13.3 classification must be in accordance with the provisions of the TI and DGR;
\n13.4 the incident reporting requirements of the TI and DGR must be met; and 13.5 the inspection for damage or leakage requirements of the TI and DGR shall apply.
\n14 No shipper's declaration for dangerous goods shall be required.
\n15 Clear instructions on filling and closing such packages shall be provided by packaging manufacturers and subsequent distributors to the consignor or to the person who prepares the package (e.g. patient) to enable each single package to be correctly prepared for transport.
\n16 Other dangerous goods must not be packed in the same packaging as Division 6.2 infectious sub- stances unless they are necessary for maintaining the viability, stabilizing or preventing degradation or neutralizing the hazards of the infectious substances. A quantity of 30 ml or less of dangerous goods included in Classes 3, 8 or 9 may be packed in each primary receptacle containing infectious substances provided that these substances meet the requirements of the TI and DGR. When these small quantities of dangerous goods are packed with infectious substances in accordance with the TI no other requirements in this article need be met.
\n17 Solid carbon dioxide (dry ice) used as refrigerant 17.1 If dry ice is used as refrigerant, the packaging requirements of Packing Instruction 954 as set out in the current edition of the TI and DGR must be met. For information, the relevant text of Packing Instruction 954 is provided below.
\nSenders should consult the most recent edition of the TI and DGR to verify the current text of Packing Instruction 954 prior to use.
\n17.2 The following information shall be provided in a written document (such as the CN 38 delivery bill) or on the package. The information shall be shown in the following order:
\n17.2.1 UN 1845;
\n17.2.2 proper shipping name (dry ice or carbon dioxide, solid);
\n17.2.3 the number of packages; and 17.2.4 the net weight of dry ice in each package.
\n17.3 The net weight of the dry ice must be marked on the outside of each package. When packages are placed in an overpack, the overpack must be marked on the outside with the total net quantity of dry ice in the overpack.
\n17.4 Receptacles containing infectious substances only and identified by special \"UN 3373\" labels shall be handed over by postal authorities to airlines in unsealed mail receptacles.
\nradioactive materials 1 Items containing radioactive materials, whose contents and make-up comply with the regulations of the International Atomic Energy Agency shall be admitted for conveyance by post subject to prior consent from the competent authorities of the country of origin provided the activity does not exceed one tenth of that per- mitted in Table 3 - Activity Limits for Excepted Packages as listed in the current edition of the IAEA TS-R-1 and does not contain uranium hexafluoride.
\n2 The outside packaging of items containing radioactive materials shall be marked by the sender with the label shown below indicating the applicable UN-number. It shall also bear, in addition to the name and address of the sender, a request in bold letters for the return of the items in the event of non-delivery.
\n3 The sender shall give his name and address and the contents of the item on the inner wrapping.
\n4 The label shown above shall be clearly crossed out, should the empty package be returned to the place of origin.
\ncontaining lithium cells and batteries installed in equipment 1 Letter-post items and parcels containing lithium metal or lithium ion cells and batteries installed in equipment shall be packed according to Packing Instruction 967, Section II (lithium ion cells and batteries), or Packing Instruction 970, Section II (lithium metal cells and batteries), as applicable, of the current edition of the Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air (Technical Instructions) published by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). Senders must consult the most recent edition of the ICAO Technical Instructions.
\n2 Cells and batteries installed in equipment that have been identified by the manufacturer as being defective for safety reasons, or that have been damaged, or that have the potential of producing a dangerous evolution of heat, fire or short circuit are forbidden for transport.
\nand parcels 1 The articles covered by the \"Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods\" drawn up by the United Nations, with the exception of certain dangerous goods provided for in the existing Regulations, and by the Technical Instructions of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and International Air Transport Association (IATA) Dangerous Goods Regulations shall be considered as dangerous goods in accordance with the provisions of article 19.3.1 of the Convention and prohibited from insertion in letter-post items and parcels, when transported by international air conveyance.
\n2 Each designated operator shall establish procedures and training programmes with a view to con- trolling the introduction of undeclared or inadmissible dangerous goods into its postal services, in compliance with national and international rules and regulations.
\n1 The prohibition relating to narcotics and psychotropic substances shall not apply to consignments sent for a medical or scientific purpose to countries which admit them on this condition.
\n2 If the national regulations of the member countries concerned so permit, parcels may also contain any document exchanged between the sender and the addressee of the parcel or persons residing with them.
