(see § 224.4(a) of this chapter concerning postal union articles and § 232.5(b) (1) of this chapter concerning parcel post), then detach Customs Form 3419 and report the item on Form 2933 as outlined in paragraph (f) (1) of this section.

(e) Recording and reporting collections. Post offices making delivery-collection of dutiable articles will deposit the customs collections with postal funds. (f) Uncollected items—(1) Reporting. Complete a separate Form 2933, Register of Uncollected Customs Charges, in duplicate, for each port of entry from which packages are received. First-class offices will prepare on same frequency as Form 2932; other offices will report uncollectible items weekly. Enter all uncollectible items on Form 2933, listing each Customs Form 3419 by serial number and amount, and showing reason for noncollection. Forward original of Form 2933 with supporting Customs Form 3342, other statements, and original and receipt copy of related Customs Form 3419 to the Regional Commissioner of Customs, Attention: Cashier, New York, N.Y. 10004. File a copy of Form 2933 for reference purposes.

(2) Past-due entries. When the issuing customs port of entry does not receive a report of disposition of dutiable article, the collector of customs will forward an inquiry to the postmaster on Customs Form 3423, Transcript of Entry of Merchandise Imported Through the Mails, in duplicate, requesting information on the disposition of entries involved. On receipt of Customs Form 3423 the chief accountant, accounting unit or employee designated by the postmaster, will make a search for Customs Form 3419. If form is located, return both copies of Customs Form 3423 to port of entry with notation that the entry will be accounted for in the usual manner when collection is effected, or note on Customs Form 3423, the control number of the Form 2932, on which the entry was reported (first-class offices; or serial number of money order used in remitting in the case of second-, third-, and fourth-class offices). When search fails to locate record of Customs Form 3419 or reiated package, notify the collector of customs accordingly.

(g) Refund of duty—(1) Duty not refundable by postmasters. Amounts collected on customs mail entry forms are not refundable by postmasters. An addressee who requests a refund of duty shall be advised to make application therefor to the collector of customs at

the port of entry within 30 days from the date of entry. It is suggested, if refund is claimed for damage, the article be forwarded to the collector with the application. If the addressee wishes to abandon the article to the Government, he should so state in his application. In case the addressee also intends to file a claim for indemnity with the Post Office Department, he shall, before taking the above action, present the contents, container, and complete wrapping to the postmaster for the inspection prescribed by Form 2855, Claim for Indemnity-International Insured Mail.

(2) By Customs Service. Refund of duties paid will be considered by the Customs Service if merchandise, covered by a mail entry, representing 5 percent or more of the total value of all of the merchandise of the same class or kind entered in the invoice in which the item appears, is abandoned and delivered to the collector of customs where the entry was made within 30 days after the date of entry.

(3) On returned merchandise. Refund of duties paid less 1 percent will also be considered by the Customs Service if merchandise covered by a mail entry and found not to conform to sample or specification or shipped without the consent of the consignee is, within 90 days from the date of delivery, returned to customs custody for exportation, unless the Secretary of the Treasury authorizes in writing a longer time. The postal charges incident to returning the merchandise to the sender must be paid by the addressee.

(4) No duty refund in certain cases. When an addressee requests delivery of parcel post packages to be made at his residence or place of business after the customs duty thereon has been paid at the post office, the Treasury Department has declined to refund the duty in such cases when the goods become lost between the post office and the addressee's residence or place of business, and if there should be any loss there is no appropriation available from which the Post Office Department could make reimbursement for the amount of duty paid.

(h) Duty-(1) Rates. Patrons desiring information concerning rates of duty on articles imported into the United States, or other customs procedure, should communicate with the appropriate customs officer, located at various points throughout the country, or with

the Commissioner of Customs, Treasury Department, Washington, D.C. 20226.

(2) Prepayment. No provision is made for the prepayment abroad of customs duty on mail shipments addressed for delivery in the United States.

(3) On articles repaired abroad. Before sending an article abroad for repair, the patron should submit it to a customs officer for issuance of a certificate of registration. Otherwise, the entire article may be subjected to customs duty when it is returned to the United States.

(4) In other countries. See § 231.2(d) of this chapter.

