Universal Postal Convention
Contents
Part I
Rules applicable in common throughout the international postal
service
Sole chapter
General provisions
Art.
1 Definitions
2 Designation of the entity or entities responsible for
fulfilling the obligations arising from adherence to the
Convention
3 Universal postal service
4 Freedom of transit
5 Ownership of postal items. Withdrawal from the post.
Alteration or correction of address. Redirection. Return to
sender of undeliverable items
6 Charges
7 Exemption from postal charges
8 Postage stamps
9 Postal security
10 Sustainable development
11 Violations
12 Processing of personal data
Part II
Rules applicable to letter post and postal parcels
Chapter I
Provision of service
13 Basic services
14 Classification of letter-post items based on their
formats
15 Supplementary services
16 EMS and integrated logistics
17 Electronic postal services
18 Items not admitted. Prohibitions
19 Inquiries
20 Customs control. Customs duty and other fees
21 Exchange of closed mails with military units
22 Quality of service standards and targets
Chapter 2
Liability
23 Liability of designated operators. Indemnities
24 Non-liability of member countries and designated
operators
25 Sender's liability
26 Payment of indemnity
27 Possible recovery of the indemnity from the sender or the
addressee
Chapter 3
Provisions specific to letter post
28 Posting abroad of letter-post items
Part III
Remuneration
Chapter I
Provisions specific to letter post
29 Terminal dues. General provisions
30 Terminal dues. Provisions applicable to mail flows between
designated operators of countries in the target system
31 Terminal dues. Provisions applicable to flows to, from and
between designated operators of countries in the transitional
system
32 Quality of Service Fund
33 Transit charges
Chapter 2
Other provisions
34 Basic rates and provisions concerning air conveyance
dues
35 Parcel post land and sea rates
36 Authority of the Postal Operations Council to fix charges
and rates
37 Provisions specific to the settlement of accounts and
payments for international postal exchanges
Part IV
Final provisions
38 Conditions of approval of proposals concerning the
Convention and the Regulations
39 Reservations at Congress
40 Entry into force and duration of the Convention
Universal Postal
Convention
The undersigned, plenipotentiaries of the governments of the
member countries of the Union, having regard to article 22.3 of
the Constitution of the Universal Postal Union concluded at
Vienna on 10 July 1964, have by common consent and subject to
article 25.4 of the Constitution drawn up in this Convention the
rules applicable throughout the international postal service.
Part I
Rules applicable in common
throughout the international postal service
Sole chapter
General provisions
Article 1
Definitions
1 For the purposes of the Universal Postal Convention, the
following terms shall have the meanings defined below:
1.1 parcel: item conveyed under the conditions of the
Convention and the Parcel Post Regulations;
1.2 closed mail: labelled bag or set of bags or other
receptacles sealed with or without lead, containing postal
items;
1.3 misrouted mails: receptacles received at an office of
exchange other than the one mentioned on the (bag) label;
1.4 personal data: information needed to identify a postal
service user;
1.5 missent items: items received at an office of exchange
meant for an office of exchange in another member country;
1.6 postal item: generic term referring to anything dispatched
by the Post's services (letter post, parcel post, money
orders, etc.);
1.7 transit charges: remuneration for services rendered by a
carrier in the country crossed (designated operator, other
service or combination of the two) in respect of the land, sea
and/or air transit of mails;
1.8 terminal dues: remuneration owed to the designated
operator of the country of destination by the designated operator
of the dispatching country in compensation for the costs incurred
in the country of destination for letter-post items received;
1.9 designated operator: any governmental or non-governmental
entity officially designated by the member country to operate
postal services and to fulfil the related obligations arising out
of the Acts of the Union on its territory;
1.10 small packet: item conveyed under the conditions of the
Convention and the Letter Post Regulations;
1.11 inward land rate: remuneration owed to the designated
operator of the country of destination by the designated operator
of the dispatching country in compensation for the costs incurred
in the country of destination for parcels received;
1.12 transit land rate: remuneration owed for services
rendered by a carrier in the country crossed (designated
operator, other service or combination of the two) in respect of
the land and/or air transit of parcels through its territory;
1.13 sea rate: remuneration owed for services rendered by a
carrier (designated operator, other service or a combination of
the two) participating in the sea conveyance of parcels;
1.14 universal postal service: the permanent provision of
quality basic postal services at all points in a member
country's territory, for all customers, at affordable
prices;
1.15 transit à découvert: open transit through an intermediate
country, of items whose number or weight does not justify the
make-up of closed mails for the destination country.
Article 2
Designation of the entity or
entities responsible for fulfilling the obligations arising from
adherence to the Convention
1 Member countries shall notify the International Bureau,
within six months of the end of Congress, of the name and address
of the governmental body responsible for overseeing postal
affairs. Within six months of the end of Congress, member
countries shall also provide the International Bureau with the
name and address of the operator or operators officially
designated to operate postal services and to fulfil the
obligations arising from the Acts of the Union on their
territory. Between Congresses, changes in the governmental bodies
and the officially designated operators shall be notified to the
International Bureau as soon as possible.
Article 3
Universal postal service
1 In order to support the concept of the single postal
territory of the Union, member countries shall ensure that all
users/customers enjoy the right to a universal postal service
involving the permanent provision of quality basic postal
services at all points in their territory, at affordable
prices.
2 With this aim in view, member countries shall set forth,
within the framework of their national postal legislation or by
other customary means, the scope of the postal services offered
and the requirement for quality and affordable prices, taking
into account both the needs of the population and their national
conditions.
3 Member countries shall ensure that the offers of postal
services and quality standards will be achieved by the operators
responsible for providing the universal postal service.
4 Member countries shall ensure that the universal postal
service is provided on a viable basis, thus guaranteeing its
sustainability.
Article 4
Freedom of transit
1 The principle of the freedom of transit is set forth in
article 1 of the Constitution. It shall carry with it the
obligation for each member country to ensure that its designated
operators forward, always by the quickest routes and the most
secure means which they use for their own items, closed mails and
à découvert letter-post items which are passed to them by another
designated operator. This principle shall also apply to missent
items and misrouted mails.
2 Member countries which do not participate in the exchange of
letters containing infectious substances or radioactive
substances shall have the option of not admitting these items in
transit à découvert through their territory. The same shall apply
to letter-post items other than letters, postcards and items for
the blind. It shall also apply to printed papers, periodicals,
magazines, small packets and M bags the content of which does not
satisfy the legal requirements governing the conditions of their
publication or circulation in the country crossed.
3 Freedom of transit for postal parcels to be forwarded by
land and sea routes shall be limited to the territory of the
countries taking part in this service.
4 Freedom of transit for air parcels shall be guaranteed
throughout the territory of the Union. However, member countries
which do not operate the postal parcels service shall not be
required to forward air parcels by surface.
5 If a member country fails to observe the provisions
regarding freedom of transit, other member countries may
discontinue their postal service with that member country.
Article 5
Ownership of postal items.
Withdrawal from the post. Alteration or correction of address.
Redirection. Return to sender of undeliverable items
1 A postal item shall remain the property of the sender until
it is delivered to the rightful owner, except when the item has
been seized in pursuance of the legislation of the country of
origin or destination and, in case of application of article
18.2.1.1 or 18.3, in accordance with the legislation of the
country of transit.
2 The sender of a postal item may have it withdrawn from the
post or have its address altered or corrected. The charges and
other conditions are laid down in the Regulations.
3 Member countries shall ensure that their designated
operators redirect postal items if an addressee has changed his
address, and return undeliverable items to the sender. The
charges and other conditions are laid down in the
Regulations.
Article 6
Charges
1 The charges for the various international postal and special
services shall be set by the member countries or their designated
operators, depending on national legislation, in accordance with
the principles set out in the Convention and its Regulations.
They shall in principle be related to the costs of providing
these services.
2 The member country of origin or its designated operator,
depending on national legislation, shall fix the postage charges
for the conveyance of letter- and parcel-post items. The postage
charges shall cover delivery of the items to the place of address
provided that this delivery service is operated in the country of
destination for the items in question.
3 The charges collected, including those laid down for
guideline purposes in the Acts, shall be at least equal to those
collected on internal service items presenting the same
characteristics (category, quantity, handling time, etc.).
4 Member countries or their designated operators, depending on
national legislation, shall be authorized to exceed any guideline
charges appearing in the Acts.
5 Above the minimum level of charges laid down in 3, member
countries or their designated operators may allow reduced charges
based on their national legislation for letter-post items and
parcels posted in the territory of the member country. They may,
for instance, give preferential rates to major users of the
Post.
6 No postal charge of any kind may be collected from customers
other than those provided for in the Acts.
7 Except where otherwise provided in the Acts, each designated
operator shall retain the charges which it has collected.
Article 7
Exemption from postal charges
1 Principle
1.1 Cases of exemption from postal charges, as meaning
exemption from postal prepayment, shall be expressly laid down by
the Convention. Nonetheless, the Regulations may provide for both
exemption from postal prepayment and exemption from payment of
transit charges, terminal dues and inward rates for letter-post
items and postal parcels relating to the postal service sent by
member countries, designated operators and Restricted Unions.
Furthermore, letter-post items and postal parcels sent by the UPU
International Bureau to Restricted Unions, member countries and
designated operators shall be considered to be items relating to
the postal service and shall be exempted from all postal charges.
However, the member country of origin or its designated operator
shall have the option of collecting air surcharges on the latter
items.
2 Prisoners of war and civilian internees
2.1 Letter-post items, postal parcels and postal payment
services items addressed to or sent by prisoners of war, either
direct or through the offices mentioned in the Regulations of the
Convention and of the Postal Payment Services Agreement, shall be
exempt from all postal charges, with the exception of air
surcharges. Belligerents apprehended and interned in a neutral
country shall be classed with prisoners of war proper so far as
the application of the foregoing provisions is concerned.
2.2 The provisions set out under 2.1 shall also apply to
letter-post items, postal parcels and postal payment services
items originating in other countries and addressed to or sent by
civilian internees as defined by the Geneva Convention of 12
August 1949 relative to the protection of civilian persons in
time of war, either direct or through the offices mentioned in
the Regulations of the Convention and of the Postal Payment
Services Agreement.
