Toxin means a Division 6.1 material from a plant, animal, or bacterial source. A toxin containing an infectious substance or a toxin contained in an infectious substance must be classified as Division 6.2; described as an infectious substance; and assigned to UN2814, UN2900, or UN3373, as appropriate. A Division 6.1 toxin that can qualify as Limited Quantity surface is permitted when packaged in accordance with 346.231 or 346.31.

Class 6 toxiclabel

The following materials are not subject to regulation as Division 6.2 hazardous materials and are mailable when the packaging requirements specified in Packaging Instruction 6G in Appendix C are met:

Poison6placard

Packages tested for approval as medical professional packages may not be tested using pre-primary containers that are currently or have previously been approved as Postal Service primary containers. In addition, test reports must identify by brand name the pre-primary containers that were used during testing.

“I certify that the contents of this container have been received, treated, and disposed of in accordance with all local, state, and federal regulations.”

Regulated medical waste and sharps medical waste known or suspected to contain a Category A infectious substance is not mailable. A material that is classified as a Category B infectious substance and that meets the definition in 346.12a2 must be triple-packaged, meeting the packaging requirements in 49 CFR 173.199, and sent with Priority Mail or Priority Mail Express service. Each primary receptacle containing a liquid must be leakproof and surrounded by absorbent material sufficient to protect the primary receptacle and absorb the total amount of liquid should the primary receptacle leak or break. Each primary receptacle containing a solid must be siftproof. Secondary containers for liquids must be leakproof. Secondary containers for solids must be siftproof. The primary and secondary packaging must be enclosed in a rigid outer shipping container. A single primary receptacle must not contain more than 1 liter (34 ounces) of a liquid specimen or 4 kg (8.8 pounds) of a solid specimen. Two or more primary receptacles whose combined volume does not exceed 4 liters (1 gallon) for liquids or 4 kg (8.8 pounds) for solids may be enclosed in a single secondary container. In addition:

Publication 52 - Hazardous, Restricted, and Perishable Mail > 3 Hazardous Materials > 34 Mailability by Hazard Class > 346 Toxic Substances and Infectious Substances(Hazard Class 6)

Class 6 toxicand infectious substances examples

Each waste shipping paper or mail disposal service shipping record must be serialized using a unique numbering system for identification purposes.

HazardClass6.1 label

Liquids and solids such as pesticides, insecticides, and herbicides that are not regulated as hazardous materials under 49 CFR are mailable subject to Postal Service quantity restrictions that are based on the toxicity of the material.

“I certify that this container has been approved for the mailing of [insert either “regulated medical waste” or “sharps waste,” as appropriate], has been prepared for mailing in accordance with the directions for that purpose, and does not contain excess liquid or nonmailable material in violation of the applicable Postal Service regulations. I AM AWARE THAT FULL RESPONSIBILITY RESTS WITH THE GENERATOR (MAILER) FOR ANY VIOLATION OF 18 U.S.C. 1716 WHICH MAY RESULT FROM PLACING IMPROPERLY PACKAGED ITEMS IN THE MAIL. I also certify that the contents of this consignment are fully and accurately described above by proper shipping name and are classified, packed, marked, and labeled, and in proper condition for carriage by air according to the national governmental regulations.”

Exempt human or animal specimens as defined in 346.12d are not subject to regulation as hazardous materials but when presented for mailing must be triple-packaged in leakproof (for liquids) or siftproof (for solids) primary receptacles. Sufficient cushioning and absorbent materials must surround each primary receptacle containing liquid. Secondary containers for liquids must be leakproof. Secondary containers for solids must be siftproof. The primary and secondary packaging must be enclosed in a rigid outer shipping container. A single primary receptacle must not contain more than 500 ml of a liquid specimen or 500 grams of a solid specimen. Two or more primary receptacles whose combined volume does not exceed 500 ml (for liquids) or 500 grams (for solids) may be enclosed in a single secondary container. The secondary container cannot serve as the outer shipping container. The secondary container must be marked with the international biohazard symbol shown in Exhibit 346.321. The secondary container must be securely and snugly enclosed in a fiberboard box or container of equivalent strength that serves as the outer shipping container. A shipping paper is not required. The outer shipping container must be marked on the address side with the words “Exempt human specimen” or “Exempt animal specimen,” as appropriate. In addition, at least one surface of the outer packaging must have a minimum dimension of 3.9 inches by 3.9 inches (100 mm by 100 mm).