(i) Forwarding or returning dutiable mail-(1) Forwarding within the United States. Dispatch package as prescribed in § 224.3(a) of this chapter (for postal union articles) or § 232.4(a) of this chapter (for parcel post). Allow the Customs Forms 3419 to remain attached to the redirected package in its original envelope, which is also redirected to the new address. Prepare Form 3814, Record of C.O.D. Parcels Held for Delivery, in duplicate, showing name and address of addressee, forwarding address, and name of port where the duty was assessed. In Bin No. block on Form 3814, enter the 6-digit serial number from related Customs Form 3419. Mail original Form 3814 to the collector of customs who issued the entry; file duplicate for reference in case of later inquiry.

(2) Forwarding to another country. See § 224.3(b) of this chapter concerning forwarding of postal union articles and § 232.4 (c) and (d) of this chapter concerning forwarding of parcel post. When a dutiable package is entitled to be forwarded to another country, detach the Customs Forms 3419 and endorse both copies Addressee moved outside jurisdiction of the United States. Enter serial number on Form 2933 and return both copies of Customs Form 3419 to collector of customs with related Form 2933. (See paragraph (f) (1) of this section.)

(3) Return to sender. When a dutiable package is to be returned to the sender, detach the Customs Forms 3419, endorse them "Refused," "Unclaimed," etc., and enter serial number on Form 2933. Return both copies of Customs Form 3419 to the collector of customs with the related Form 2933. (See paragraph (f) (1) of this section.)

(4) By stations and branches. Postmasters may authorize stations and branches to forward or return packages

When a collector of customs finds a difference between the amounts reported by postmasters and the amounts shown on the related file copy of a Customs Form 3419, the collector will forward the postmaster an inquiry on Customs Form 3429, Notice to Postmaster of Underpayment to Customs, in duplicate. On receipt of Customs Form 3429, fill in correct district and port code number and mail entry number on face of form. Review the file copy of Form 2932 (or purchaser's receipt for money order remittance) to determine the amount of adjustment. Enter the adjustment data in spaces provided on the back of Customs Form 3429 as follows.

(a) Enter serial number of Customs Form 3419 involved, amount originally remitted, and correct amount.

(b) At the bottom of the form enter the net amount of adjustment (plus or minus), signature of preparing employee, and date of preparation. justment will be made against the next remittance to the collector of customs involved.

Ad

there is reason to believe that prohibited matter is contained in a sealed letter, the exchange office will endorse the cover "supposed to contain matter prohibited importation" and forward it to the post office of destination. Letters received bearing such endorsement, or any foreign letter not so endorsed but suspected of containing prohibited matter, shall be held and treated as follows:

(a) Complete and mail Form 2921, Held Mail Notice-International, to the addressee requesting authorization to open the letter and examine its contents. The form may be endorsed "Lottery Matter" when it is believed the letter contains such matter. If the volume of such mail or other considerations warrant, an explanatory letter may be sent in lieu of Form 2921.

(b) When authorization to open is given by the addressee, the letter shall be opened and examined in his presence, if he has appeared in person, or, if he does not appear, in the presence of two designated postal employees.

(c) If the addressee fails to authorize the opening of the letter, endorse the cover "Unclaimed" and return, unopened, to its origin.

(a) Mailable matter. If the contents of a letter opened pursuant to § 262.1 are found to be mailable and the examination has taken place in the presence of the addressee, immediately deliver the letter to him. If the addressee is not present, mail the letter to him under official cover.

(b) Prohibited matter. If the contents of a letter opened pursuant to § 262.1 are found to be prohibited they shall be disposed of as follows:

(1) Transmit lottery matter to the local postal inspector in charge.

(2) Report other prohibited matter to the Mailability Division, Office of the General Counsel, with a sample of the contents, and await instructions as to disposition.

PART 263-PLANT QUARANTINE INSPECTION

Sec.

263.1 What is subject to inspection. 263.2 Segregation.

AUTHORITY: The provisions of this Part 263 issued under 5 U.S.C. 301, 39 U.S.C. 501, 505.

SOURCE: The provisions of this Part 263 appear at 31 F.R. 15382, Dec. 8, 1966, unless otherwise noted.

ages containing plant material to the local plant quarantine inspector. Dispatch packages bearing a yellow and green special-mailing tag and those addressed to the Department of Agriculture, Plant Quarantine Division, to the quarantine station to which directed.

(b) Distribution offices. Submit packages containing plant material to a quarantine inspector at the most accessible of the offices mentioned in paragraph (g) of this section. Dispatch under seal addressed to the postmaster, marking "For plant quarantine examination."

(c) Plants admitted without restriction. Plants and plant products ordered by, intended for, and addressed to the Plant Quarantine Division, or the Crops Research Division, Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C. 20250.