2.3 The offices mentioned in the Regulations of the Convention
and of the Postal Payment Services Agreement shall also enjoy
exemption from postal charges in respect of letter-post items,
postal parcels and postal payment services items which concern
the persons referred to under 2.1 and 2.2, which they send or
receive, either direct or as intermediaries.
2.4 Parcels shall be admitted free of postage up to a weight
of 5 kilogrammes. The weight limit shall be increased to 10
kilogrammes in the case of parcels the contents of which cannot
be split up and of parcels addressed to a camp or the
prisoners' representatives there ("hommes de
confiance") for distribution to the prisoners.
2.5 In the accounting between designated operators, rates
shall not be allocated for service parcels and for
prisoner-of-war and civilian internee parcels, apart from the air
conveyance dues applicable to air parcels.
3 Items for the blind
3.1 Any item for the blind sent to or by an organization for
the blind or sent to or by a blind person shall be exempt from
all postal charges, with the exception of air surcharges, to the
extent that these items are admissible as such in the internal
service of the sending designated operator.
3.2 In this article:
3.2.1 a blind person means a person who is registered as blind
or partially sighted in his or her country or who meets the World
Health Organization's definition of a blind person or a
person with low vision;
3.2.2 an organization for the blind means an institution or
association serving or officially representing blind persons;
3.2.3 items for the blind shall include correspondence,
literature in whatever format including sound recordings, and
equipment or materials of any kind made or adapted to assist
blind persons in overcoming the problems of blindness, as
specified in the Letter Post Regulations.
Article 8
Postage stamps
1 The term "postage stamp" shall be protected under
the present Convention and shall be reserved exclusively for
stamps which comply with the conditions of this article and of
the Regulations.
2 Postage stamps:
2.1 shall be issued and put into circulation solely under the
authority of the member country or territory, in conformity with
the Acts of the Union;
2.2 are a manifestation of sovereignty and constitute proof of
prepayment of the postage corresponding to their intrinsic value
when affixed to postal items, in conformity with the Acts of the
Union;
2.3 must be in circulation, for postal prepayment or for
philatelic purposes, in the member country or territory of issue,
according to its national legislation;
2.4 must be accessible to all citizens within the member
country or territory of issue.
3 Postage stamps comprise:
3.1 the name of the member country or territory of issue, in
roman letters1;
3.2 the face value, expressed:
3.2.1 in principle, in the official currency of the country or
territory of issue, or as a letter or symbol;
3.2.2 through other identifying characteristics.
4 Emblems of state, official control marks and logos of
intergovernmental organizations featuring on postage stamps shall
be protected within the meaning of the Paris Convention for the
Protection of Industrial Property.
5 The subjects and designs of postage stamps shall:
5.1 be in keeping with the spirit of the Preamble to the UPU
Constitution and with decisions taken by the Union's
bodies;
5.2 be closely linked to the cultural identity of the member
country or territory, or contribute to the dissemination of
culture or to maintaining peace;
5.3 have, when commemorating leading figures or events not
native to the member country or territory, a close bearing on the
country or territory in question;
5.4 be devoid of political character or of any topic of an
offensive nature in respect of a person or a country;
5.5 be of major significance to the member country or
territory.
6 Postal prepayment impressions, franking machine impressions
and impressions made by a printing press or another printing or
stamping process in accordance with the UPU Acts may be used only
with the authorization of the member country or territory.
7 Prior to issuing postage stamps using new materials or
technologies, member countries shall provide the International
Bureau with the necessary information concerning their
compatibility with mail processing machines. The International
Bureau shall inform the other member countries and their
designated operators accordingly.
Article 9
Postal security
1 Member countries and their designated operators shall
observe the security requirements defined in the UPU security
standards and shall adopt and implement a proactive security
strategy at all levels of postal operations to maintain and
enhance the confidence of the general public in the postal
services, in the interests of all officials involved. This
strategy shall, in particular, include the principle of complying
with requirements for providing electronic advance data on postal
items identified in implementing provisions (including the type
of, and criteria for, postal items) adopted by the Council of
Administration and Postal Operations Council, in accordance with
UPU technical messaging standards. The strategy shall also
include the exchange of information on maintaining the safe and
secure transport and transit of mails between member countries
and their designated operators.
2 Any security measures applied in the international postal
transport chain must be commensurate with the risks or threats
that they seek to address, and must be implemented without
hampering worldwide mail flows or trade by taking into
consideration the specificities of the mail network. Security
measures that have a potential global impact on postal operations
must be implemented in an internationally coordinated and
balanced manner, with the involvement of the relevant
stakeholders.
Article 10
Sustainable development
1 Member countries and/or their designated operators shall
adopt and implement a proactive sustainable development strategy
focusing on environmental, social and economic action at all
levels of postal operations and promote sustainable development
awareness in the postal services.
Article 11
Violations
1 Postal items
1.1 Member countries shall undertake to adopt the necessary
measures to prevent, prosecute and punish any person found guilty
of the following:
1.1.1 the insertion in postal items of narcotics and
psychotropic substances, as well as explosive, flammable or other
dangerous substances, where their insertion has not been
expressly authorized by the Convention;
1.1.2 the insertion in postal items of objects of a
paedophilic nature or of a pornographic nature using
children.
2 Means of postal prepayment and postal payment itself
2.1 Member countries shall undertake to adopt the necessary
measures to prevent, prosecute and punish any violations
concerning the means of postal prepayment set out in this
Convention, such as:
2.1.1 postage stamps, in circulation or withdrawn from
circulation;
2.1.2 prepayment impressions;
2.1.3 impressions of franking machines or printing
presses;
2.1.4 international reply coupons.
2.2 In this Convention, violations concerning means of postal
prepayment refer to any of the acts outlined below committed with
the intention of obtaining illegitimate gain for oneself or for a
third party. The following acts shall be punished:
2.2.1 any act of falsifying, imitating or counterfeiting any
means of postal prepayment, or any illegal or unlawful act linked
to the unauthorized manufacturing of such items;
2.2.2 any act of using, circulating, marketing, distributing,
disseminating, transporting, exhibiting, showing, or publicizing
any means of postal prepayment which has been falsified, imitated
or counterfeited;
2.2.3 any act of using or circulating, for postal purposes,
any means of postal prepayment which has already been used;
2.2.4 any attempt to commit any of these violations.
3 Reciprocity
3.1 As regards sanctions, no distinction shall be made between
the acts outlined in 2, irrespective of whether national or
foreign means of postal prepayment are involved; this provision
shall not be subject to any legal or conventional condition of
reciprocity.
Article 12
Processing of personal data
1 Personal data on users may be employed only for the purposes
for which they were gathered in accordance with applicable
national legislation.
2 Personal data on users shall be disclosed only to third
parties authorized by applicable national legislation to access
them.
3 Member countries and their designated operators shall ensure
the confidentiality and security of personal data on users, in
accordance with their national legislation.
4 Designated operators shall inform their customers of the use
that is made of their personal data, and of the purpose for which
they have been gathered.
Part II
Rules applicable to letter post and
postal parcels
Chapter 1
Provision of services
Article 13
Basic services
1 Member countries shall ensure that their designated
operators accept, handle, convey and deliver letter-post
items.
2 Letter-post items are:
2.1 priority items and non-priority items, up to 2
kilogrammes;
2.2 letters, postcards, printed papers and small packets, up
to 2 kilogrammes;
2.3 items for the blind, up to 7 kilogrammes;
2.4 special bags containing newspapers, periodicals, books and
similar printed documentation for the same addressee at the same
address called "M bags", up to 30 kilogrammes.
3 Letter-post items shall be classified on the basis either of
the speed of treatment of the items or of the contents of the
items in accordance with the Letter Post Regulations.
4 Higher weight limits than those indicated in paragraph 2
apply optionally for certain letter-post item categories under
the conditions specified in the Letter Post Regulations.
5 Subject to paragraph 8, member countries shall also ensure
that their designated operators accept, handle, convey and
deliver postal parcels up to 20 kilogrammes, either as laid down
in the Convention, or, in the case of outward parcels and after
bilateral agreement, by any other means which is more
advantageous to their customers.
6 Weight limits higher than 20 kilogrammes apply optionally
for certain parcel-post categories under the conditions specified
in the Parcel Post Regulations.
7 Any member country whose designated operator does not
undertake the conveyance of parcels may arrange for the
provisions of the Convention to be implemented by transport
companies. It may, at the same time, limit this service to
parcels originating in or addressed to places served by these
companies.
8 Notwithstanding paragraph 5, member countries which, prior
to 1 January 2001 were not parties to the Postal Parcels
Agreement shall not be obliged to provide the postal parcels
service.
Article 14
Classification of letter-post items
based on their formats
1 Within the classification systems referred to in article
13.3, letter-post items may also be classified on the basis of
their format as small letters (P), large letters (G) or bulky
letters (E). The size and weight limits are specified in the
Letter Post Regulations.
Article 15
Supplementary services
1 Member countries shall ensure the provision of the following
mandatory supplementary services:
1.1 registration service for outbound priority and airmail
letter-post items;
1.2 registration service for all inbound registered
letter-post items.
2 Member countries or their designated operators may provide
the following optional supplementary services in relations
between those designated operators which agreed to provide the
service:
2.1 insurance for letter-post items and parcels;
2.2 cash-on-delivery service for letter-post items and
parcels;
2.3 express delivery service for letter-post items and
parcels;
2.4 delivery to the addressee in person of registered or
insured letter-post items;
2.5 free of charges and fees delivery service for letter-post
items and parcels;
2.6 fragile and cumbersome parcels services;
2.7 consignment service for collective items from one
consignor sent abroad;
2.8 merchandise return service, which involves the return of
merchandise by the addressee to the original seller, with the
latter's authorization.
