contents of a parcel are safely preserved under ordi- 
nary hazards of mail handling and transportation. 
.113 Products, materials, and devices are created 
or modified with such frequency that the Post Office 
Department is unable to issue general rulings in ad- 
vance to govern adequate preparation and packaging. 
Any mailer may, however, request the Post Office 
Department, in advance, for a specific ruling as to 
mailability of his item. The request should be ad- 
dressed to the local postmaster, who will forward it 
to the Classification and Special Services Division, 
Bureau of Operations, Washington, D.C. 20260. 
.12 APPLICABILITY OF OTHER LAWS 
^ ^ ^ 
.122 Any special conditions or limitations placed 
on transportation or movement of certain things shall 
govern admissibility to the United States mail, when 
imposed under law by the U. S. Department of the 
Treasury; U. S. Department of Agriculture; U. S. 
Department of Commerce; U. S. Department of 
Health, Education, and Welfare; Interstate Com- 
merce Commission; or any other Federal department 
or agency having legal jurisdiction. 
.13 PENALTIES 
Severe penalties of fine or imprisonment, or both, 
are provided by law, for anyone who knowingly de- 
posits for mailing or delivery, or causes to be mailed 
or delivered, anything declared nonmailable under 
law. Failure to comply with the regulations of the 
Postmaster General, as prescribed in this part, as 
to matter otherwise nonmailable, constitutes a vio- 
lation of law. 
125.2 CONDITIONS FOR MAILING 
.21 GENERAL NATURE OF PRECAUTIONS REQUIRED 
.211 The restrictions against mailing of harmful 
matter, from which relief is granted by this part, are 
intended to prevent damage or harm to postal and 
transportation personnel, to prevent damage or de- 
struction of other mail and of property, to avoid ob- 
noxious odors, and to prevent the spread of disease 
and infection. Special preparation and packaging are 
required to protect against such contingencies. 
.212 Basic precautions, covered generally in this 
section, relate to the inner containers holding the 
harmful matter, internal cushioning and protection, 
and exterior packaging and marking. 
.22 liquids (nonflammable) and powders 
.221 Precautions shall be taken in the case of liq- 
uids, pastes, salves, ink powders, pepper, snuff, or 
other pulverized materials against damage to mail 
and property from leakage and against caustic, irri- 
tant, toxic, or soiling effect on mail handling per- 
sonnel. 
.222 Containers shall meet any applicable Inter- 
state Commerce Commission or other Federal speci- 
fications. Closures must effectively seal the contents 
against leakage. Friction tops must be fastened with 
solder, clips, or otherwise so that they will not come 
off under impact. 
.223 Glass or other breakable containers of liq- 
uid must be packaged to withstand handling en- 
route. The container shall be cushioned inside the 
carton to absorb shock and impact. Where feasible, 
absorbent material shall be used, to take up all the 
liquid in case of breakage. 
* * * 
125.7 identification and marking 
.71 identification of contents. The identity or 
nature of contents of anything mailed under any of 
the provisions of part 125 shall be stated plainly on 
the outside of the parcel, as a condition of mailing. 
.72 IDENTIFICATION OF MAILER AND ADDRESSEE. The 
full name and address of both the mailer and the ad- 
dressee shall be written in ink, rubberstamped, or 
pasted on the outside of any package whose mailing 
is covered by part 125. 
.73 labels. Any labels required under Federal law 
or under any regulations issued by any Federal agen- 
cies pursuant to Federal law shall be pasted to the 
outside of the parcel. 
* * * 
PART 221 
CONDITIONS APPLICABLE TO ALL 
CLASSES 
221.1 PREPARING AND ADDRESSING 
.11 PREPARING 
.111 Senders must prepare articles securely, espe- 
cially if they are for distant countries. International 
mail is handled more often and subjected to greater 
pressure and friction than domestic mail, hence it 
must be enclosed in strong envelopes or other wrap- 
pings. 
* * * 
.114 Articles other than letters and letter packages 
(AO mail) must be prepared in such a way that their 
:ontents are sufficiently protected but so as not to 
hinder quick and easy inspection of the contents. 
They should be placed under wrapper, on a roller, 
or between cardboard; in open bags, boxes, enve- 
lopes, or containers or in closed, unsealed bags, 
boxes, envelopes, or containers provided with fasten- 
ers that can be easily opened and reclosed without 
being dangerous; or they may be tied with string or 
twine in a manner that will permit them to be easily 
untied. Sealing of postal union other articles is not 
permitted, even if registered, and they must be pre- 
pared in such a way that other articles do not run the 
risk of being trapped by them. 
* * * 
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