(d) Plants admitted under restrictions. Except for those listed in paragraph (e) of this section as prohibited, and some which are importable by private individuals, most plants and plant products are admitted under various restrictions. For information, patrons should address inquiries to the Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Plant Quarantine Division, Washington, D.C. 20250.

(e) Plants prohibited—(1) Cuttings, buds, cions, etc. Subject to some exceptions, importation by mail is prohibited from all countries and localities, of all plants, including cuttings, buds, cions, bulb roots, tubers, seeds, etc.; fruits and vegetables in the raw or unprocessed state; and other plant products.

(2) Plants and plant products as packing materials. The importation as packing material is prohibited of rice straw, hulls and chaff; cotton and cotton products; sugarcane, including bagasse; bamboo leaves and small shoots; leaves of plants; forest litter; soil with an appreciable admixture of vegetable matter; and all parts of corn and allied plants, unless coming from Mexico and the countries of Central America, the West Indies, and South America. However, the plant materials mentioned may be admitted if in the judgment of an inspector of the U.S. Department of Agriculture the risk of carrying infectious insects and dis

eases has been eliminated by the manner of preparation, processing, or manufacturing to which the material has been subjected.

(f) Failure to receive quarantine inspection. Should a package containing plant material be observed at or en route to the office of address without having received quarantine inspection, forward it under seal to the postmaster at the most accessible of the offices mentioned in paragraph (g) of this section. Mark "For plant quarantine examination."

(g) Inspection stations. Inspectors of the Plant Quarantine Division, Department of Agriculture, are stationed at the following offices: Agana, Guam.

Atlanta, Ga. Baltimore, Md. Baton Rouge, La. Blaine, Wash. Boston, Mass. Brownsville, Tex. Buffalo, N.Y. Calexico, Calif. Charleston, S.C. Charlotte Amalie, V.I. Chicago, Ill. Christiansted, V.I. Cleveland, Ohio. Corpus Christi, Tex. Dallas, Tex. Del Rio, Tex. Detroit, Mich. Douglas, Ariz. Dover, Del. Eagle Pass, Tex. El Paso, Tex. Galveston, Tex. Hidalgo, Tex. Hilo, Hawaii. Hoboken, N.J. Honolulu, Hawaii. Houston, Tex. Jacksonville, Fla. Key West, Fla.

Sec.

Laredo, Tex. Memphis, Tenn. Miami, Fla. Mobile, Ala. New Orleans, La. New York, N.Y. Nogales, Ariz. Norfolk, Va. Pensacola, Fla. Philadelphia, Pa. Port Arthur, Tex. Port Everglades, Fla. Portland, Oreg. Presidio, Tex. Roma, Tex. St. Albans, Vt. St. Paul, Minn. San Antonio, Tex. San Diego, Calif. San Francisco, Calif. San Juan, P.R. San Luis, Ariz. San Pedro, Calif. San Ysidro, Calif. Savannah, Ga. Seattle, Wash. Tampa, Fla. Washington, D.C. West Palm Beach, Fla. Wilmington, N.C.

PART 271-INQUIRIES AND COMPLAINTS

§ 271.1 Inquiries encouraged.

Patrons are urged to report losses, nondelivery, or mistreatment of mail, as these reports may serve to improve the postal service. Inquires and complaints are to be made at, or addressed to, the local post office. They are accepted within 1 year, counting from the day following the date of mailing.

§ 271.2 Nondelivery.

If an article has failed to reach the addressee within a reasonable time, after it should in regular course have been delivered, the post office will, on request, institute an inquiry with the foreign postal administration. Inquiry may be made even though the article was mailed in another country. If the sender is unable to submit the registry (mailing) receipt for a registered article, he must make complaint at the office of mailing.

§ 271.3 Incomplete return receipts.

If the sender receives a return receipt not properly completed (see § 242.5 (d) of this chapter), the receipt with the complaint is transmitted to the International Service Division, Bureau of Transportation and International Services, Post Office Department, Washington, D.C. 20260.

§ 271.4 Charges for inquiries.

(a) When applicable. No charge is made for an inquiry or complaint concerning the nondelivery of a piece of international mail if the sender has failed to receive a return receipt for which the required fee was paid or if he can show that loss or other irregularity has occurred apparently through fault of the Postal Service. Such a showing is satisfied either by exhibiting a letter from the addressee a reasonable time after the article involved would normally have been delivered; or satisfactorily explaining the failure to exhibit such a letter or report. Otherwise, a charge of 20 cents is made, postage stamps to cover the fee being affixed to the inquiry form and canceled. The inquiry or complaint is transmitted by airmail, if practicable.