3 The following three supplementary services have both
mandatory and optional parts:
3.1 international business reply service (IBRS), which is
basically optional. All member countries or their designated
operators shall, however, be obliged to operate the IBRS
"return" service;
3.2 international reply coupons, which shall be exchangeable
in any member country. The sale of international reply coupons
is, however, optional;
3.3 advice of delivery for registered letter-post items,
parcels and insured items. All member countries or their
designated operators shall admit incoming advices of delivery.
The provision of an outward advice of delivery service is,
however, optional.
4 The description of these services and their charges are set
out in the Regulations.
5 Where the service features below are subject to special
charges in the domestic service, designated operators shall be
authorized to collect the same charges for international items,
under the conditions described in the Regulations:
5.1 delivery for small packets weighing over 500 grammes;
5.2 letter-post items posted after the latest time of
posting;
5.3 items posted outside normal counter opening hours;
5.4 collection at sender's address;
5.5 withdrawal of a letter-post item outside normal counter
opening hours;
5.6 poste restante;
5.7 storage for letter-post items weighing over 500 grammes,
and for parcels;
5.8 delivery of parcels, in response to the advice of
arrival;
5.9 cover against risks of force majeure.
Article 16
EMS and integrated logistics
1 Member countries or designated operators may agree with each
other to participate in the following services, which are
described in the Regulations:
1.1 EMS, which is a postal express service for documents and
merchandise, and shall whenever possible be the quickest postal
service by physical means. This service may be provided on the
basis of the EMS Standard Multilateral Agreement or by bilateral
agreement;
1.2 integrated logistics, which is a service that responds
fully to customers' logistical requirements and includes the
phases before and after the physical transmission of goods and
documents.
Article 17
Electronic postal services
1 Member countries or designated operators may agree with each
other to participate in the following electronic postal services,
which are described in the Regulations:
1.1 electronic postal mail, which is an electronic postal
service involving the transmission of electronic messages and
information by designated operators;
1.2 electronic postal registered mail, which is a secure
electronic postal service that provides proof of sending and
proof of delivery of an electronic message and a secure
communication channel to the authenticated users;
1.3 electronic postal certification mark, which provides
evidentiary proof of an electronic event, in a given form, at a
given time, and involving one or more parties;
1.4 electronic postal mailbox, which enables the sending of
electronic messages by an authenticated mailer and the delivery
and storage of electronic messages and information for the
authenticated addressee.
Article 18
Items not admitted. Prohibitions
1 General
1.1 Items not fulfilling the conditions laid down in the
Convention and the Regulations shall not be admitted. Items sent
in furtherance of a fraudulent act or with the intention of
avoiding full payment of the appropriate charges shall not be
admitted.
1.2 Exceptions to the prohibitions contained in this article
are set out in the Regulations.
1.3 All member countries or their designated operators shall
have the option of extending the prohibitions contained in this
article, which may be applied immediately upon their inclusion in
the relevant compendium.
2 Prohibitions in all categories of items
2.1 The insertion of the articles referred to below shall be
prohibited in all categories of items:
2.1.1 narcotics and psychotropic substances, as defined by the
International Narcotics Control Board, or other illicit drugs
which are prohibited in the country of destination;
2.1.2 obscene or immoral articles;
2.1.3 counterfeit and pirated articles;
2.1.4 other articles the importation or circulation of which
is prohibited in the country of destination;
2.1.5 articles which, by their nature or their packing, may
expose officials or the general public to danger,
or soil or damage other items, postal equipment or third-party
property;
2.1.6 documents having the character of current and personal
correspondence exchanged between persons other than the sender
and the addressee or persons living with them;
3 Explosive, flammable or radioactive materials and dangerous
goods
3.1 The insertion of explosive, flammable or other dangerous
goods as well as radioactive materiāls shall be prohibited in all
categories of items.
3.2 The insertion of replica and inert explosive devices and
military ordnance, including replica and inert grenades, inert
shells and the like, shall be prohibited in all categories of
items.
3.3 Exceptionally, the dangerous goods specifically referred
to in the Regulations as being admissible shall be admitted.
4 Live animals
4.1 Live animals shall be prohibited in all categories of
items.
4.2 Exceptionally, the following shall be admitted in
letter-post items other than insured items:
4.2.1 bees, leeches and silk-worms;
4.2.2 parasites and destroyers of noxious insects intended for
the control of those insects and exchanged between officially
recognized institutions;
4.2.3 flies of the family Drosophilidae for biomedical
research exchanged between officially recognized
institutions.
4.3 Exceptionally, the following shall be admitted in
parcels:
4.3.1 live animals whose conveyance by post is authorized by
the postal regulations and/or national legislation of the
countries concerned.
5 Insertion of correspondence in parcels
5.1 The insertion of the articles mentioned below shall be
prohibited in postal parcels:
5.1.1 correspondence, with the exception of archived
materials, exchanged between persons other than the sender and
the addressee or persons living with them.
6 Coins, bank notes and other valuable articles
6.1 It shall be prohibited to insert coins, bank notes,
currency notes or securities of any kind payable to bearer,
travellers' cheques, platinum, gold or silver, whether
manufactured or not, precious stones, jewels or other valuable
articles:
6.1.1 in uninsured letter-post items;
6.1.1.1 however, if the national legislation of the countries
of origin and destination permits this, such articles may be sent
in a closed envelope as registered items;
6.1.2 in uninsured parcels; except where permitted by the
national legislation of the countries of origin and
destination;
6.1.3 in uninsured parcels exchanged between two countries
which admit insured parcels;
6.1.3. 1 in addition, any member country or designated
operator may prohibit the enclosure of gold bullion in insured or
uninsured parcels originating from or addressed to its territory
or sent in transit à découvert across its territory; it may limit
the actual value of these items.
7 Printed papers and items for the blind:
7.1 shall not bear any inscription or contain any item of
correspondence;
7.2 shall not contain any postage stamp or form of prepayment,
whether cancelled or not, or any paper representing a monetary
value, except in cases where the item contains as an enclosure a
card, envelope or wrapper bearing the printed address of the
sender of the item or his agent in the country of posting or
destination of the original item, which is prepaid for
return.
8 Treatment of items wrongly admitted
8.1 The treatment of items wrongly admitted is set out in the
Regulations. However, items containing articles mentioned in
2.1.1, 2.1.2, 3.1 and 3.2 shall in no circumstances be forwarded
to their destination, delivered to the addressees or returned to
origin. In the case of articles mentioned in 2.1.1, 3.1 and 3.2
discovered while in transit, such items shall be handled in
accordance with the national legislation of the country of
transit.
Article 19
Inquiries
1 Each designated operator shall be bound to accept inquiries
relating to parcels or registered or insured items posted in its
own service or that of any other designated operator, provided
that the inquiries are presented within a period of six months
from the day after that on which the item was posted. The
transmission of inquiries shall be made by registered priority
mail, by EMS or by electronic means. The period of six months
shall concern relations between claimants and designated
operators and shall not include the transmission of inquiries
between designated operators.
2 Inquiries shall be entertained under the conditions laid
down in the Regulations.
3 Inquiries shall be free of charge. However, additional costs
caused by a request for transmission by EMS shall, in principle,
be borne by the person making the request.
Article 20
Customs control. Customs duty and
other fees
1 The designated operators of the countries of origin and
destination shall be authorized to submit items to customs
control, according to the legislation of those countries.
2 Items submitted to customs control may be subjected to a
presentation-to-Customs charge, the guideline amount of which is
set in the Regulations. This charge shall only be collected for
the submission to Customs and customs clearance of items which
have attracted customs charges or any other similar charge.
3 Designated operators which are authorized to clear items
through the Customs on behalf of customers, whether in the name
of the customer or of the designated operator of the destination
country, may charge customers a customs clearance fee based on
the actual costs. This fee may be charged for all items declared
at Customs according to national legislation, including those
exempt from customs duty. Customers shall be clearly informed in
advance about the required fee.
4 Designated operators shall be authorized to collect from the
senders or addressees of items, as the case may be, the customs
duty and all other fees which may be due.
Article 21
Exchange of closed mails with
military units
1 Closed letter-post mails may be exchanged through the
intermediary of the land, sea or air services of other
countries:
1.1 between the post offices of any member country and the
commanding officers of military units placed at the disposal of
the United Nations;
1.2 between the commanding officers of such military
units;
1.3 between the post offices of any member country and the
commanding officers of naval, air or army units, warships or
military aircraft of the same country stationed abroad;
1.4 between the commanding officers of naval, air or army
units, warships or military aircraft of the same country.
2 Letter-post items enclosed in the mails referred to under 1
shall be confined to items addressed to or sent by members of
military units or the officers and crews of the ships or aircraft
to or from which the mails are forwarded. The rates and
conditions of dispatch applicable to them shall be fixed,
according to its regulations, by the designated operator of the
member country which has made the military unit available or to
which the ships or aircraft belong.
3 In the absence of special agreement, the designated operator
of the member country which has made the military unit available
or to which the warships or military aircraft belong shall be
liable to the designated operators concerned for the transit
charges for the mails, the terminal dues and the air conveyance
dues.
Article 22
Quality of service standards and
targets
1 Member countries or their designated operators shall
establish and publish delivery standards and targets for their
inward letter-post items and parcels.
2 These standards and targets, increased by the time normally
required for customs clearance, shall be no less favourable than
those applied to comparable items in their domestic service.
3 Member countries or their designated operators of origin
shall also establish and publish end-toend standards for priority
and airmail letter-post items as well as for parcels and
economy/surface parcels.
4 Member countries or their designated operators shall measure
the application of quality of service standards.
Chapter 2
Liability
Article 23
Liability of designated operators.
Indemnities
1 General
1.1 Except for the cases provided for in article 24,
designated operators shall be liable for:
1.1.1 the loss of, theft from or damage to registered items,
ordinary parcels and insured items;
1.1.2 the return of registered items, insured items and
ordinary parcels on which the reason for nondelivery is not
given.
1.2 Designated operators shall not be liable for items other
than those mentioned in 1.1.1 and 1.1.2.
1.3 In any other case not provided for in this Convention,
designated operators shall not be liable.
