UNIVERSAL POSTAL UPU UNION Parcel Post Manual Berne 2013 International Bureau of the Universal Postal Union July 1, 2015 Parcel Post Manual (Update 3) Preface to Bookmarked Edition The Parcel Post Manual (2013) is published by the International Bureau of the Universal Postal Union. It reproduces the Universal Postal Convention adopted by the 2012 Doha Congress of the Universal Postal Union and the Parcel Post Regulations adopted by the Postal Operations Council. The 2012 Convention and associated Parcel Post Regulations will be in effect from January 1, 2014, until December 31, 2017. The International Bureau updates the Parcel Post Manual periodically to include new or revised Parcel Post Regulations adopted by the Postal Operations Council. In general, but with some exceptions, the Regulations are adopted by the Postal Operations Council under the general authority of Articles 113(1)(13) and 141 of the General Regulations and not pursuant to an explicit delegation of authority in the Convention. The most recent update of the Parcel Post Manual, Update 3, was published in March 2015. The Parcel Post Manual also includes copies of selected Resolutions and Decisions ("Other Decisions by Congress") adopted by the Doha Congress and related to the Parcel Post. The UPU treats these Resolutions and Decisions as binding legal measures although there is no provision in the Constitution which explicitly authorizes the Congress to act legislatively by resolution or decision. The order of presentation in the Parcel Post Manual does not follow the order of the Universal Postal Convention. Articles of the Convention are organized according to topics. Parcel Post Regulations (numbered, RL xxx) follow the Articles of the Convention to which they logically relate. Some Regulations are not associated with any Article of the Convention. The Postal Post Manual is issued by UPU with PDF bookmarks to topical section heads only. In this revised version, the original UPU bookmarks are retained under the top level bookmark "Original cover". Bookmarks to Articles of the Convention have been added in numerical order. Bookmarks to selected Regulations and Forms and to Decisions and Resolutions are also been added. Potentially anti-competitive Articles and other measures are highlighted in red. James I. Campbell Jr. UNIVERSAL POSTAL UPU UNION Parcel Post Manual Berne 2013 International Bureau of the Universal Postal Union Note concerning the printing The texts of the Convention concerning postal parcels are printed in bold char- acters. The texts of the Regulations and Final Protocols are printed in ordinary characters. The texts of the commentary by the International Bureau are printed in small char­ acters preceded by a square (). The number of the provision commented on is printed in bold characters. The provisions of the Letter Post Regulations applicable to postal parcels are printed in italic characters. The commentary relating to them is printed in small italic characters preceded by a square (). The number of the provision commented on is printed in bold italic characters. Any amendments to the texts made in subsequent updates of the Manual are marked by a vertical line ( ) in the margin opposite the amended text. II Remarks Remarks This Parcel Post Manual replaces the Parcel Post Manual published by the Inter­ national Bureau after the 24th Congress (2008), which itself had replaced volume 3 of the Annotated Code appearing after each Congress between 1940 and 1991. This Manual includes the provisions of the Universal Postal Convention relating to postal parcels revised by the 2012 Doha Congress, those of the Regulations as revised by the Postal Operations Council in 2013, and the commentary made by the International Bureau. The Manual is designed so as to give the reader immediate access to all the infor­ mation about one and the same matter, viz: – the provisions of the Convention relating to postal parcels, indicated by Article … – the provisions of the Regulations, indicated by Article RC … – the provisions of the Final Protocol, after the article concerned and indicated by Prot Article … (for the Convention) or Prot Article RC … (for the Regulations) – the commentary by the International Bureau following the provisions to which it refers. The provisions of the Letter Post Regulations referred to in this Manual are given after the commentary by the International Bureau, and are indicated by Article RL … (Letter Post Regulations) The commentary now includes only topical elements to the exclusion of historical developments. People doing research and wishing to define the origins and devel­ opment of the texts are advised to carefully retain the 1991 edition of volume 3 of the Annotated Code. III IV Contents Contents Page Abbreviations ............................................. VII General List of UPU member countries and of territories included in the Union ................................................... XI List of parcel categories ..................................... XV Table of charges (postal parcels) .............................. XVII List of compendia.......................................... XIX UPU Postal Operators Statement of Values...................... XXI Table of contents .......................................... XXIII List of forms .............................................. XXXIII Provisions of the Universal Postal Convention and of the Parcel Post Regulations supplemented by the relevant articles of the Final Protocols, the commentary by the International Bureau and the forms Other decisions concerning the parcel post service and the Parcel Post Regulations V Poste aux lettres – Conv. Art 1 VI Abbreviations Abbreviations (The abbreviations listed below are used in the commentary) A. Common abbreviations Add Prot Additional Protocol to the Constitution of the UPU Agr Agreement AI advice of entry (Giro) AO other items or items other than LC in the classifica­ tion system based on content APPC Arab Permanent Postal Commission APU African Postal Union AR advice of delivery arbit arbitration art article BPU Baltic Postal Union c centime CA Council of Administration CCC Customs Co­operation Council CCPS Consultative Council for Postal Studies (up to 1994) cf confer (= compare) circ circular cm centimetre col column comm commentary Comm Committee Compendium Compendium of Information (Letter Post, Parcel Post, etc) published by the International Bureau Conf Conference Const or Constitution Constitution of the Universal Postal Union Conv or Convention Universal Postal Convention dm decimetre DO designated operator Doc Document (of Congresses, Conferences, Executive Council, etc) doc document EC Executive Council (up to 1994) EDI electronic data interchange eg for example EPFSC European Postal Financial Services Commission FAO United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization g gramme Gen Regs General Regulations VII Abbreviations h hour IAEA International Atomic Energy Agency IATA International Air Transport Association IB International Bureau IBIS Internet­Based Inquiry System used for the prepa­ ration, transmission and processing of customers’ inquiries between designated operators IBRS International Business Reply Service ICAO International Civil Aviation Organization ICSC International Civil Service Commission id idem IDA International Development Association IFC International Finance Corporation ISO International Organization for Standardization Journal or Periodical “Union Postale” (quarterly publication of the Inter­ national Bureau) kg kilogramme km kilometre lb (16 oz) pound avoirdupois (453.59 grammes) LC letters and postcards LDC least developed countries LP letter post LPCO Letter Post Compendium Online published by the International Bureau on the UPU website m metre max maximum min minimum mm millimetre mn minute (of time) nm nautical mile (1852 metres) No number NPU Nordic Postal Union oz ounce (28.3465 grammes) (one­sixteenth of the pound avoirdupois) p, pp page(s) PAPU Pan­African Postal Union para paragraph Periodical See under Journal POC Postal Operations Council PostEurop Association of European Public Postal Operations PPCO Parcel Post Compendium Online published by the International Bureau on the UPU website prop proposal Prot or Protocol Final Protocol (to the respective Act) PUASP Postal Union of the Americas, Spain and Portugal RCC Regional Commonwealth in the Field of Communi­ cation RE or Regs Regulations VIII Abbreviations rec recast Rep Report on the work of the Union, published by the International Bureau s second (time) S.A.L. surface airlifted mail SWAPU South and West Asia Postal Union t tonne (1000 kilogrammes) t­km tonne­kilometre or kilometric tonne (unit used in connection with conveyance) T.m. sea transit T.t. land transit UN United Nations UNESCO United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization UPU or Union Universal Postal Union vol volume WCO World Customs Organization WHO World Health Organization B. Abbreviations relating to forms (These abbreviations are always followed by the serial number of the form) AV Airmail (up to Washington 1989) C Convention (up to Washington 1989) CN Convention (from Seoul 1994) CP Parcels MP Money orders (up to Seoul 1994) R COD (up to Seoul 1994) SFP Service forms (postal financial services) (up to 24th Congress, 2008) TFP Forms for the use of the public (Postal Financial Services) (up to 24th Congress, 2008) VD Insured letters (up to Washington 1989) VP Giro (up to Seoul 1994) IX Poste aux lettres – Conv. Art 1 X General List