A set of newly-modified national envelopes ( GB/T1416-2003) was put into use on June 1. It is reported that the new envelopes are more convenient for automatic treatment, security insurance, and transportation. And this is the third modification since China set national envelop standard in 1978.

New envelopes have fewer species than before, reducing original four types [common, air, large and international] into two [domestic and international]. Besides, the new envelopes have only five sizes, compared with the original 10. Some rarely used sizes are abandoned.

Paper quality is also standardized, as the old standard for paper quality was vague. The new standard makes clearly requirement for the paper used. For example, domestic envelopes use B degree paper and international envelopes use A paper, which means new envelopes are made of better papers, and the grade of that for international envelopes is higher than that for domestic ones.

New envelopes have bigger artistic patterns, which occupy 18 percent of the surface, instead of 15 percent on the old ones. Besides company title and address, logos can also be printed on the surface.

Post office’s note:

The new envelopes are designed to better meet the international standards. They are more easily to identify, making delivery faster, more accurate and safer.

Users should pay attention to the following points:

1. In order to improve the efficiency of letter sorting machines, postal code must be written correctly.

2. Do not use sub-standard or non-standard envelopes, which may cause extra loss of users and unnecessary waste for post offices.

3. Do not post non-letter article through envelopes, which may damage letter sorting machines, which will become more sensitive than before.

It is also noted that the old-style envelopes can be used until the end of 2005.

Compare:

1. Air envelope has standard blue background color.   (up: new; down: old)

2. “By air” and “Postage stamp area” added to

3. New inside inscriptions

4. Better paper quality (domestic)

(China.org.cn by Li Liangdu, June 11, 2004)