1.4 When the loss of or total damage to registered items,
ordinary parcels and insured items is due to a case of force
majeure for which indemnity is not payable, the sender shall be
entitled to repayment of the charges paid for posting the item,
with the exception of the insurance charge.
1.5 The amounts of indemnity to be paid shall not exceed the
amounts mentioned in the Letter Post Regulations and the Parcel
Post Regulations.
1.6 In cases of liability, consequential losses, or loss of
profits or moral damage shall not be taken into account in the
indemnity to be paid.
1.7 All provisions regarding liability of designated operators
shall be strict, binding and complete. Designated operators shall
in no case, even in case of severe fault, be liable above the
limits provided for in the Convention and the Regulations.
2 Registered items
2.1 If a registered item is lost, totally rifled or totally
damaged, the sender shall be entitled to an indemnity set in the
Letter Post Regulations. If the sender has claimed an amount less
than the amount set in the Letter Post Regulations, designated
operators may pay that lower amount and shall receive
reimbursement on this basis from any other designated operators
involved.
2.2 If a registered item is partially rifled or partially
damaged, the sender is entitled to an indemnity corresponding, in
principle, to the actual value of the theft or damage.
3 Ordinary parcels
3.1 If a parcel is lost, totally rifled or totally damaged,
the sender shall be entitled to an indemnity of an amount set in
the Parcel Post Regulations. If the sender has claimed an amount
less than the amount set in the Parcel Post Regulations,
designated operators may pay that lower amount and shall receive
reimbursement on this basis from any other designated operators
involved.
3.2 If a parcel is partially rifled or partially damaged, the
sender shall be entitled to an indemnity corresponding, in
principle, to the actual value of the theft or damage.
3.3 Designated operators may agree to apply, in their
reciprocal relations, the amount per parcel set in the Parcel
Post Regulations, regardless of the weight.
4 Insured items
4.1 If an insured item is lost, totally rifled or totally
damaged, the sender shall be entitled to an indemnity
corresponding, in principle, to the insured value in SDRs.
4.2 If an insured item is partially rifled or partially
damaged, the sender shall be entitled to an indemnity
corresponding, in principle, to the actual value of the theft or
damage. It may, however, in no case exceed the amount of the
insured value in SDRs.
5 If a registered or insured letter-post item is returned and
the reason for non-delivery is not given, the sender shall be
entitled to a refund of the charges paid for posting the item
only.
6 If a parcel is returned and the reason for non-delivery is
not given, the sender shall be entitled to a refund of the
charges paid by the sender for posting the parcel in the country
of origin and the expenses occasioned by the return of the parcel
from the country of destination.
7 In the cases mentioned in 2, 3 and 4, the indemnity shall be
calculated according to the current price, converted into SDRs,
of articles or goods of the same kind at the place and time at
which the item was accepted for conveyance. Failing a current
price, the indemnity shall be calculated according to the
ordinary value of articles or goods whose value is assessed on
the same basis.
8 When an indemnity is due for the loss of, total theft from
or total damage to a registered item, ordinary parcel or insured
item, the sender, or the addressee, as the case may be, shall
also be entitled to repayment of the charges and fees paid for
posting the item with the exception of the registration or
insurance charge. The same shall apply to registered items,
ordinary parcels or insured items refused by the addressee
because of their bad condition if that is attributable to the
postal service and involves its liability.
9 Notwithstanding the provisions set out under 2, 3 and 4, the
addressee shall be entitled to the indemnity for a rifled,
damaged or lost registered item, ordinary parcel or insured item
if the sender waives his rights in writing in favour of the
addressee. This waiver shall not be necessary in cases where the
sender and the addressee are the same.
10 The designated operator of origin shall have the option of
paying senders in its country the indemnities prescribed by its
national legislation for registered items and uninsured parcels,
provided that they are not lower than those laid down in 2.1 and
3.1. The same shall apply to the designated operator of
destination when the indemnity is paid to the addressee. However,
the amounts laid down in 2.1 and 3.1 shall remain applicable:
10.1 in the event of recourse against the designated operator
liable; or
10.2 if the sender waives his rights in favour of the
addressee.
11 Reservations concerning the exceeding of deadlines for
inquiries and payment of indemnity to designated operators,
including the periods and conditions fixed in the Regulations,
shall not be made, except in the event of bilateral
agreement.
Article 24
Non-liability of member countries
and designated operators
1 Designated operators shall cease to be liable for registered
items, parcels and insured items which they have delivered
according to the conditions laid down in their regulations for
items of the same kind. Liability shall, however, be
maintained:
1.1 when theft or damage is discovered either prior to or at
the time of delivery of the item;
1.2 when, internal regulations permitting, the addressee, or
the sender if it is returned to origin, makes reservations on
taking delivery of a rifled or damaged item;
1.3 when, internal regulations permitting, the registered item
was delivered to a private mail-box and the addressee declares
that he did not receive the item;
1.4 when the addressee or, in the case of return to origin,
the sender of a parcel or of an insured item, although having
given a proper discharge, notifies the designated operator that
delivered the item without delay that he has found theft or
damage. He shall furnish proof that such theft or damage did not
occur after delivery. The term "without delay" shall be
interpreted according to national law.
2 Member countries and designated operators shall not be
liable:
2.1 in cases of force majeure, subject to article 15.5.9;
2.2 when they cannot account for items owing to the
destruction of official records by force majeure, provided that
proof of their liability has not been otherwise produced;
2.3 when such loss or damage has been caused by the fault or
negligence of the sender or arises from the nature of the
contents;
2.4 in the case of items that fall within the prohibitions
specified in article 18;
2.5 when the items have been seized under the legislation of
the country of destination, as notified by the member country or
designated operator of that country;
2.6 in the case of insured items which have been fraudulently
insured for a sum greater than the actual value of the
contents;
2.7 when the sender has made no inquiry within six months from
the day after that on which the item was posted;
2.8 in the case of prisoner-of-war or civilian internee
parcels;
2.9 when the sender's actions may be suspected of
fraudulent intent, aimed at receiving compensation.
3 Member countries and designated operators shall accept no
liability for customs declarations in whatever form these are
made or for decisions taken by the Customs on examination of
items submitted to customs control.
Article 25
Sender's liability
1 The sender of an item shall be liable for injuries caused to
postal officials and for any damage caused to other postal items
and postal equipment, as a result of the dispatch of articles not
acceptable for conveyance or the non-observance of the conditions
of acceptance.
2 In the case of damage to other postal items, the sender
shall be liable for each item damaged within the same limits as
designated operators.
3 The sender shall remain liable even if the office of posting
accepts such an item.
4 However, where the conditions of acceptance have been
observed by the sender, the sender shall not be liable, in so far
as there has been fault or negligence in handling the item on the
part of designated operators or carriers, after acceptance.
Article 26
Payment of indemnity
1 Subject to the right of recourse against the designated
operator which is liable, the obligation to pay the indemnity and
to refund the charges and fees shall rest either with the
designated operator of origin or with the designated operator of
destination.
2 The sender may waive his rights to the indemnity in favour
of the addressee. The sender, or the addressee in the case of a
waiver, may authorize a third party to receive the indemnity if
internal legislation allows this.
Article 27
Possible recovery of the indemnity
from the sender or the addressee
1 If, after payment of the indemnity, a registered item, a
parcel or an insured item or part of the contents previously
considered as lost is found, the sender or the addressee, as the
case may be, shall be advised that the item is being held at his
disposal for a period of three months on repayment of the amount
of the indemnity paid. At the same time he shall be asked to whom
the item is to be delivered. In the event of refusal or failure
to reply within the prescribed period, the same approach shall be
made to the addressee or the sender as the case may be, granting
that person the same period to reply.
2 If the sender and the addressee refuse to take delivery of
the item or do not reply within the period provided for in
paragraph 1, it shall become the property of the designated
operator or, where appropriate, designated operators which bore
the loss.
3 In the case of subsequent discovery of an insured item the
contents of which are found to be of less value than the amount
of the indemnity paid, the sender or the addressee, as the case
may be, shall repay the amount of this indemnity against return
of the item, without prejudice to the consequences of fraudulent
insurance.
Chapter 3
Provisions specific to letter
post
Article 28
Posting abroad of letter-post
items
1 A designated operator shall not be bound to forward or
deliver to the addressee letter-post items which senders residing
in the territory of its member country post or cause to be posted
in a foreign country with the object of profiting by the more
favourable rate conditions there.
2 The provisions set out under 1 shall be applied without
distinction both to letter-post items made up in the sender's
country of residence and then carried across the frontier and to
letter-post items made up in a foreign country.
3 The designated operator of destination may claim from the
sender and, failing this, from the designated operator of
posting, payment of the internal rates. If neither the sender nor
the designated operator of posting agrees to pay these rates
within a time limit set by the designated operator of
destination, the latter may either return the items to the
designated operator of posting and shall be entitled to claim
reimbursement of the redirection costs, or handle them in
accordance with its national legislation.
4 A designated operator shall not be bound to forward or
deliver to the addressees letter-post items which senders post or
cause to be posted in large quantities in a country other than
the country where they reside if the amount of terminal dues to
be received is lower than the sum that would have been received
if the mail had been posted in the country where the senders
reside. The designated operator of destination may claim from the
designated operator of posting payment commensurate with the
costs incurred and which may not exceed the higher of the
following two amounts: either 80% of the domestic tariff for
equivalent items, or the rates applicable pursuant to articles
30.5 to 30.9, 30.10 to 30.11, or 31.8, as appropriate. If the
designated operator of posting does not agree to pay the amount
claimed within a time limit set by the designated operator of
destination, the designated operator of destination may either
return the items to the designated operator of posting and shall
be entitled to claim reimbursement of the redirection costs, or
handle them in accordance with its national legislation.
Part III
Remuneration
Chapter 1
Provisions specific to letter
post
Article 29
Terminal dues. General
provisions
1 Subject to exemptions provided in the Regulations, each
designated operator which receives letterpost items from another
designated operator shall have the right to collect from the
dispatching designated operator a payment for the costs incurred
for the international mail received.
