According to the terms set forth in the federal programs and services agreement, as amended, the U.S. has requested the cooperation of the FSM to protect the postal services, which are provided for by the U.S. from exploitation.
The shipments in question are ones that contain betelnuts, sakau root, breadfruit and cigarettes that are being mailed through the U.S. Postal Service in large volumes for business purposes.
The USPS opted to apply the above mentioned provision in prohibiting the shipments of these commodities when they realized that the FSM Postal Service’s outbound mail volume was skyrocketing because individuals and businesses were exporting these items in bulk, for profit.
According to FSM Postmaster General Midion G. Neth, although the FSMPS had restrictions on the commercial shipping of these items, the way the postal service and related program agreement was set up, it failed to indicate that postal customers should declare to the postal clerks whether his/her parcel was being sent was for personal consumption or for commercial reasons.
The postal clerks were therefore accepting all packages that were within the prescribed USPS weights and dimension regulations.
Based on the contents of the notification and meetings with USPS officials, on Nov. 18, 2009, the FSMPS ceased allowing the shipment of betelnuts, sakau roots, breadfruit and cigarettes through the U.S. Postal Service.
Then on Dec. 28, 2009, after further consultation with the USPS and an official notice from the U.S., the USPS relaxed the restriction on the ban and is now allowing the FSMPS to begin sending the commodities in shipments of 1 pound quantities per mailer per day or to a single address per day for sakau, breadfruit and belelnut, or 200 cigarettes per mailer per day or to a single address per day for personal usage only.
This new policy will allow people to send small amounts of these commodities to family/friends for personal consumption and will prevent the postal services from being exploited for monetary gain from businesses.
All business wishing to export commodities should use a freight forwarder to send their goods.