\n3 Article 19.6.1.3 of the Convention shall not apply when the exchange of parcels between two member countries admitting insured parcels can only be made in transit through the intermediary of a member country which does not admit them.
\n1 Designated operators shall accept no liability for the customs declarations. Completion of customs declarations shall be the responsibility of the sender alone. However, designated operators shall take all rea- sonable steps to inform their customers on how to comply with customs formalities, and specifically to ensure that CN 22 and CN 23 customs declarations are completed in full, in order to facilitate rapid clearance of items.
\n2 Provisions applicable to letter-post items 2.1 Items to be submitted to customs control shall bear on the outside a CN 22 customs declaration, or be provided with a tie-on label in the same form.
\n2.2 In accordance with article 08-002, customs data provided in accordance with the instructions on the CN 22 or CN 23 customs declarations, including the names and addresses of the sender and addressee, shall be transmitted electronically, in compliance with UPU EDI Messaging Standard M33 (ITMATT V1), to the designated operator of the country of destination. The designated operator of origin may share all or part of these data with the customs administration in the country of origin for export purposes, and the designated operator of destination may share all or part of these data with the customs administration in the country of destination for customs import purposes.
\n2.3 The use of the data from the paper CN 22 or CN 23 customs declarations provided for in 2.2 shall be restricted to processes relating to the exchange of mail and customs formalities in respect of the export or import of postal items and may not be used for any other purpose.
\n2.4 With the authorization of the designated operator of origin, users may use envelopes or wrapping bearing, in the place provided for affixing the CN 22 or CN 23 customs declaration, a pre-printed facsimile of that declaration. Moreover, users may make the CN 22 or CN 23 customs declaration with the authorization of the designated operator of origin. The dimensions, format and data elements shall be the same as those of the CN 22 or CN 23 customs declaration.
\n2.5 If the value of the contents declared by the sender exceeds 300 SDR, or if the sender prefers, the items shall also be accompanied by the prescribed number of separate CN 23 customs declarations. One of these declarations shall be affixed to the item. If the declaration is not directly visible on the outside of the item, the detachable part of the CN 22 customs declaration shall be affixed to the outside of the item. It shall also be possible to replace the detachable part of the CN 22 customs declaration with a gummed or self-adhesive white or green label inscribed as follows:
\nInscription in black 2.6 CN 23 customs declarations shall be securely attached to the outside of the item, preferably in a transparent adhesive envelope. Exceptionally, if the sender prefers, these declarations may be inserted in a closed envelope inside registered items, if they contain the valuable articles mentioned in article 19.6.1 of the Convention, or inside insured items.
\n2.7 The sender may also attach, along with the CN 22 or CN 23 customs declaration, any document (invoice, export or import licence, certificate of origin, sanitary certificate, etc.) necessary for customs treatment in the dispatching country and in the country of destination.
\n2.8 Small packets shall always be provided with a customs declaration, which shall be either the CN 22 customs declaration or the CN 23 customs declaration as prescribed in paragraphs 2.1 to 2.6.
\n2.9 For M bags, the CN 22 customs declaration shall be stuck on the address label if the country of destination so requests.
\nIf the value of the contents declared by the sender exceeds 300 SDR, or if the sender prefers, the detachable part of the CN 22 customs declaration or the aforementioned gummed or self-adhesive label shall be affixed to the address label and the CN 23 customs declarations shall be affixed to that same label. If the designated operator of the country of destination so requests, they shall be attached to one of the items contained in the bag.
\n2.10 The absence of a CN 22 or CN 23 customs declaration shall not, in any circumstances, involve the return to the office of origin of consignments of printed papers, serums, vaccines, infectious sub- stances, radioactive materials and urgently required medicines which are difficult to obtain.
\n2.11 The contents of the item shall be shown in detail on the CN 22 and CN 23 customs declarations. Descriptions of a general character shall not be admitted.
\n2.12 All provisions of other paragraphs of this article shall also apply to the data from the paper CN 22 or CN 23 customs declaration provided for in paragraph 2.2 above. In case of a discrepancy between the data on the CN 22 or CN 23 customs declaration and the electronic version provided pursuant to paragraph 2.2 above, the CN 22 or CN 23 customs declaration shall constitute the customs declaration.
\n3 Provisions applicable to parcels 3.1 Designated operators shall take all steps to speed up customs clearance of air parcels as much as possible.