2 For the application of the provisions concerning the payment
of terminal dues by their designated operators, countries and
territories shall be classified in accordance with the lists
drawn up for this purpose by Congress in its resolution C
77/2012, as follows:
2.1 countries and territories in the target system prior to
2010;
2.2 countries and territories in the target system as of 2010
and 2012;
2.3 countries and territories in the target system as from
2014 (new target system countries);
2.4 countries and territories in the transitional system.
3 The provisions of the present Convention concerning the
payment of terminal dues are transitional arrangements, moving
towards a country-specific payment system at the end of the
transition period.
4 Access to domestic services. Direct access
4.1 In principle, each designated operator of a country that
was in the target system prior to 2010 shall make available to
the other designated operators all the rates, terms and
conditions offered in its domestic service on conditions
identical to those proposed to its national customers. It shall
be up to the designated operator of destination to decide whether
the terms and conditions of direct access have been met by the
designated operator of origin.
4.2 Designated operators of countries in the target system
prior to 2010 shall make available to other designated operators
of countries that were in the target system prior to 2010 the
rates, terms and conditions offered in their domestic service, on
conditions identical to those proposed to their national
customers.
4.3 Designated operators of countries that joined the target
system from 2010 may opt to make available to a limited number of
designated operators the application of domestic conditions, on a
reciprocal basis, for a trial period of two years. After that
period, they must choose either to cease making available the
application of domestic conditions or to continue to make their
own domestic conditions available to all designated operators.
However, if designated operators of countries that joined the
target system from 2010 ask designated operators of countries
that were in the target system prior to 2010 for the application
of domestic conditions, they must make available to all
designated operators the rates, terms and conditions offered in
their domestic service on conditions identical to those proposed
to their national customers.
4.4 Designated operators of countries in the transitional
system may opt not to make available to other designated
operators the application of domestic conditions. They may,
however, opt to make available to a limited number of designated
operators the application of domestic conditions, on a reciprocal
basis, for a trial period of two years. After that period, they
must choose either to cease making available the application of
domestic conditions or to continue to make their own domestic
conditions available to all designated operators.
5 Terminal dues remuneration shall be based on quality of
service performance in the country of destination. The Postal
Operations Council shall therefore be authorized to supplement
the remuneration in articles 30 and 31 to encourage participation
in monitoring systems and to reward designated operators for
reaching their quality targets. The Postal Operations Council may
also fix penalties in case of insufficient quality, but the
remuneration shall not be less than the minimum remuneration
according to articles 30 and 31.
6 Any designated operator may waive wholly or in part the
payment provided for under 1.
7 M bags weighing less than 5 kilogrammes shall be considered
as weighing 5 kilogrammes for terminal dues payment purposes. The
terminal dues rates to be applied for M bags shall be:
7.1 for the year 2014, 0.815 SDR per kilogramme;
7.2 for the year 2015, 0.838 SDR per kilogramme;
7.3 for the year 2016, 0.861 SDR per kilogramme;
7.4 for the year 2017, 0.885 SDR per kilogramme.
8 For registered items there shall be an additional payment of
0.617 SDR per item for 2014, 0.634 SDR per item for 2015, 0.652
SDR per item for 2016 and 0.670 SDR for 2017. For insured items,
there shall be an additional payment of 1.234 SDR per item for
2014, 1.269 SDR per item for 2015, 1.305 SDR per item for 2016
and 1.342 SDR for 2017. The Postal Operations Council shall be
authorized to supplement remuneration for these and other
supplementary services where the services provided contain
additional features to be specified in the Letter Post
Regulations.
9 For registered and insured items not carrying a barcoded
identifier or carrying a barcoded identifier that is not
compliant with UPU Technical Standard S10, there shall be a
further additional payment of 0.5 SDR per item unless otherwise
bilaterally agreed.
10 For terminal dues payment purposes, letter-post items
posted in bulk by the same sender and received in the same
dispatch or in separate dispatches in accordance with the
conditions specified in the Letter Post Regulations shall be
referred to as "bulk mail". The payment for bulk mail
shall be established as provided for in articles 30 and 31.
11 Any designated operator may, by bilateral or multilateral
agreement, apply other payment systems for the settlement of
terminal dues accounts.
12 Designated operators may exchange non-priority mail on an
optional basis by applying a 10% discount to the priority
terminal dues rate.
13 The provisions applicable between designated operators of
countries in the target system shall apply to any designated
operator of a country in the transitional system which declares
that it wishes to join the target system. The Postal Operations
Council may set transitional measures in the Letter Post
Regulations. The full provisions of the target system may apply
to any new target designated operator that declares that it
wishes to apply such full provisions without transitional
measures.
Article 30
Terminal dues. Provisions applicable
to mail flows between designated operators of countries in the
target system
1 Payment for letter-post items, including bulk mail but
excluding M bags and IBRS items, shall be established on the
basis of the application of the rates per item and per kilogramme
reflecting the handling costs in the country of destination.
Charges corresponding to priority items in the domestic service
which are part of the universal service provision will be used as
a basis for the calculation of terminal dues rates.
2 The terminal dues rates in the target system shall be
calculated taking into account, where applicable in the domestic
service, the classification of items based on their format, as
provided for in article 14 of the Convention.
3 Designated operators in the target system shall exchange
format-separated mails in accordance with the conditions
specified in the Letter Post Regulations.
4 Payment for IBRS items shall be as described in the Letter
Post Regulations.
5 The rates per item and per kilogramme shall be calculated on
the basis of 70% of the charges for a 20-gramme small (P)
letter-post item and for a 175-gramme large (G) letter-post item,
exclusive of VAT or other taxes.
6 The Postal Operations Council shall define the conditions
for the calculation of the rates as well as the necessary
operational, statistical and accounting procedures for the
exchange of formatseparated mails.
7 The rates applied for flows between countries in the target
system in a given year shall not lead to an increase of more than
13% in the terminal dues revenue for a letter-post item of 81.8
grammes, compared to the previous year.
8 The rates applied for flows between countries in the target
system prior to 2010 may not be higher than:
8.1 for the year 2014, 0.294 SDR per item and 2.294 SDR per
kilogramme;
8.2 for the year 2015, 0.303 SDR per item and 2.363 SDR per
kilogramme;
8.3 for the year 2016, 0.312 SDR per item and 2.434 SDR per
kilogramme;
8.4 for the year 2017, 0.321 SDR per item and 2.507 SDR per
kilogramme.
9 The rates applied for flows between countries in the target
system prior to 2010 may not be lower than:
9.1 for the year 2014, 0.203 SDR per item and 1.591 SDR per
kilogramme;
9.2 for the year 2015, 0.209 SDR per item and 1.636 SDR per
kilogramme;
9.3 for the year 2016, 0.215 SDR per item and 1.682 SDR per
kilogramme;
9.4 for the year 2017, 0.221 SDR per item and 1.729 SDR per
kilogramme.
10 The rates applied for flows between countries in the target
system as from 2010 and 2012 as well as between these countries
and countries in the target system prior to 2010 may not be
higher than:
10.1 for the year 2014, 0.209 SDR per item and 1.641 SDR per
kilogramme;
10.2 for the year 2015, 0.222 SDR per item and 1.739 SDR per
kilogramme;
10.3 for the year 2016, 0.235 SDR per item and 1.843 SDR per
kilogramme;
10.4 for the year 2017, 0.249 SDR per item and 1.954 SDR per
kilogramme.
11 The rates applied for flows between countries in the target
system as from 2010 and 2012 as well as between these countries
and countries in the target system prior to 2010 may not be lower
than the rates provided for in paragraphs 9.1 to 9.4 above.
12 The rates applied for flows to, from or between new target
system countries, other than for bulk mail, shall be those
provided for in paragraphs 9.1 to 9.4.
13 For flows below 75 tonnes a year between countries that
joined the target system in 2010 or after that date, as well as
between these countries and countries that were in the target
system prior to 2010, the per-kilogramme and per-item components
shall be converted into a total rate per kilogramme on the basis
of a worldwide average of 12.23 items per kilogramme.
14 The payment for bulk mail sent to countries in the target
system prior to 2010 shall be established by applying the rates
per item and per kilogramme provided for in paragraphs 5 to
9.
15 The payment for bulk mail sent to countries in the target
system as from 2010 and 2012 shall be established by applying the
rates per item and per kilogramme provided for in paragraphs 5,
10 and 11.
16 No reservations may be made to this article, except within
the framework of a bilateral agreement.
Article 31
Terminal dues. Provisions applicable
to mail flows to, from and between designated operators of
countries in the transitional system
1 In preparation for the entry into the target system of the
designated operators of countries in the terminal dues
transitional system, payment for letter-post items, including
bulk mail but excluding M bags and IBRS items, shall be
established on the basis of a rate per item and a rate per
kilogramme.
2 Payment for IBRS items shall be as described in the Letter
Post Regulations.
3 The rates applied for flows to, from and between countries
in the transitional system shall be:
3.1 for the year 2014: 0.203 SDR per item and 1.591 SDR per
kilogramme;
3.2 for the year 2015: 0.209 SDR per item and 1.636 SDR per
kilogramme;
3.3 for the year 2016: 0.215 SDR per item and 1.682 SDR per
kilogramme;
3.4 for the year 2017: 0.221 SDR per item and 1.729 SDR per
kilogramme.
4 For flows below 75 tonnes a year, the per-kilogramme and
per-item components shall be converted into a total rate per
kilogramme on the basis of a worldwide average of 12.23 items per
kilogramme, except for the year 2014, for which the total rate
per kilogramme of the year 2013 shall apply. The following rates
shall apply:
4.1 for the year 2014: 4.162 SDR per kilogramme;
4.2 for the year 2015: 4.192 SDR per kilogramme;
4.3 for the year 2016: 4.311 SDR per kilogramme;
4.4 for the year 2017: 4.432 SDR per kilogramme.
5 For mail flows over 75 tonnes per year the flat rate per
kilogramme listed above shall be applied if neither the origin
designated operator nor the destination designated operator
requests the revision mechanism in order to revise the rate on
the basis of the actual number of items per kilogramme, rather
than the worldwide average. The sampling for the revision
mechanism shall be applied in accordance with the conditions
specified in the Letter Post Regulations.
