As stated by the USPS:

Below is a summary of the new Mailing Services prices beginning January 27, 2013.

Summary of some of the new Shipping Services prices for January 27, 2013
Several new Shipping Services products will be available in January. Free tracking will be offered to all competitive packages, including retail Priority Mail and Parcel Post (recently renamed Standard Post). Also new, customers shipping Critical Mail letters and flats will now have the option of receiving a signature upon delivery as part of the service offering.

A large variety of flat-rate boxes and envelopes for Express Mail® and Priority Mail®, including the padded and legal-sized flat rate envelopes will continue to be offered by the Postal Service. New domestic retail pricing for Priority Mail Flat Rate products include:

• Small box: $5.80
• Medium box: $12.35
• Large box: $16.85
• Large APO/FPO box: $14.85
• Regular envelope: $5.60
• Legal envelope: $5.75
• Padded envelope: $5.95

For frequently asked questions (FAQs) please visit: USPS FAQs.

As we told you in an eTip earlier this year, the United States Postal Service® (USPS®) published the final regulations for folded self-mailers (FSM's) and other unenveloped pieces in the December 1, 2011 Federal Register. These final rules take effect on January 5, 2013, so mailers need to make plans to use up remaining stock and to make design changes for affected mailpieces that will mail after the effective date. As part of the changes, the USPS renamed pieces designed to carry discs and expanded the standards that apply to tabs to include folded self-mailers (FSM's). These new rules do not apply to cards, envelopes, booklet style letters or mailpieces designed to carry discs.

The Changes
The notice lays out the specifications for the size requirements for FSM's:

• Length: A minimum of 5 inches and a maximum of 10 1/2 inches
• Height: A minimum of 3 1/2 inches and a maximum of 6 inches
• Thickness: A minimum of 0.007 inch; (0.009 inch if the height exceeds 4 1/4 inches or if the length exceeds 6 inches); the maximum thickness is 1/4 inch
• Maximum Weight: 3 ounces
• Rectangular, with four square corners and parallel opposite sides.
• Within an aspect ratio (length divided by height) of 1.3 to 2.5, inclusive (see Domestic Mail Manual 601.1.4)
• Maximum number of panels, bi-fold, tri-fold and oblongs: 12 for FSM's constructed of non-newsprint paper
• Exception: Quarter folded self-mailers made of a minimum of 100 lb book grade paper may have 4 panels and those made of 55 lb newsprint must have at least 8 panels and may contain up to 24 panels.

The proposals include the definition of a "panel" and lengthy descriptions of permissible fold and panel configurations. The sealing options provided are numerous, including the optimal continuous glue line as well as three or four glue spots, three or four elongated glue lines, and various tabbing options. Many of the options are dependent on the paper basis weight and number of folds or panels. There are also a number of options for other design elements, such as die cuts, perforations, loose enclosures and attachments.

Effective Date
Due to the looming January 5, 2013 effective date, we strongly encourage mailers to review these new regulations and start making plans for any necessary design changes to future mailpieces. Many mailpieces, or components of mailpieces, are designed and prepared months in advance of the actual mailing date and may be kept in stock for remailings. Before you design and order mailpieces for 2013, please review these new rules so that you do not get stuck with additional postage charges or, worse, unmailable pieces.

Further information
For more detailed information on these new rules, click on the links above for the Federal Register notice or the Folded Self-Mailer Reference Material document, the Folded Self-Mailer landing page on the RIBBS web site.

On January 27, 2013, the United States Postal Service (USPS) will revise the mailing standards to require that customs information for international packages is electronically transmitted to the USPS.  This update will assist the Postal Service and other federal agencies in monitoring mailers’ compliance with federal export regulations that, among other things, prohibit certain goods from being sent to persons, entities, or countries determined to be adverse to U.S. interests.  

The majority of international mail items will require a customs form.  The type of customs form required will depend on the service and the declared value of the mail piece.  First-Class Mail International items and Priority Mail International Flat Rate envelopes that weigh less than 16 oz. and no more than ¾" thick (with only documents enclosed) are excluded.  

To ensure USC is compliant with these requirements, it is very important that departments sending international mailings (i.e. books, merchandise, small packets, etc.) fill out the customs form electronically.  The information required is the sender's name, department, address, accurate and detailed contents of the package and the declared value.  As the mailing agent for the university, we will submit the information electronically to the USPS for all departments.  Customs forms received that are handwritten or incomplete will be returned to the department.

To fillout and print customs forms online Please visit the USPS customs forms website at: https://cns.usps.com/go/ShippingInformationAction_input.

For customs forms information please visit the USPS website at: http://pe.usps.gov/text/imm/immc1_008.htm#ep1014060.