\n1 Letter-post items 1.1 The guideline maximum amount of the special charge prescribed in article 20.2 of the Convention for letter-post items submitted to customs control in the country of origin or of destination shall be 2.61 SDR. For each M bag, the guideline maximum amount is 3.27 SDR.
\n1.2 In the absence of special agreement, the charge shall be collected from the addressee by the designated operator of destination. However, in the case of items for delivery free of charges and fees, the presentation-to-Customs charge shall be collected by the designated operator of origin on behalf of the designated operator of destination.
\n2 Parcels 2.1 The guideline maximum amount of the presentation-to-Customs charge referred to in article 20.2 of the Convention which may be levied on parcels submitted to customs control in the country of origin shall be 0.65 SDR per parcel.
\n2.2 Parcels submitted to customs control in the country of destination may be subjected to a guideline maximum charge of 3.27 SDR per parcel in accordance with article 20.2 of the Convention.
\n2.3 In the absence of special agreement, the charge shall be collected from the addressee by the designated operator of destination. However, in the case of items for delivery free of charges and fees, the presentation-to-Customs charge shall be collected by the designated operator of origin on behalf of the designated operator of destination.
\n1 Designated operators shall undertake to seek from the appropriate services in their country cancellation of customs duty and other fees on items:
\n1.1 returned to origin;
\n1.2 destroyed because of total damage to the contents;
\n1.3 redirected to a third country;
\n1.4 in the specific case of parcels:
\n1.4.1 abandoned by the sender;
\n1.4.2 lost, rifled or damaged in their service.
\n2 In cases of rifled or damaged parcels, cancellation of fees shall be requested only to the value of the missing contents or the depreciation suffered by the contents.
\nLiability
\n1 Within the period of time prescribed in article 21 of the Convention, inquiries shall be accepted as soon as the problem is reported by the sender or the addressee. However, where a sender's inquiry concerns an undelivered item and the anticipated transmission time has not expired:
\n1.1 for inquiries when using a CN 08 form, the sender should be informed of this transmission time;
\n1.2 for inquiries when using IBIS, the inquiry shall be submitted only after the above-mentioned trans- mission time has expired, unless an inbound RESDES or EMSEVT message has been transmitted.
\n2 No reservations concerning the periods for the handling and settlement of inquiries may be made to articles 21-001, 21-002 and 21-003, other than within the framework of a bilateral agreement.
\n1 Preparation of CN 08 1.1 By agreement between the designated operators involved, the inquiry for a letter-post item may be in the form of a computer file or message (electronic CN 08) transmitted electronically, for example using the Internet. In the absence of such an agreement, or if a designated operator does not use IBIS for parcels inquiries, the inquiry shall be in the form of the CN 08 document.
\n1.2 The CN 08 form shall be accompanied, whenever possible, by a facsimile of the address of the item. The inquiry form shall be completed with all the details called for, including the mandatory information on charges paid if the inquiry concerns a registered or insured item, and very legibly, preferably in roman capital letters and Arabic figures, or even better, in printed characters.
\n1.3 If the inquiry concerns a cash-on-delivery item, it shall also be accompanied by a duplicate of the form provided for in article 18-002.3.3.1.
\n1.4 One form may be used for several items posted at the same time at the same office by the same sender and sent by the same route to the same addressee.
\n1.5 All designated operators must send the International Bureau notification of the postal and, whenever possible, electronic addresses to which CN 08 inquiries must be sent.
\n1.6 The first designated operator to receive the CN 08 form and accompanying documents from a customer shall invariably complete its investigations within ten days and forward the CN 08 form and accompanying documents to the corresponding designated operator. The form and documents shall be returned to the designated operator which originated the inquiry as soon as possible and at the latest within two months from the date of the original inquiry or within 30 days from the date of the original inquiry if the case was reported by fax or any other electronic means. Inquiries about insured and registered items, ordinary and insured parcels shall be accompanied by the addressee's declaration made out on a CN 18 form and certifying the non-receipt of the item under inquiry, only if the sender so requires. After the corresponding period has elapsed, a reply shall be sent by fax, e-mail or any other means of telecommunication to the designated operator of origin, at the expense of the designated operator of destination. Where there is an agreement about the use of an electronic system for letter-post items, the reply times shall be as set out in the agreement between the relevant designated operators, but shall be no longer than those specified in this paragraph.
