T="03">[Revise items (c) and (d) to read as follows:]</E> c. <E T="03">SCF/LPC,</E> required at 72 pieces, optional at 24 pieces; fewer pieces not permitted; labeling: 1. Line 1: use L016, Column B. 2. Line 2: use “PER FLTS SCF BC” or “NEWS FLTS SCF BC,” as applicable. d. <E T="03">Origin SCF/LPC</E> (required) and <E T="03">entry SCF/LPC(s)</E> (optional), no minimum; labeling: 1. Line 1: use L016, Column B. 2. Line 2: use “PER FLTS SCF BC” or “NEWS FLTS SCF BC,” as applicable. <STARS/> <HD SOURCE="HD1">25.5 Tray Preparation—Flat-Size Barcoded Pieces</HD> <STARS/> <E T="03">[Revise items (d) and (e) to read as follows:]</E> d. <E T="03">SCF/LPC</E> (required), 72-piece minimum, optional at 24 pieces, fewer pieces not permitted; labeling: 1. Line 1: L016, Column B. 2. Line 2: “PER” “NEWS” as applicable; followed by “FLTS”; followed by “SCF BC.” e. <E T="03">Origin SCF/LPC</E> (required) and <E T="03">entry SCF/LPCs)</E> (optional), no minimum, labeling: 1. Line 1: L016, Column B. 2. Line 2: “PER” “NEWS” as applicable; followed by “FLTS”; followed by “SCF BC.” <STARS/> <HD SOURCE="HD1">235 Mail Preparation</HD> <STARS/> <HD SOURCE="HD1">1.0 General Definition of Terms</HD> <STARS/> <HD SOURCE="HD1">1.3 Terms for Presort Levels</HD> <HD SOURCE="HD1">1.3.1 Letters and Cards</HD> Terms used for presort levels are defined as follows: * * * <E T="03">[Revise item (f) to read as follows:]</E> f. <E T="03">Origin/optional entry SCF:</E> the separation includes bundles for one or more 3-digit areas served by the same sectional center facility (SCF)/local processing center (LPC) (see L005, Column B) in whose service area the mail is verified/entered. Subject to standard, this separation is required regardless of the mail volume. <STARS/> <HD SOURCE="HD1">8.0 Preparation of Automation Flats</HD> <STARS/> <HD SOURCE="HD1">8.5 Traying and Labeling</HD> Tray size, preparation sequence, and Line 1 labeling: <E T="03">[Revise items (a) and (b) to read as follows:]</E> a. 5-digit/scheme: optional, but required for 5-digit price (full tray or 50-piece minimum); one less-than-full or overflow tray allowed; see 8.6 for scheme; labeling: 1. Line 1: city, state, and 5-digit ZIP Code on mail (see 204.3.0, for overseas military mail). 2. Line 2: “FCM FLTS 5D BC” or “FCM FLTS BC 5D SCHEME” b. 3-digit: optional, but required for 3-digit price (full tray or 50-piece minimum); one less-than-full or overflow tray allowed; labeling: 1. Line 1: L002, Column A. 2. Line 2: “FCM FLTS 3D BC.” <STARS/> <HD SOURCE="HD1">245 Mail Preparation</HD> <STARS/> <HD SOURCE="HD1">1.0 General Information for Mail Preparation</HD> <STARS/> <HD SOURCE="HD1">1.3 Terms for Presort Levels</HD> <HD SOURCE="HD1">1.3.1 Letters</HD> Terms used for presort levels are defined as follows:* * * <E T="03">[Revise item (h) to read as follows:]</E> h. <E T="03">Origin/optional entry SCF:</E> the separation includes bundles for one or more 3-digit areas served by the same sectional center facility (SCF)/local processing center (LPC) (see L005) in whose service area the mail is verified or entered. Subject to standard, this separation is required regardless of mail volume. <STARS/> <HD SOURCE="HD1">1.3.2 Flats</HD> Terms used for presort levels are defined as follows:* * * <E T="03">[Revise items (l) and (m) to read as follows:]</E> l. SCF: the separation includes pieces for two or more 3-digit areas served by the same sectional center facility (SCF)/local processing center (LPC) (see L016). Exception: Where required or permitted by standard, mail f ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ Preview showing 10k of 23k characters. Full document text is stored and available for version comparison. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━