Division 6.2 materials include infectious substances, biological products, regulated medical waste, sharps medical waste, used health care products, and forensic materials. Division 6.2 materials are not permitted in international mail or domestic mail, except when they are intended for medical or veterinary use, research, or laboratory certification related to the public health; and only when such materials are properly prepared for mailing to withstand shocks, pressure changes, and other conditions related to ordinary handling in transit. Unless otherwise noted, all mailable Division 6.2 materials must meet the mail preparation requirements for air transportation. The following terms are used in the standards for Division 6.2 materials:

Poison6placard Guide page

Class 6poison examples

In addition to the mailable types of Division 6.1 and 6.2 materials cited in 346.21, the following materials are permitted to be mailed only within the conditions noted.

A used health care product known or reasonably suspected to contain a Category A material is nonmailable. A used health care product not suspected to contain an infectious material, or that is known or suspected to contain a Category B infectious substance and is being returned to the manufacturer or manufacturer’s designee, is mailable with Priority Mail or Priority Mail Express service subject to the following packaging requirements:

Forensic material containing a biological material, such as tissue, body fluid, excreta, or secreta, and sent on behalf of a federal, state, local, or Indian tribal government agency must be packaged under 346.325 when it is not known or suspected to contain a Category A or Category B infectious substance. Forensic material known or suspected to contain a Category A infectious substance is nonmailable. Forensic material known or suspected to contain a Category B infectious substance as identified in 346.321 is mailable utilizing Priority Mail or Priority Mail Express service when triple-packaged in a primary receptacle, secondary container, and a rigid outer shipping container as follows:

Regulated medical waste and sharps medical waste known or suspected to contain a Category A infectious substance is not mailable. Regulated medical waste and sharps medical waste as defined in 346.12f and 346.12g and containing materials classified as Category B infectious substances must be marked UN3291 and are permitted for mailing only using USPS Returns Service (see DMM 505.3) via Priority Mail Return Service option, subject to the following requirements:

Class 6dangerous goods examples

Infectious substances, biological products, cultures and stocks, exempt human or animal specimens, patient specimens, regulated medical waste, sharps medical waste, toxins, and used health care products are permitted to be mailed within specific quantity limits and packaging conditions specified in 346.3.

The proper packaging, marking, labeling, and documentation for mailable Division 6.2 materials are described in the following sections.

If a mailpiece containing a Class 6 material is found to be damaged or leaking during Postal Service handling, the incident must be reported in accordance with POM 139.117 and 139.118 and Handbook EL-812, Hazardous Materials and Spill Response (in Part VII, “Response to Hazardous Material Incidents and Emergencies,” see the section titled “Hazardous Materials Incident Reports”), as appropriate. The local Postal Service safety officer (or designee) must immediately initiate the spill response procedures in Handbook EL-812. For spills involving infectious substances (etiologic agents), the following containment and cleanup steps must also be followed:

class6.1:toxicsubstances examples

This statement must be followed by printed or typewritten name of an authorized recipient at destination facility, signature of authorized recipient, and date signed.

Each shipping paper must contain instructions for properly completing the four-part form. Copies of the form must be distributed as follows:

Nonregulated materials as defined in 346.234 are not subject to regulation as hazardous materials, but must be properly packaged when presented for mailing. Regulated medical waste and sharps medical waste must be packaged and mailed under 346.322, and used health care products must be packaged and mailed under 346.323. Exempt human and animal specimens must be packaged under 346.326. Nonregulated materials must be held within a securely sealed primary receptacle. The primary receptacle must be surrounded by sufficient absorbent material (for liquids) and cushioning material to protect the primary receptacle from breakage. The absorbent material must be capable of taking up the entire liquid contents of the primary receptacle in case of leakage. Either the primary receptacle or the inner packaging must be marked with the international biohazard symbol shown in Exhibit 346.321. The primary receptacle and the absorbent and cushioning material must be snugly enclosed in a rigid outer shipping container that is securely sealed. A shipping paper and a content marking on the outer shipping container are not required. Nonregulated material specimens and biological products are subject to the following packaging standards:

When hazardous materials that are nonmailable under 346.2 are found in the mailstream, the procedures in POM 139.117 must be followed if the materials present an immediate threat to persons or property.The procedures in POM 139.118 are followed when there is no immediate threat to persons or property.

This statement must be followed by printed or typewritten name of generator (mailer), signature of generator, and date signed.