The new design is by the Portuguese artist João Machado, who is also the designer of other stamps issued by Correios de Portugal. The design symbolizes the foods that should be part of a balanced diet, including dairy, fish, fruit and vegetables, cereals and water. The health and good functioning of our body depends on our food and nutrition. The rolls of 900 labels, printed in offset, were again manufactured by the Spanish company Ovelar, S.A., using self-adhesive paper.

As usual, the rolls of self-adhesive labels were manufactured in 2 different sizes, with labels of size 55 x 30 mm., on waxed paper of 60 mm., to be used in Amiel, SMD and NewVision Epost vending machines, and sized 80 x 30 mm., on waxed paper of 85 mm., for the Crouzet distributors.

Each label has a preprinted number on the back of the waxed paper indicating the quantity of labels issued and not the labels remaining on the roll ! - unlike previous issues.

		ATMs with the first values of Correio Normal (Normal - priority mail) and Correio Azul (Express post) issued by the AMIEL vending machine, black printing.

		ATM issued by the AMIEL vending machine, special purple printing.

		ATMs with the first values of Correio Normal and Correio Azul issued by the NEWVISION vending machine, black printing.

		ATMs issued by the NEWVISION vending machine, special purple printing.

		ATMs with the first values of Correio Normal and Correio Azul issued by the SMD vending machine, black printing.

		ATMs issued by the SMD vending machine, special purple printing.

The Crouzet distributors, in Portugal, allow the direct purchase of only the first basic values for domestic normal and express mail (0.32 EUR and CORREIO AZUL 0.47 EUR for this issue). The remaining values, from a programmed minimum value, can be obtained by keying in the amount or by using the scales and indicating the destination and type of shipment. It is possible to obtain ATMs with a face value below the minimum programmed (see picture below - EUR 0.01), when the distributor does not have the right value of coins for change, which is typical in this machine type because of a common coins recycling malfunction. In this case, the machine offers the user the choice of receiving change, by issuing another stamp, or to cancel the operation.
If required, the machine can issue a receipt, printed on another self-adhesive label of the same design.

Correio Normal and Correio Azul ATMs sold by a distributor CROUZET, impression in black

Receipt of the first ATM and small value 0,01 EUR, issued by a distributor CROUZET, impression in black

Correio Normal and Correio Azul ATMs sold by a distributor CROUZET, special impression in purple

Test printing and curious error imprint when issuing a Correio Azul ATM after a maintenance operation, both issued by a distributor CROUZET, special impression in purple

As usual, for this issue the philatelic service prepared illustrated envelopes and first day commemorative postmarks for Lisbon and Porto.

Official first day cover (1º dia de Circulação), with the set of Correio Normal issued by a SMD vending machine, and Lisboa commemorative postmark.

Postal rates programmed in the ATM vending machines Amiel, NewVision and SMD (EUR)

,	Correio normal						Correio Azul
Change of postal rates	Domestic, up to 20 g. normalized	Domestic, up to 100 g.		Spain, up to 20 g.	Europe, except Spain, up to 20 g.	Rest of the world, up to 20 g.	Domestic, up to 20 g. normalized	International up to 20 g.
1.1.2002	0.27	0.45		0.46	0.54	0.70	0.43	1.75
1.1.2003	0.30	0.46		0.47	0.55	0.70	0.43	1.75
	Domestic, up to 20 g. normalized	Domestic, from 20 to 50 g. normalized	Domestic, up to 100 g. *	Spain, up to 20 g.	Europe, except Spain, up to 20 g.	Rest of the world, up to 20 g.	Domestic, up to 20 g. normalized	International up to 20 g.
1.1.2004	0.30	0.45	0.48	0.48	0.56	0.72	0.45	1.75
1.1.2005	0.30	0.46	0.49	0.48	0.57	0.74	0.45	1.75
1.5.2006	0.30	0.48	0.50	0.52	0.60	0.75	0.45	1.80
1.1.2007	0.30	0.50	0.55	0.52	0.61	0.75	0.45	1.85
1.8.2008	0.31	0.55	0.60	0.57	0.67	0.80	0.47	1.85
1.1.2009	0.32	0.54	0.60	0.57	0.68	0.80	0.47	1.85
* This value appears from 2005 programmed in some of the Amiel, NewVision and SMD ATM vending machines, instead of the value of Domestic Correio normal (inland normal mail) between 20 and 50 g.