6 The downward revision of the total rate in paragraph 4 may
not be invoked by a country in the target system against a
country in the transitional system unless the latter asks for a
revision in the opposite direction.
7 Designated operators of countries in the terminal dues
transitional system may send format-separated mail on an optional
basis, in accordance with the conditions specified in the Letter
Post Regulations. In the case of format separated-exchanges the
rates in paragraph 3 above shall apply.
8 The payment for bulk mail to designated operators of
countries in the target system shall be established by applying
the rates per item and per kilogramme provided for in article 30.
For bulk mail received, designated operators in the transitional
system may request payment according to paragraph 3.
9 No reservations may be made to this article, except within
the framework of a bilateral agreement.
Article 32
Quality of Service Fund
1 Terminal dues payable by all countries and territories to
the countries classified by Congress as group 5 countries for
terminal dues and the Quality of Service Fund (QSF), except for M
bags, IBRS items and bulk mail items, shall be increased by 20%
of the rates given in article 31 for payment into the Quality of
Service Fund (QSF) for improving the quality of service in group
5 countries. There shall be no such payment from one group 5
country to another group 5 country.
2 Terminal dues, except for M bags, IBRS items and bulk mail
items, payable by countries and territories classified by
Congress as group 1 countries to the countries classified by
Congress as group 4 countries shall be increased by 10% of the
rates given in article 31, for payment into the QSF for improving
the quality of service in group 4 countries.
3 Terminal dues, except for M bags, IBRS items and bulk mail
items, payable by countries and territories classified by
Congress as group 2 countries to the countries classified by
Congress as group 4 countries shall be increased by 10% of the
rates given in article 31, for payment into the QSF for improving
the quality of service in group 4 countries.
4 Terminal dues, except in respect of M bags, IBRS items and
bulk mail items, payable by countries and territories classified
by Congress as group 1 countries to the countries classified by
Congress as group 3 countries shall be increased in 2014 and 2015
by 8% of the rates given in article 31, and in 2016 and 2017 by
6% of the rates given in article 30.12, for payment into the QSF
for improving the quality of service in group 3 countries.
5 Terminal dues, except in respect of M bags, IBRS items and
bulk mail items, payable by countries and territories classified
by Congress as group 2 countries to the countries classified by
Congress as group 3 countries shall be increased in 2014 and 2015
by 2% of the rates given in article 31, for payment into the QSF
for improving the quality of service in group 3 countries.
6 The combined terminal dues payable into the QSF for
improving the quality of service of countries in groups 3, 4 and
5 shall be subject to a minimum of 20,000 SDR per annum for each
beneficiary country. The additional funds needed for reaching
this minimum amount shall be invoiced, in proportion to the
volumes exchanged, to the countries in the target system prior to
2010.
7 Regional projects should in particular promote the
implementation of UPU quality of service improvement programmes
and the introduction of cost accounting systems in developing
countries. The Postal Operations Council shall adopt, in 2014 at
the latest, procedures for financing these projects.
Article 33
Transit charges
1 Closed mails and à découvert transit items exchanged between
two designated operators or between two offices of the same
member country by means of the services of one or more other
designated operators (third party services) shall be subject to
the payment of transit charges. The latter shall constitute
remuneration for the services rendered in respect of land
transit, sea transit and air transit. This principle shall also
apply to missent items and misrouted mails.
Chapter 2
Other provisions
Article 34
Basic rates and provisions
concerning air conveyance dues
1 The basic rate applicable to the settlement of accounts
between designated operators in respect of air conveyance shall
be approved by the Postal Operations Council. It shall be
calculated by the International Bureau according to the formula
specified in the Letter Post Regulations. However, the rates
applying to the air conveyance of parcels sent via the
merchandise return service shall be calculated according to the
provisions defined in the Parcel Post Regulations.
2 The calculation of air conveyance dues on closed dispatches,
priority items, airmail items and air parcels sent in transit à
découvert, missent items and misrouted mails, as well as the
relevant methods of accounting, are described in the Letter Post
and Parcel Post Regulations.
3 The air conveyance dues for the whole distance flown shall
be borne:
3.1 in the case of closed mails, by the designated operator of
the country of origin of the mails, including when these mails
transit via one or more intermediate designated operators;
3.2 in the case of priority items and airmail items in transit
à découvert, including missent items, by the designated operator
which forwards the items to another designated operator.
4 These same regulations shall be applicable to items exempted
from land and sea transit charges if they are conveyed by
air.
5 Each designated operator of destination which provides air
conveyance of international mail within its country shall be
entitled to reimbursement of the additional costs incurred for
such conveyance provided that the weighted average distance of
the sectors flown exceeds 300 kilometres. The Postal Operations
Council may replace the weighted average distance by other
relevant criteria. Unless agreement has been reached that no
charge should be made, the dues shall be uniform for all priority
mails and airmails originating abroad whether or not this mail is
reforwarded by air.
6 However, where the terminal dues levied by the designated
operator of destination are based specifically on costs or on
domestic rates, no additional reimbursement for internal air
conveyance shall be made.
7 The designated operator of destination shall exclude, for
the purpose of calculating the weighted average distance, the
weight of all mails for which the terminal dues calculation has
been based specifically on costs or on the domestic rates of the
designated operator of destination.
Article 35
Parcel post land and sea rates
1 Parcels exchanged between two designated operators shall be
subject to inward land rates calculated by combining the base
rate per parcel and base rate per kilogramme laid down in the
Regulations.
1.1 Bearing in mind the above base rates, designated operators
may, in addition, be authorized to claim supplementary rates per
parcel and per kilogramme in accordance with provisions laid down
in the Regulations.
1.2 The rates mentioned in 1 and 1.1 shall be payable by the
designated operator of the country of origin, unless the Parcel
Post Regulations provide for exceptions to this principle.
1.3 The inward land rates shall be uniform for the whole of
the territory of each country.
2 Parcels exchanged between two designated operators or
between two offices of the same country by means of the land
services of one or more other designated operators shall be
subject to the transit land rates, payable to the designated
operators which take part in the routeing on land, laid down in
the Regulations, according to the distance step applicable.
2.1 For parcels in transit à découvert, intermediate
designated operators shall be authorized to claim the single rate
per item laid down in the Regulations.
2.2 Transit land rates shall be payable by the designated
operator of the country of origin unless the Parcel Post
Regulations provide for exceptions to this principle.
3 Any designated operator which participates in the sea
conveyance of parcels shall be authorized to claim sea rates.
These rates shall be payable by the designated operator of the
country of origin, unless the Parcel Post Regulations provide for
exceptions to this principle.
3.1 For each sea conveyance used, the sea rate shall be laid
down in the Parcel Post Regulations according to the distance
step applicable.
3.2 Designated operators may increase by 50% at most the sea
rate calculated in accordance with 3.1. On the other hand, they
may reduce it as they wish.
Article 36
Authority of the Postal Operations
Council to fix charges and rates
1 The Postal Operations Council shall have the authority to
fix the following rates and charges, which are payable by
designated operators in accordance with the conditions shown in
the Regulations:
1.1 transit charges for the handling and conveyance of letter
mails through one or more intermediary countries;
1.2 basic rates and air conveyance dues for the carriage of
mail by air;
1.3 inward land rates for the handling of inward parcels;
1.4 transit land rates for the handling and conveyance of
parcels through an intermediary country;
1.5 sea rates for the conveyance of parcels by sea.
1.6 outward land rates for the provision of the merchandise
return service for parcels.
2 Any revision made, in accordance with a methodology that
ensures equitable remuneration for designated operators
performing the services, must be based on reliable and
representative economic and financial data. Any change decided
upon shall enter into force at a date set by the Postal
Operations Council.
Article 37
Provisions specific to the
settlement of accounts and payments for international postal
exchanges
1 Settlements in respect of operations carried out in
accordance with the present Convention (including settlements for
the transport (forwarding) of postal items, settlements for the
treatment of postal items in the country of destination and
settlements in compensation for any loss, theft or damage
relating to postal items) shall be based on and made in
accordance with the provisions of the Convention and other Acts
of the Union, and shall not require the preparation of any
documents by a designated operator except in cases provided for
in the Acts of the Union.
Part IV
Final provisions
Article 38
Conditions for approval of proposals
concerning the Convention and the Regulations
1 To become effective, proposals submitted to Congress
relating to this Convention must be approved by a majority of the
member countries present and voting which have the right to vote.
At least half of the member countries represented at Congress and
having the right to vote shall be present at the time of
voting.
2 To become effective, proposals relating to the Letter Post
Regulations and the Parcel Post Regulations must be approved by a
majority of the members of the Postal Operations Council having
the right to vote.
3 To become effective, proposals introduced between Congresses
relating to this Convention and to its Final Protocol must
obtain:
3.1 two thirds of the votes, at least one half of the member
countries of the Union which have the right to vote having taken
part in the vote, if they involve amendments;
3.2 a majority of the votes if they involve interpretation of
the provisions.
4 Notwithstanding the provisions under 3.1, any member country
whose national legislation is as yet incompatible with the
proposed amendment may, within ninety days from the date of
notification of the latter, make a written declaration to the
Director General of the International Bureau stating that it is
unable to accept the amendment.
Article 39
Reservations at Congress
1 Any reservation which is incompatible with the object and
purpose of the Union shall not be permitted.
2 As a general rule, any member country whose views are not
shared by other member countries shall endeavour, as far as
possible, to conform to the opinion of the majority. Reservations
should be made only in cases of absolute necessity, and proper
reasons given.
3 Reservations to any article of the present Convention shall
be submitted to Congress as a Congress proposal written in one of
the working languages of the International Bureau and in
accordance with the relevant provisions of the Rules of Procedure
of Congresses.
4 To become effective, proposals concerning reservations must
be approved by whatever majority is required for amendment of the
article to which the reservation relates.
5 In principle, reservations shall be applied on a reciprocal
basis between the reserving member country and the other member
countries.
