New Mailing Standards for Live Animals

Issuing agencies

Abstract

The Postal Service is revising Publication 52, Hazardous, Restricted, and Perishable Mail (Pub 52), to improve package integrity and container identification for live animal shipments during processing and handling.

Full Text

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 200 (Monday, October 19, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 200 (Monday, October 19, 2026)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 66002-66003]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-21317]


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POSTAL SERVICE

39 CFR Part 111


New Mailing Standards for Live Animals

AGENCY: Postal Service

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Postal Service is revising Publication 52, Hazardous, 
Restricted, and Perishable Mail (Pub 52), to improve package integrity 
and container identification for live animal shipments during 
processing and handling.

DATES: Effective: October 19, 2026.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Drew Mitchum, (202) 268-7351, or 
Jennifer Cox, (202) 268-2108.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Postal Service hereby amends Publication 
52, Hazardous, Restricted, and Perishable Mail (Pub 52 or Publication 
52), with the provisions set forth herein. While not codified in title 
39 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Publication 52 is a 
regulation of the Postal Service, and changes to it may be published in 
the Federal Register. 39 CFR 211.2(a)(2). Moreover, Publication 52 is 
incorporated by reference into Mailing Standards of the United States 
Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) section 601.8.1, which is 
incorporated by reference, in turn, into the Code of Federal 
Regulations. 39 CFR 111.1 and 111.3. Publication 52 is publicly 
available, in a read-only format, via the Postal Explorer[supreg] 
website at <a href="https://pe.usps.com">https://pe.usps.com</a>. In addition, links to Postal Explorer 
are provided on the landing page of <a href="http://USPS.com">USPS.com</a>, the Postal Service's 
primary customer-facing website, and on Postal Pro, an online 
informational source available to postal customers.

Summary of New Measures

    On August 6, 2026, the Postal Service published a notice of 
proposed rulemaking (91 FR 50741) requiring mailers to individually 
address and number live animal shipments composed of multiple 
containers bound together for shipment, recommended mailers write the 
recipient's name and address directly on the packaging of adult bird 
shipments and prohibited the reuse of fiberboard containers for all 
live animal shipments.

Response to Comments

    In response to the proposed rule, the Postal Service received 32 
formal responses to the proposed changes to Pub 52. The comments 
received are as follows:
    Comment: One commenter suggested that USPS establish stronger 
protection against temperature extremes, minimize transportation and 
delays, require clear emergency procedures to protect animal welfare, 
require appropriate employee training, review which animals are 
appropriate for shipment at all and consider prohibiting live animal 
shipments when safe transportation can't be assured.
    Response: The Postal Service appreciates this feedback. Currently, 
embargo notices are issued for live animal shipments when there are 
travel interruptions due to weather related events or holiday 
transportation schedules are minimized. To the extent possible, the 
Postal Service limits live animal exposure to temperature extremes 
while in transit and ensures all animals are safely shielded from the 
elements while awaiting transport. Alternatively, the mailer must also 
ensure that the live animal shipments are protected against extreme 
temperatures by properly packaging them and considering both 
originating and destinating weather conditions when shipping, 
especially during summer and winter seasons. The postal service has 
been actively creating and providing additional education related to 
emergency procedures and proper handling practices for live animals.
    Comment: Several commenters requested that the name and address 
requirement be extended to all lives shipments not just adult birds, 
urged USPS to modify its delivery time period to 48 hours for day-old 
poultry, require a delivery by date on the container for day-old 
poultry; and employ specialized tracking and data collection on lives 
perished to better understand the root causes of documented issues, 
urges climate-controlled transportation modes, requests that USPS issue 
moratoriums on the acceptance of lives as it deems necessary.
    Response: The addressing requirement may be considered for all live 
animal shipments in a future regulatory update. The Postal Service 
believes the 48-hour delivery time is not necessary as the conditions 
of acceptance are that the day-old poultry must not be more than 24 
hours old, can be delivered within 72 hours of hatching and the 
hatching date and hour are required to be indicated on the shipment. 
The Postal Service utilizes tracking data to identify live animal 
shipments and monitors data related to incidents to determine root 
causes for documented issues when shipments are accurately identified 
by the mailer through application of the pertinent USPS extra service 
codes within their electronic shipping files. Climate-controlled 
transportation for all modes is not currently feasible, but to the 
extent possible, the Postal Service limits live animal exposure to 
temperature extremes while in transit and ensures they are shielded 
from the elements while awaiting transport. Alternatively, the mailer 
must also ensure that the live animal shipments are protected against 
extreme temperatures by properly packaging them and considering both 
originating and destinating weather conditions when shipping, 
especially during summer and winter seasons. As mentioned in the 
previous comment response, the Postal Service does employ embargoes for 
live animal shipments when issues arise.
    Comment: Several commenters suggested that USPS require advanced 
reservations and confirm transportation capacity.
    Response: The Postal Service is in contact with major animal 
shippers and is provided advance notice of large shipments of live 
animals.
    Comment: One commenter suggested that USPS includes specific test 
standards for all lives outer packaging and suggests an alternative to 
the address and phone number requirement of a barcode instead and to 
require each container in a multi-container shipment to have its own 
address label.
    Response: The Postal Service appreciates the feedback and will