\n1.7 Replies to inquiries sent by fax or e-mail or by other electronic means must, wherever possible, be sent by the same means.
\n1.8 For letter-post items, on request, a receipt or any reference number should be issued free of charge to a customer lodging an inquiry in each case where there is a requirement for the customer or the designated operator to be able to track the progress of the inquiry over time or where the designated operator pursues the inquiry using the CN 08 process. Each designated operator may design its own receipt. An example is provided in the Regulations for guidance purposes.
\n1.9 If the sender asserts that, despite the designated operator of destination's attestation of delivery, the addressee claims not to have received the item under inquiry, the following procedure shall be followed. At the express request of the designated operator of origin, the designated operator of destination shall be obliged to provide the sender as soon as possible and, at the latest, within a period of 30 days from the date of sending of such a request, through the designated operator of origin, confirmation of the delivery by letter, CN 07 advice of delivery or some other means, signed in conformity with article 18-004.3.1 or 18-102.3.2, as appropriate or a copy of a signature of acceptance or some other form of evidence of receipt from the recipient in conformity with article 18-101.5.6, 18-001.6.1.7, 17-205.3 or 18-001.6.2.5.1.
\n2 Inquiries about registered items, ordinary parcels and insured items 2.1 Where an inquiry concerns registered items or ordinary parcels exchanged under the system of bulk advice, the number and date of dispatch of the mail must be entered on the CN 08 inquiry. By agreement between the designated operators involved, the inquiry and response for a letter-post item may be in the form of a computer file or message which is transmitted electronically, for example, using the Internet. In the absence of such an agreement, or if a designated operator does not use IBIS for inquiries, the inquiry shall, where possible, be sent by fax or e-mail, without additional cost to the customer; otherwise the inquiry shall be sent by post. In the latter case, the form shall be sent automatically, without a covering letter and always by the quickest route (air or surface).
\n2.2 If the designated operator of origin or the designated operator of destination so requests, the inquiry shall be forwarded direct from the office of origin to the office of destination.
\n2.3 If, upon receipt of the inquiry, the central administration of the country of destination or the specially appointed office concerned is able to say what finally happened to the item, it shall complete the \"Particulars to be supplied by the service of destination\" part of the CN 08 form. In cases of delayed delivery, retention or return to origin the reason shall be shown briefly on the CN 08 form.
\n2.4 A designated operator which is unable to establish either delivery to the addressee or correct trans- mission to another designated operator shall immediately order the necessary inquiry. It shall record in the \"Final reply\" part of the CN 08 form its decision on liability.
\n2.4.1 For letter-post items, where an electronic version of the CN 08 is used by agreement between designated operators, the designated operator accepting liability shall record in the authorization code box on the electronic CN 08 the reference number authorizing acceptance of liability. The extent of the acceptance of liability shall be entered in the Remarks box (e.g. the full amount, half the amount paid (bulk advice) or according to the agreement between us, you have to compensate the inquirer).
\n2.5 The CN 08 form, duly completed as prescribed under 2.3 and 2.4, shall be returned to the address of the office which prepared it using, where possible, the same means as was used for the transmission of the inquiry, electronically, by fax or e-mail, or by the quickest route (air or surface).
\n2.6 The designated operator of origin shall send inquiries about items sent in transit à découvert at the same time to both the intermediate designated operator and the designated operator of destination. Inquiries about items contained in closed mails which have transited through one or more intermediate designated operators shall in principle be handled directly between the country of origin and the country of final destination.
\nNevertheless, the designated operator of origin may, in order to speed up the process of investigation, ask any intermediate designated operator to provide appropriate dispatch information.
\n2.6.1 Inquiries sent to intermediate designated operators that so indicate in the Letter Post or Parcel Post Compendium Online shall be accompanied by a CN 37, CN 38 or CN 41, as appropriate.
\n2.6.1.1 The copies may be either electronic or physical, according to the principles stated in 2.5.
\n2.6.2 Any intermediate designated operator consulted shall forward the CN 08 form to the next designated operator, and the corresponding CN 21 form to the designated operator of origin, as soon as possible, but within a period not exceeding 10 days.