6 Reservations to the present Convention shall be inserted in
the Final Protocol to the present Convention, on the basis of
proposals approved by Congress.
Article 40
Entry into force and duration of the
Convention
1 This Convention shall come into force on 1 January 2014 and
shall remain in operation until the entry into force of the Acts
of the next Congress.
In witness whereof the plenipotentiaries of the Governments of
the member countries have signed this Convention in a single
original which shall be deposited with the Director General of
the International Bureau. A copy thereof shall be delivered to
each party by the International Bureau of the Universal Postal
Union.
Done at Doha, 11 October 2012
1 An exception shall be granted to Great Britain,
the country which invented the postage stamp.
Final Protocol to the Universal
Postal Convention
Art.
I Ownership of postal items. Withdrawal from the post.
Alteration or correction of address
II Charges
III Exception to the exemption of items for the blind from
postal charges
IV Postage stamps
V Basic services
VI Advice of delivery
VII Prohibitions (letter post)
VIII Prohibitions (postal parcels)
IX Articles subject to customs duty
X Inquiries
XI Presentation-to-Customs charge
XII Posting abroad of letter-post items
XIII Basic rates and provisions concerning air conveyance
dues
XIV Exceptional inward land rates
XV Special tariffs
XVI Authority of the Postal Operations Council to fix charges
and rates
Final Protocol
to the Universal Postal Convention
At the moment of proceeding to signature of the Universal
Postal Convention concluded this day, the undersigned
plenipotentiaries have agreed the following:
Article I
Ownership of postal items.
Withdrawal from the post. Alteration or correction of address
1 The provisions in article 5.1 and 2 shall not apply to
Antigua and Barbuda, Bahrain (Kingdom), Barbados, Belize,
Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Hong Kong, China, Dominica,
Egypt, Fiji, Gambia, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern
Ireland, Overseas Dependent Territories of the United Kingdom,
Grenada, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati, Kuwait,
Lesotho, Malawi, Malaysia, Mauritius, Nauru, New Zealand,
Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Saint Christopher and Nevis, Saint
Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Seychelles,
Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Swaziland, Tanzania
(United Rep.), Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu and
Zambia.
2 Nor shall article 5.1 and 2 apply to Austria, Denmark and
Iran (Islamic Rep.), whose internal legislation does not allow
withdrawal from the Post or alteration of the address of
correspondence, at the request of the sender, from the time when
the addressee has been informed of the arrival of an item
addressed to him.
3 Article 5.1 shall not apply to Australia, Ghana and
Zimbabwe.
4 Article 5.2 shall not apply to Bahamas, Belgium, the Dem.
People's Rep. of Korea, Iraq and Myanmar, whose legislation
does not permit withdrawal from the post or alteration of address
of letter-post items at the sender's request.
5 Article 5.2 shall not apply to the United States of
America.
6 Article 5.2 shall apply to Australia only in so far as that
article is consistent with its domestic legislation.
7 Notwithstanding article 5.2, Dem. Rep. of the Congo, El
Salvador, Panama (Rep.), Philippines and Venezuela (Bolivarian
Rep.) shall be authorized not to return postal parcels after the
addressee has requested their clearance by Customs, since this is
incompatible with those countries' customs legislation.
Article II
Charges
1 Notwithstanding article 6, Australia, Canada and New Zealand
shall be authorized to collect postal charges other than those
provided for in the Regulations, when such charges are consistent
with the legislation of their countries.
Article III
Exception to the exemption of items
for the blind from postal charges
1 Notwithstanding article 7, Indonesia, Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines and Turkey, which do not concede exemption from postal
charges to items for the blind in their internal service, may
collect the postage and charges for special services which may
not, however, exceed those in their internal service.
2 France shall apply the provisions of article 7 concerning
items for the blind subject to its national regulations.
3 Notwithstanding article 7.3, and in accordance with its
national legislation, Brazil reserves the right to consider as
items for the blind only those items which are sent by or
addressed to blind persons or organizations for the blind. Items
not satisfying these conditions shall be subject to payment of
postage.
4 Notwithstanding article 7, New Zealand will accept as items
for the blind for delivery in New Zealand only those items that
are exempted from postal charges in its domestic service.
5 Notwithstanding article 7, Finland, which does not provide
exemption from postal charges for items for the blind in its
domestic service according to the definitions in article 7
adopted by Congress, may collect the domestic charges for items
for the blind destined for other countries.
6 Notwithstanding article 7, Canada, Denmark and Sweden allow
exemption from postal charges for the blind only to the extent
provided for in their internal legislation.
7 Notwithstanding article 7, Iceland accepts exemption from
postal charges for the blind only to the extent provided for in
its internal legislation.
8 Notwithstanding article 7, Australia will accept as items
for the blind for delivery in Australia only those items that are
exempted from postal charges in its domestic service.
9 Notwithstanding article 7, Australia, Austria, Canada,
Germany, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland,
Japan, Switzerland and United States of America may collect the
charges for special services which are applied items for the
blind in their internal service.
Article IV
Postage stamps
1 Notwithstanding article 8.7, Australia, Great Britain,
Malaysia and New Zealand will process letter-post items and
postal parcels bearing postage stamps using new materials or
Technologies that are not compatible with their respective mail
processing machines only upon prior agreement with the designated
operator of origin concerned.
Article V
Basic services
1 Notwithstanding the provisions of article 13, Australia does
not agree to the extension of basic services to include postal
parcels.
2 The provisions of article 13.2.4 shall not apply to Great
Britain, whose national legislation requires a lower weight
limit. Health and safety legislation in Great Britain limits the
weight of mail bags to 20 kilogrammes.
3 Notwithstanding article 13.2.4, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan
shall be authorized to limit to 20 kilogrammes the maximum weight
of inward and outward M bags.
Article VI
Advice of delivery
1 Canada shall be authorized not to apply article 15.3.3, as
regards parcels, given that it does not offer the advice of
delivery service for parcels in its internal service.
Article VII
Prohibitions (letter post)
1 Exceptionally, Dem. People's Rep. of Korea and Lebanon
shall not accept registered items containing coins, bank notes,
securities of any kind payable to bearer, travellers'
cheques, platinum, gold or silver whether manufactured or not,
precious stones, jewels or other valuable articles. They shall
not be strictly bound by the provisions of the Letter Post
Regulations with regard to their liability in cases of theft or
damage, or where items containing articles made of glass or
fragile articles are concerned.
2 Exceptionally, Bolivia, China (People's Rep.), excluding
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Iraq, Nepal, Pakistan,
Saudi Arabia, Sudan and Viet Nam shall not accept registered
items containing coins, bank notes, currency notes or securities
of any kind payable to bearer, travellers' cheques, platinum,
gold or silver whether manufactured or not, precious stones,
jewels or other valuable articles.
3 Myanmar reserves the right not to accept insured items
containing the valuable articles listed in article 18.6, as this
is contrary to its internal regulations.
4 Nepal does not accept registered items or insured items
containing currency notes or coins, except by special agreement
to that effect.
5 Uzbekistan does not accept registered or insured items
containing coins, bank notes, cheques, postage stamps or foreign
currency and shall accept no liability in cases of loss of or
damage to such items.
6 Iran (Islamic Rep.) does not accept items containing
articles contrary to the principles of the Islamic religion, and
reserves the right not to accept letter-post items (ordinary,
registered or insured) containing coins, bank notes,
travellers' cheques, platinum, gold or silver, whether
manufactured or not, precious stones, jewels or other valuable
articles, and shall accept no liability in cases of loss or
damage to such items.
7 The Philippines reserves the right not to accept any kind of
letter post (ordinary, registered or insured) containing coins,
currency notes or securities of any kind payable to bearer,
travellers' cheques, platinum, gold or silver, whether
manufactured or not, precious stones or other valuable
articles.
8 Australia does not accept postal items of any kind
containing bullion or bank notes. In addition, it does not accept
registered items for delivery in Australia, or items in transit à
découvert, containing valuables such as jewellery, precious
metals, precious or semi-precious stones, securities, coins or
any form of negotiable financial instrument. It declines all
liability for items posted which are not in compliance with this
reservation.
9 China (People's Rep.), excluding Hong Kong Special
Administrative Region, shall not accept insured items containing
coins, bank notes, currency notes or securities of any kind
payable to bearer and travellers' cheques in accordance with
its internal regulations.
10 Latvia and Mongolia reserve the right not to accept, in
accordance with their national legislation, ordinary, registered
or insured mail containing coins, bank notes, securities payable
to bearer and travellers' cheques.
11 Brazil reserves the right not to accept ordinary,
registered or insured mail containing coins, bank notes in
circulation or securities of any kind payable to bearer.
12 Viet Nam reserves the right not to accept letters
containing articles or goods.
13 Indonesia does not accept registered or insured items
containing coins, bank notes, cheques, postage stamps, foreign
currency, or any kind of securities payable to bearer for
delivery in Indonesia, and shall accept no liability in cases of
loss of or damage to such items.
14 Kyrgyzstan reserves the right not to accept letter-post
items (ordinary, registered, insured, small packets) containing
coins, currency notes or securities of any kind payable to
bearer, travellers' cheques, platinum, gold or silver,
whether manufactured or not, precious stones, jewels or other
valuable articles, and shall accept no liability in cases of loss
of or damage to such items.
15 Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan shall not accept registered or
insured items containing coins, banknotes, credit notes or any
securities payable to bearer, cheques, precious metals whether
manufactured or not, precious stones, jewels and other valuable
articles or foreign currency, and shall accept no liability in
cases of loss of or damage to such items.
16 Moldova and the Russian Federation do not accept registered
or insured items containing bank notes in circulation, securities
(cheques) of any kind payable to bearer or foreign currency, and
shall accept no liability in cases of loss of or damage to such
items.
17 Notwithstanding article 18.3, France reserves the right not
to accept items containing goods in cases where these items do
not comply with its national regulations, or international
regulations, or technical and packing instructions for air
transport.
Article VIII
Prohibitions (postal parcels)
1 Myanmar and Zambia shall be authorized not to accept insured
parcels containing the valuable articles covered in article
18.6.1.3.1, since this is contrary to their internal
regulations.
