European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 17, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 10 b the stars and stripes thursday october 17, 1991 Post offices Brace for Holiday mail patrons have Choice of 2 Christmas Stamps by Crystal la u re an o staff writer rheingau Germany a two types of Christmas Stamps go on Sale at military Post offices across Europe on Friday a sign that postal workers Are gearing up for the Holiday mail season. The contemporary Santa Claus stamp and the traditional Madonna and child will be available in sheets and booklets army and air Force postal officials said. During the Holiday season mail volume More than doubles and military Post offices add workers to keep the mail flowing said a spokeswoman for the postal service. A we ask communities for aug enters a said Barbara Lutz of the army postal group Europe in rheingau Germany. A they can provide either civilian employees or soldiers to work at the  at air bases in Europe a a it a up to the local postmaster and base information manager to decide How to acquire additional personnel a said master sgt. William Hossack at the 7025th air postal so at Ramstein a Germany. A if there is Money to hire temporary civilian employees they can do that. They can detail service members or in some places they ask for volunteers to help with the  now is also the time for overseas postal patrons to prepare their Holiday packages Early to save Money and beat the Holiday mail Rush. There Are four ways to ship packages through the military postal system Sam space available Mai pal parcel Airlift priority mail and express mail. Sam mail from Europe to the United states should be mailed by dec. 2, and pal and priority mail by dec. 4. Letters and cards should be mailed by dec. 9. The express mail deadline is dec. 21, Lutz said. There Are limits to parcel size accepted. To figure a packages size measure the longest Side and the distance around the parcel at its thickest part. Then add Christmas mailing costs for example 20-Pound Box from Europe to express Sam pal priority mail Chicago $8.01 $9.41 $14.75 $35.05 Dallas $10.22 $11.62 $17.25 $37.85 a xpr6$ mail costs includes $500 insurance source army postal group Europe a amps Susan Harris the two measurements. The packages destination has significant bearing on the postage Cost. Overseas mail goes to the United states by air but Price variations Are caused by the Type of transportation used within the United states. After being flown to the states Sam mail continues on to its destination by ground transportation. Sam parcels can weigh up to 70 pounds and measure up to 100 inches in combined length and Girth. Pal packages travel by air All the Way to its destination. Pal boxes can be not weigh More than 30 pounds or be More than 60 inches in length or Width. Priority mail which also goes As far As possible by air can weigh up to 70 pounds and measure up to 108 inches in length and Girth. Mailing Early by Sam can save Money As illustrated by the Cost of sending a 20-Pound package to Chicago or Dallas. The information was provided by the army postal group. With Sam the package would Cost $8.01 to Chicago and $10.22 to Dallas pal is $9.41 to Chicago and $11.62 to Dallas priority mail $14.75 to Chicago and $17.25 to Dallas and express mail is $35.05 to Chicago and $37.85 to Dallas Lutz said. Express mail packages can also weigh up to .70 pounds and Are guaranteed to arrive in two or three Days depending on the destination zip code or the Cost of postage will be refunded to the sender. Express mail costs include $500 of insurance. One Holiday bargain is Intra theater delivery service usually referred to As military postal service or maps. Using maps army air Force and Fleet Post office customers can Send letters and also packages weighing up to 70 pounds Between most �?o09�?� Apos and pos free of charge. Registered insured certified or return receipt mail Are not available with maps. Maps mail to Turkey usually takes about six Days a from the departure dated on the postmark to arrival at a turkish Airport Lutz said. Air transport of maps mail to saudi Arabia and Kuwait takes about three to four Days after the postmark Date she said. A we done to anticipate any changes in those times because of the holidays a Lutz said. Military Airlift come aircraft carry maps mail from Rhein main a Germany to air bases in Turkey and saudi Arabia. Maps mail is then taken to its final destination by ground transportation. Mail from the United states to the persian Gulf area travels via  commercial air carriers a just like the mail comes to us in Europe a Lutz said. Another bargain is a special agreement that allows military postal patrons in Germany to Send mail through the military Post office to German civilian addresses at . Postal rates. A Complete Apo return address must be on the envelope or package. However registered insured certified or return receipt service cannot be used. Special services such As mail by appointment and extended or weekend hours will be offered at some military Post offices during the Holiday