USPS Hazardous Materials Policy Changes Starting July 12, 2026

The United States Postal Service (USPS) is rolling out a set of significant changes on July 12, 2026. Here is a breakdown of each change and what it means for you.

New HAZMAT Fees: Declaration Is Now Mandatory

The most immediate change for many sellers is around hazardous materials (HAZMAT). USPS is introducing two (2) new fees:

1. One for packages that contain HAZMAT
2. A steeper one for the packages that were not declared as HAZMAT, but should be.

A. HAZMAT Handling Fee

The shippers must pay 7.50 USD/package when they declare HAZMAT on Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express shipments.

If you ship HAZMAT items regularly and want to avoid this fee, Ground Advantage is worth considering. The handling fee does not apply there.

HAZMAT Noncompliance Fee

This one is broader. The shipper must pay 50.00 USD/package if USPS has detected HAZMAT items in a shipment that was not declared or was improperly labelled. Additionally, it applies across all USPS competitive services.

USPS is implementing stricter rules for HAZMAT materials. There will be ZERO TOLERANCE for shipping them incorrectly.

Failure to comply will result in a fine ranging from 250 USD to 100,000 USD.

Common HAZMAT items include:

• lithium batteries
• aerosols
• perfumes
• nail polish
• flammables
• certain cleaning products

You can check Stallion’s FAQ page for guidance on what is considered a Prohibited Item. You can also check USPS Publication 52 for information on the qualification of your products.

Every label must include an accurate declaration. If your shipment contains HAZMAT, apply the appropriate sticker; if it does not, leave the sticker off.

Quick Summary

Final Note

All changes are pending final Postal Regulatory Commission approval and take effect July 12, 2026. If you have questions about how any of these updates affect your shipments, contact the Stallion team. We are here to help you stay compliant and keep your shipping costs under control.

Jose Sagun

Jose is Stallion's Senior Business Analyst. He helps improve the company’s shipping processes, works closely with delivery partners, and looks at shipping data to find the best prices for our customers. Outside of work, Jose has a passion for running, regularly completing 5k and 10k runs, with the goal of running a full marathon in the near future.