October 5, 1988 
STATEMENT OF FRANK R. HESELTCN 
ASSISTANT POSTMASTER GENERAL 
RATES AND CLASSIFICATION DEPARTMENT 
BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON POSTAL PERSONNEL AND MODERNIZATION 
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON POST OFFICE AND CIVIL SERVICE 
Mr. Chairman: 
I am Frank R. Heselton, Assistant Postmaster General, Rates and 
Classification Department. I am here at your invitation to 
outline our customers’ concerns and to discuss related matters on 
the Postal Service's proposal to ban etiologic agents from the 
mail . 
The present regulations on the mailing of disease germs and 
biological products contained in section 124.38 of the Domestic 
Mail Manual have been in place for approximately 15 years. They 
implement the provisions of title 18, United States Code, section 
1716, regarding the acceptance of disease germs in the mail. 
Postal Service regulations follow the Center for Disease Control 
( CDC ) rules in CFR 42, section 72 and Department of Trans- 
portation (DOT) rules in CFR 49, sections 173.386 and 173.387. 
In essence, to move in the mails, such material as etiologic 
agents, diagnostic specimens and biological products which may 
cause disease must conform to applicable Federal packaging and 
labeling regulations. 
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Recombinant DNA Research, Volume 13 
