OIG Finds “Significant Operational Delays” of Int’l Outbound Packages

While conducting fieldwork for our International Mail Operations and Performance Data project, we found significant operational delays of international outbound (export) packages.

From the OIG: The Postal Service, as a major international postal organization, has key responsibilities related to the collection and exchange of advance electronic data (AED) for international packages. These responsibilities were further clarified when Congress passed the Synthetics Trafficking and Overdose Prevention (STOP) Act of 2018 to help stem the flow of opioids shipped to the U.S. through the mail.

The law requires – with some exceptions – that all postal packages entering the U.S. have AED. The Postal Service, in accordance with internal policies and guidelines, has applied STOP Act provisions to export mail. This alert focuses on the collection and review of export packages as well as the item-level AED that is to accompany these packages prior to Postal Service processing. Specific export AED requirements include tracking number, sender, recipient, and package information.

While conducting fieldwork for our International Mail Operations and Performance Data project, we found significant operational delays of international outbound (export) packages. Operations were significantly challenged at the Postal Service’s five ISCs due to a large number of export packages identified as having insufficient AED. Postal Service data showed nearly 2.9 million pieces with missing AED between January and August 2021. We also found significant processing delays of some export packages identified with insufficient AED … (click to read more)