2 Exceptionally, Lebanon and Sudan shall not accept parcels
containing coins, currency notes or securities of any kind
payable to bearer, travellers' cheques, platinum, gold or
silver whether manufactured or not, precious stones or other
valuable articles, or containing liquids or easily liquefiable
elements or articles made of glass or similar or fragile
articles. They shall not be bound by the relevant provisions of
the Parcel Post Regulations.
3 Brazil shall be authorized not to accept insured parcels
containing coins and currency notes in circulation, as well as
any securities payable to bearer, since this is contrary to its
internal regulations.
4 Ghana shall be authorized not to accept insured parcels
containing coins and currency notes in circulation, since this is
contrary to its internal regulations.
5 In addition to the articles listed in article 18, Saudi
Arabia shall be authorized not to accept parcels containing
coins, currency notes or securities of any kind payable to
bearer, travellers' cheques, platinum, gold or silver,
whether manufactured or not, precious stones or other valuable
articles. Nor does it accept parcels containing medicines of any
kind unless they are accompanied by a medical prescription issued
by a competent official authority, products designed for
extinguishing fires, chemical liquids or articles contrary to the
principles of the Islamic religion.
6 In addition to the articles referred to in article 18, Oman
does not accept items containing:
6.1 medicines of any sort unless they are accompanied by a
medical prescription issued by a competent official
authority;
6.2 fire-extinguishing products or chemical liquids;
6.3 articles contrary to the principles of the Islamic
religion.
7 In addition to the articles listed in article 18, Iran
(Islamic Rep.) shall be authorized not to accept parcels
containing articles contrary to the principles of the Islamic
religion, and reserves the right not to accept ordinary or
insured parcels containing coins, bank notes, travellers'
cheques, platinum, goldor silver, whether manufactured or not,
precious stones, jewels or other valuable articles; it shall
accept no liability in cases of loss or damage to such items.
8 The Philippines shall be authorized not to accept any kind
of parcel containing coins, currency notes or securities of any
kind payable to bearer, travellers' cheques, platinum, gold
or silver whether manufactured or not, precious stones or other
valuable articles, or containing liquids or easily liquefiable
elements or articles made of glass or similar or fragile
articles.
9 Australia does not accept postal items of any kind
containing bullion or bank notes.
10 China (People's Rep.) shall not accept ordinary parcels
containing coins, currency notes or securities of any kind
payable to bearer, travellers' cheques, platinum, gold or
silver, whether manufactured or not, precious stones or other
valuable articles. Furthermore, with the exception of the Hong
Kong Special Administrative Region, insured parcels containing
coins, currency notes or securities of any kind payable to bearer
and travellers' cheques shall not be accepted.
11 Mongolia reserves the right not to accept, in accordance
with its national legislation, parcels containing coins, bank
notes, securities payable to bearer and travellers'
cheques.
12 Latvia does not accept ordinary and insured parcels
containing coins, bank notes, securities (cheques) of any kind
payable to bearer or foreign currency, and shall accept no
liability in cases of loss of or damage to such items.
13 Moldova, the Russian Federation, Ukraine and Uzbekistan do
not accept ordinary or insured parcels containing bank notes in
circulation, securities (cheques) of any kind payable to bearer
or foreign currency, and shall accept no liability in cases of
loss of or damage to such items.
14 Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan do not accept ordinary or insured
parcels containing coins, bank notes, credit notes or any
securities payable to bearer, cheques, precious metals, whether
manufactured or not, precious stones, jewels and other valuable
articles or foreign currency, and shall accept no liability in
cases of loss of or damage to such items.
Article IX
Articles subject to customs duty
1 With reference to article 18, Bangladesh and El Salvador do
not accept insured items containing articles subject to customs
duty.
2 With reference to article 18, Afghanistan, Albania,
Azerbaijan, Belarus, Cambodia, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Dem.
People's Rep. of Korea, El Salvador, Estonia, Kazakhstan,
Latvia, Moldova, Nepal, Peru, Russian Federation, San Marino,
Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Venezuela (Bolivarian Rep.)
do not accept ordinary and registered letters containing articles
subject to customs duty.
3 With reference to article 18, Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte
d'Ivoire (Rep.), Djibouti, Mali and Mauritania do not accept
ordinary letters containing articles subject to customs duty.
4 Notwithstanding the provisions set out under 1 to 3, the
sending of serums, vaccines and urgently required medicaments
which are difficult to procure shall be permitted in all
cases.
Article X
Inquiries
1 Notwithstanding article 19.3, Cape Verde, Chad, Dem.
People's Rep. of Korea, Egypt, Gabon, Overseas Dependent
Territories of the United Kingdom, Greece, Iran (Islamic Rep.),
Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Myanmar, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Sudan,
Syrian Arab Rep., Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Zambia
reserve the right to collect from customers charges on inquiries
lodged in respect of letter-post items.
2 Notwithstanding article 19.3, Argentina, Austria,
Azerbaijan, Lithuania, Moldova and Slovakia rezerve the right to
collect a special charge when, on completion of the investigation
conducted in response to the inquiry, it emerges that the latter
was unjustified.
3 Afghanistan, Cape Verde, Congo (Rep.), Egypt, Gabon, Iran
(Islamic Rep.), Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Myanmar, Saudi Arabia,
Sudan, Suriname, Syrian Arab Rep., Turkmenistan, Ukraine,
Uzbekistan and Zambia reserve the right to collect an inquiry
charge from customers in respect of parcels.
4 Notwithstanding article 19.3, Brazil, Panama (Rep.) and the
United States of America reserve the right to collect a charge
from customers for inquiries lodged in respect of letter-post
items and parcels posted in countries which apply that type of
charge in accordance with paragraphs 1 to 3 of this article.
Article XI
Presentation-to-Customs charge
1 Gabon reserves the right to collect a
presentation-to-Customs charge from customers.
2 Notwithstanding article 20.2, Brazil reserves the right to
collect a presentation-to-Customs charge from customers for any
item submitted to customs control.
3 Notwithstanding article 20.2, Greece reserves the right to
collect from customers a presentation-to-Customs charge for all
items presented to Customs authorities.
4 Congo (Rep.) and Zambia reserve the right to collect a
presentation-to-Customs charge from customers in respect of
parcels.
Article XII
Posting abroad of letter-post
items
1 Australia, Austria, United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Northern Ireland, Greece, New Zealand and United States of
America reserve the right to impose a charge, equivalent to the
cost of the work it incurs, on any designated operator which,
under the provisions of article 28.4, sends to it items for
disposal which were not originally dispatched as postal items by
their services.
2 Notwithstanding article 28.4, Canada reserves the right to
collect from the designated operator of origin such amount as
will ensure recovery of not less than the costs incurred by it in
the handling of such items.
3 Article 28.4 allows the designated operator of destination
to claim, from the designated operator of posting, appropriate
remuneration for delivering letter-post items posted abroad in
large quantities. Australia and the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Northern Ireland reserve the right to limit any such
payment to the appropriate domestic tariff for equivalent items
in the country of destination.
4 Article 28.4 allows the designated operator of destination
to claim, from the designated operator of posting, appropriate
remuneration for delivering letter-post items posted abroad in
large quantities. The following member countries reserve the
right to limit any such payment to the limits authorized in the
Regulations for bulk mail: Bahamas, Barbados, Brunei Darussalam,
China (People's Rep.), United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Northern Ireland, Overseas Dependent Territories of the United
Kingdom, Grenada, Guyana, India, Malaysia, Nepal, Netherlands,
Netherlands Antilles and Aruba, New Zealand, Saint Lucia, Saint
Vincent and the Grenadines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Suriname,
Thailand and United States of America.
5 Notwithstanding the reservations under 4, the following
member countries reserve the right to apply in full the
provisions of article 28 of the Convention to mail received from
Union member countries: Argentina, Austria, Benin, Brazil,
Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Canada, Côte d'Ivoire (Rep.), Cyprus,
Denmark, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, Guinea, Iran (Islamic
Rep.), Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Mali,
Mauritania, Monaco, Morocco, Norway, Portugal, Saudi Arabia,
Senegal, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Rep. and Togo.
6 In application of article 28.4, Germany reserves the right
to request the mailing country to grant compensation of the
amount it would receive from the country of which the sender is
resident.
7 Notwithstanding the reservations made under article XII,
China (People's Rep.) reserves the right to limit any payment
for delivering letter-post items posted abroad in large
quantities to the limits authorized in the UPU Convention and
Letter Post Regulations for bulk mail.
Article XIII
Basic rates and provisions
concerning air conveyance dues
1 Notwithstanding the provisions of article 34, Australia
reserves the right to apply air conveyance rates for outward
parcels sent via the merchandise return service, either as laid
down in the Parcel Post Regulations or by any other means,
including bilateral agreements.
Article XIV
Exceptional inward land rates
1 Notwithstanding article 35, Afghanistan reserves the right
to collect an additional exceptional inward land rate of 7.50 SDR
per parcel.
Article XV
Special tariffs
1 Belgium, Norway and United States of America may collect
higher land rates for air parcels than for surface parcels.
2 Lebanon shall be authorized to collect for parcels up to 1
kilogramme the charge applicable to parcels over 1 and up to 3
kilogrammes.
3 Panama (Rep.) shall be authorized to collect 0.20 SDR per
kilogramme for surface airlifted (S.A.L.) parcels in transit.
Article XVI
Authority of the Postal Operations
Council to fix charges and rates
1 Notwithstanding article 36.1.6, Australia reserves the right
to apply outward land rates for the provision of the merchandise
return service for parcels, either as laid down in the Parcel
Post Regulations or by any other means, including bilateral
agreements.
In witness whereof, the plenipotentiaries below have drawn up
this Protocol which shall have the same force and the same
validity as if its provisions were inserted in the text of the
Convention itself, and they have signed it in a single original
which shall be deposited with the Director General of the
International Bureau. A copy thereof shall be delivered to each
party by the International Bureau of the Universal Postal
Union.
Done at Doha, 11 October 2012
