If you are a Grant County resident who is mailing letters and packages to Canada, be aware of the new mandatory address requirements required by our neighbor to the north.

Canada is refusing all mail that does not conform to the new requirements.

Canada has been returning literally truckloads of mail to the United States every day.

So that your mail or package does not get returned to you, please follow these instructions:

Addressee full first and last name must be spelled out; using “grandma” or “uncle” is no longer acceptable.

Senders full first and last name must be spelled out; using “grandma” or “uncle” is no longer acceptable.

The complete address of the sender, including the ZIP code and country of origin, must be shown in the upper left-hand corner of the address side of the package, envelope or card.

Addresses to recipients in Canada must be printed, preferably in ink, or typewritten using capital letters.

The last line of the address must show only the country name, written in full and in capital letters (Exception:- When a Canadian postal delivery zone number is included in the address, mailing requirements allow that number to appear as the last line of the address).

Complete and legible customs declarations, including complete sender and addressee information along with required import documentation, must be provided to specifically identify the contents of any package. General descriptions such as “gift” or “present” are no longer acceptable.

-If you have any questions about mailing requirements, visit your local post office or go online to www.usps.com/shop and choose mailing requirements.

– Kathleen Kofoed-Bates is the postmaster in Seneca.