[[Page 66003]]

possibly consider this in a future rulemaking process.
    Comment: One commenter suggested that live animals should only be 
shipped by overnight delivery.
    Response: Depending upon the type of live animal being shipped and 
the shipping distance, Priority Mail and USPS Ground Advantage may also 
be used to ensure the shipment arrives safely.
    Comment: One commenter suggested that USPS prohibit the mailing of 
all adult roosters due to gamecock breeders and cockfighters illegal 
use of the Postal Service to mail animals for fighting ventures.
    Response: The Postal Service permits domestic mailings of disease-
free adult birds when in compliance with all applicable governmental 
laws and regulations, including the Lacey Act, the Endangered Species 
Act (ESA), the Animal Welfare Act, regulations of the U.S. Department 
of Agriculture, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and any state, 
municipal, or local ordinances. Any violation of these regulations is 
handled by local authorities and the Postal Inspection Service.
    Comment: One commenter indicates USPS has no procedures or 
precautions within USPS publications to exclude shipments of live 
animals used for animal-fighting ventures. The commenter suggests USPS 
refuse shipments of roosters or imposes more stringent requirements by 
reviewing and recording interstate health documentation for each 
rooster, mandate mailers provide written certification of each 
rooster's non-fighting purpose, limit the number of roosters that can 
be shipped per day and restrict the breeds of roosters that are 
permitted.
    Response: The Postal Service will research these suggestions and 
determine whether more stringent requirements will be considered in a 
future rulemaking process.
    The Postal Service adopts the following changes to Publication 52, 
Hazardous, Restricted, and Perishable Mail, incorporated by reference 
into Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic 
Mail Manual (DMM), section 601.8.1, which is further incorporated by 
reference in the Code of Federal Regulations. 39 CFR 111.1, 111.3. 
Publication 52 is also a regulation of the Postal Service, changes to 
which may be published in the Federal Register. 39 CFR 211.2(a). 
Accordingly, for the reasons stated in the preamble, the Postal Service 
amends Publication 52 as follows:

Publication 52--Hazardous, Restricted and Perishable Mail

* * * * *

5 Perishable Matter

* * * * *

52 Animals

521 General Requirements

    [Add note at the bottom of section under item c. to read as 
follows:]

    Note:  Due to the high likelihood of degradation during 
transportation, fiberboard containers must not be reused for live 
animal shipments.

* * * * *

522 Packaging and Markings

* * * * *

522.1 Container Construction

    [Revise section to read as follows:]
    Containers used to mail perishable matter must be constructed to 
protect and securely contain the contents.
    Shipping containers for mailable live animals must, at a minimum, 
be made of 275-pound test, double-wall, corrugated, weather-resistant 
fiberboard (W5c) or equivalent. When multiple containers are strapped 
together, a single shipping label should be applied but each container 
must have its own address label. Additionally, the containers must be 
numbered sequentially (e.g., ``1 of 5'', ``2 of 5,'' etc.) to help 
ensure proper handling if they become separated during transit.
    USPS-produced packaging, including Flat Rate containers, is not 
eligible for use. Additional container requirements apply to mailable 
adult birds (refer to 526.4).
* * * * *

526 Mailable Live Animals

* * * * *

526.4 Adult Birds

* * * * *

526.42 Mailability Requirements

    [Add the following to the end of the section:]

    Note:  It is recommended that the name and address of the 
recipient also be written on the packaging in addition to the 
shipping label.

* * * * *

USPS Packaging Instruction 10D

* * * * *

Adult Bird Boxes

* * * * *

Marking

    [Revise Marking section to read as follows:]
    Labels and markings must be placed on the address side of the 
mailpiece unless specified differently in 221.1 and 325.1.
    Each container must be marked with the following information:
    [ssquf] ``Live Birds--USPS Approved Container # (once issued).''
    [ssquf] Complete sender's and recipient's addresses (including 
phone numbers) on the outer packaging for the necessary notification by 
Postal Service personnel.
    [ssquf] Directional arrows indicating ``up'' position (on at least 
two sides of the container).

    Note:  It is recommended to write the name and address of the 
recipient directly on the package in case shipping label becomes 
detached during shipment.

* * * * *

Colleen Hibbert-Kapler,
Attorney, Ethics & Legal Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2026-21317 Filed 10-16-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P


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