mail season. Patrons should Check with their local Post office for specific services available. Declarations for parcels tips offered by the stars and stripes customs declarations must be on All parcels going to the United states customs officials said. One or both of the following must be ufred is form 2976 customs Douane c 1 a a Small Green form usually used for letters Large envelopes or Small packages containing cassette tapes books or newspapers. This form can also be used on larger parcels when you done to want the sender to know the packages contents. Attach the top part of the form to the lower left Corner of the package and enclose a separate customs declaration listing the contents inside the package. The listing can be put in an envelope marked a customs declaration to prevent the recipient from discovering the contents. Is form 2976-a customs Mcclara on customs Tion a a Large White form used to list values and descriptions of package contents. It can be used on the outside of a Large parcel in the same manner As the smaller Green form or it can be put inside the Box when just the top half of the Green form is used on the outside. Recipients Are allowed $50 in duty free foreign made merchandise per Day. Recipients can be assessed an import tax plus a $5 customs processing fee for items valued Over $50. To Send several gifts with a total value of More than $50, but less than $50 per person wrap and Label each present in the Container separately. State on the customs declaration the value of each gift and that the gifts Are going to different people. To keep the gifts a Surprise write on the customs declaration something like a gifts for five people not exceeding $50 each description  put the detailed declaration form inside the package. Information from the customs office indicates also that several items Are forbidden entry into the United states. Tortoise Shell Coral skins of most crocodiles lizards snakes skins of All sea turtles elephant Ivory and whale Teeth May not enter the United states. Also not allowed Are furs from wild cats such As Puma Panther Jaguar Leopard Tiger ocelot and margay a Small ocel tall seals and Polar bears and some chinchillas and zebras. When buying furs one should insist on a certificate of origin that states the animals scientific name customs officials recommend. Other prohibited items Are liquor filled Candy alcoholic beverages lottery tickets narcotics obscene materials handguns switchblade knives fireworks flammables poisons and rationed items. Fruits vegetables meats soil or live plants Are also prohibited because they could contain foreign pests or diseases that threaten . Agriculture. Merchandise from Iran Iraq Libya Nicaragua North Korea Vietnam Cambodia Panama South Africa and Cuba can not be imported into the United states without a Treasury department i. Cense. Iranian rugs and carpets Are widely available in Europe so if you plan to Send a Rug to the states ask for proof of where is it was made. Items that Are not allowed entry in the country will be seized by the . Customs service and the sender can be fined. Falsifying customs declaration forms in any an attempt to sneak something into the country carries penalties and fines customs officials said. If you have any doubts about your Holiday gift list Call your local military police customs Field office. In Germany there is also a customs hot line ets 380-7610.details on recalled canned products released Heidelberg Germany a the 7th medical come has released Container sizes and product codes for five Van Camp and seven Wolf Brand canned products voluntarily recalled last week by Quaker Oats co. In a message received by the 7th medical come veterinary services a company official stated a the recall has been initiated because of isolated under cooking a which can Lead to the growth of food spoilage bacteria. Although no complaints or illnesses have been reported and the risk of illness appears to be extremely Low the company a recall is being taken to ensure All products Are Safe for Consumers and meet Quality standards. The affected products Bear a production code on the top of the can starting with the letter d. The manufacturer has indicated that the letter May appear to be an o. Customers who have any of the Van Camp or Wolf Brand products involved in the recall May return them to the commissary or cafes shop Pette where they were purchased for a Complete refund. No proof of Purchase is necessary. A the following products Container sizes and the last five digits of the Universal product code which is the computer scanning bar on the Label Are involved in the recall Van Camp pork and Beans 16 ounces 01122 Premium baked Beans 16 ounces 31281 dark red kidney Beans 15 ounces 01034 new Orleans kidney Beans 15 ounces 01041 and Chili with Beans 15.5 ounces 01292. Wolf Brand Plain Chili 15 ounces 01270 Jalapeno style Plain Chili 15 ounces 01280 Chili with Beans 15 ounces 02270 Jalapeno style Chili with Beans 15 ounces 02280 beef Stew 15 ounces 07270 Plain Chili repriced15 ounces 44125 and Chili with Beans repriced15 ounces 44223