(b) When several articles involved. Only one fee is collected for inquiries or requests for information concerning several articles mailed simultaneously by the same sender to the same addressee.

(c) Telegraph inquiry. If the sender desires that the inquiry be sent by telegraph or cable, his request must be ac

companied with an amount sufficient to pay the telegraph or cable charges, and if a reply by telegraph or cable is desired, the sender must pay the charges both ways. Such request should be forwarded to the postal inspector in charge of the division in which the office of mailing or address is located.

§ 271.5 Processing.

(a) Mail exchanged with Canada(1) Registered and ordinary—(i) Mailed in United States. (a) Inquiries as to disposition or complaints of loss are reported on Form 1510. Enter dispatch particulars (except ordinary parcels) from mailing office on back of the form, and send it to the postmaster at the office of address in Canada.

(b) Complaints of rifling, damage, delay, or wrong delivery are reported on Form 1510, suitably altered, to the Postmaster, Chicago, Ill. 60607, with the envelope or wrapper, if available.

(ii) Iailed to United States. (a) Inquiries as to disposition or complaints of loss are reported on Form 1510 and sent to the postmaster at the office of mailing in Canada. If the registry receipt is not available, ask the complainant to have inquiry made at the office of mailing.

(b) Complaints of rifling, damage, delay, or wrong delivery are reported on Form 1510, suitably altered, to the Postmaster, Chicago, Ill. 60607, with the envelope or wrapper, if available.

(iii) Inquiries of Canadian origin. Post offices will return Canadian inquiries, appropriately endorsed with the result of their findings, to the point in Canada from which received. If loss of mail to or from Canada is disclosed, report the matter on Form 1510 to the Postmaster, Chicago, Ill. 60607. In the case of mail from Canada, the necessary information should be obtained from the Canadian inquiry form before it is returned.

(2) Insured parcels (1) Mailed in United States-(a) Inquiries as to disposition (sender has no report of nonreceipt from addressee). Complete Form 2855 and send to postmaster at the office of address in Canada. If delivery is disclosed, the endorsed form will be returned to the office of mailing so that the sender may be informed accordingly and the case closed. If loss, rifling, or damage is disclosed, Canadian officials will send Form 2855 to the Postmaster,

Chicago, Ill. 60607. Should a form, disclosing loss, rifling, or damage, be sent by mistake to the postmaster at the office of mailing, send it promptly to the postmaster in Chicago.

(b) Complaints of loss (sender has report of nonreceipt from addressee), rifling, damage, delay, or wrong delivery. Complete Form 2855 and send, with the correspondence received by the sender from the addressee, and wrapper if available, to the Postmaster, Chicago, Ill. 60607.

(c) If application for indemnity is received on Canadian Form 43A, bearing information supplied by the addressee and the Canadian Postal Service for damage or rifling, complete the Form 43A, in lieu of Form 2855, and forward to the Postmaster, Chicago, Ill. 60607.

(ii) Mailed to United States. (a) If a complaint of loss, rifling, damage, delay, or wrong delivery originates in the United States, complete Form 1510 and send parts II and III of the original to the postmaster at the mailing office in Canada with the packing of the parcel if available. If the packing has been destroyed or otherwise disposed of, the complaint shall be endorsed accordingly. If complaint is of loss or rifling, send a copy of part II of Form 1510, endorsed to show disposition of the original, to the postal inspector in charge of the division in which the office of destination is located.

(b) On receipt of a Canadian indemnity form, it shall be properly completed and returned to the Canadian District Director of Postal Service from whom the form was received. If obtainable in cases of rifling or damage, the packing of the parcels shall be transmitted to the Canadian Administration with the indemnity form. If the packing has been destroyed or otherwise disposed of, the form shall be endorsed accordingly.

(b) Mail exchanged with countries other than Canada-(1) Registered mail-(i) Mailed in United States-(a) Inquiries as to disposition or complaints of loss. Report on Form 542. Insert particulars of dispatch from the office of mailing and send form to the postmaster at the appropriate adjusting exchange office shown in § 272.2(f) of this chapter.

(b) Complaints of rifling, damage, delay, or wrong delivery. Report on Form 1510, suitably altered, to the postmaster at the appropriate adjusting ex