\n3 Inquiries about the non-return to sender of an advice of delivery 3.1 In the case provided for in article 18-003.4.3 and if an item has been delivered, the designated operator of the destination country shall obtain on the CN 07 advice of delivery form bearing the word \"Duplicata\" the signature of the person who has received the item. Subject to the legislative provisions of the country of the designated operator dispatching an advice of delivery, instead of obtaining a signature on the duplicate of the advice of delivery, it shall also be authorized to attach to the CN 07 form a copy of a document used in the domestic service with the signature of the person who has received the item or a copy of the electronic signature affixed upon delivery of the item. The CN 07 form shall remain attached to the CN 08 inquiry form for subsequent delivery to the claimant.
\n4 Inquiries concerning items posted in another country 4.1 If the inquiry concerns an item posted in another country, the CN 08 form shall be forwarded to the designated operator or the specially appointed office of the designated operator of origin of the item. It shall reach it within the period prescribed for the retention of documents. The certificate of posting must be produced but shall not be attached to the CN 08 form. The latter shall be endorsed \"Vu récépissé de dépôt No … le … par le bureau de …\". (Seen, certificate of posting No. … issued on… by the office of …).
\n1 Preparation of requests for designated operators using IBIS: mandatory operational and technical procedures applicable to IBIS 1.1 Designated operators that agree to use IBIS for letter-post inquiries shall use it according to the procedures described herein. For parcels, use of IBIS for inquiries is mandatory.
\n2 The treatment of the inquiry by IBIS shall be performed in accordance with the type of inquiry and the two-level inquiry workflow as described hereafter and detailed in the IBIS Operational Guide.
\n3 Two-level inquiry workflow:
\n3.1 Level 1 query (L1Q): If, on the basis of the information available in the electronic tracking system, a response cannot be given to the customer, the designated operator shall indicate the type of request in accordance with paragraph 2 and send it to the designated operator of destination. A level 1 response (L1R) is expected within the time frame set for the corresponding type of request. An authorization code shall be sent to the designated operator of origin if the liability of the destination or intermediate designated operator is accepted.
\n3.2 Level 2 query (L2Q): If a response to a level 1 query (L1Q) does not conclude the investigation, the designated operator of origin may submit a level 2 query (L2Q) to the intermediate or destination designated operator, asking for a more in-depth investigation. A level 2 response (L2R) is expected within the time frame set for the corresponding type of request.
\nThe answer to a level 2 query must be conclusive. After this period, the designated operator of origin may indemnify the claimant on behalf of the intermediate or destination designated operator. An appropriate authorization code shall be provided electronically by the liable designated operator. If the intermediate or destination designated operator fails to return the authorization code within the prescribed time, or if the information received cannot be considered as a final reply within the meaning of article 25-001.1, the designated operator of origin shall indemnify the rightful claimant automatically on behalf of the intermediate or destination designated operator.
\n4 Messages for updating queries: IBIS also provides for the ability to update or supplement requests that are processed using the following messages:
\n4.1 Quality update message (QUM): allows the operator receiving a non-compliant or inaccurate request to ask for additional information.
\n4.2 Status update message (SUM): updates queries before a definitive answer is available.
\n5 If the sender asserts that, despite the designated operator of destination's attestation of delivery, the addressee claims not to have received the item under inquiry, the designated operator of destination shall be obliged to provide the sender with confirmation of the delivery by letter, CN 07 advice of delivery or some other means, signed in conformity with article 18-003, or a copy of a signature of acceptance or some other form of evidence of receipt from the recipient, in conformity with article 17-205.3 or 18-001.6.2.5.
\n6 In IBIS, a designated operator may send a notification, which is a type of message used to proactively provide information at item level to solve a case, without opening an official inquiry. Notifications shall not initially be measured for speed or quality of response.
\n7 Time frame for processing requests and performance indicators:
\n7.1 Requests shall be dealt with according to the time frames mentioned in the table under 7.2 for each corresponding type and level of inquiry.
\n7.2 Designated operators shall meet the reply times in the following table, which are expressed in working days (eight hours per day, not including holidays):
\nType of request Workflow level Reply time L1 Reply time L2 Update/confirmation item status 1 and 2 3 days 15 days Written proof of delivery (WPOD) 1 10 days - Disputed delivery 2 - 15 days Request for change/correct address, redelivery or return/stop delivery 1 5 days Damage/missing contents 1 and 2 7 days 15 days Misdirected/redirected/transit 1 and 2 7 days 15 days Customs investigation 1 and 2 7 days 15 days Explanation delayed delivery/ processing at destination 1 5 days - Unexplained return of item 1 5 days - COD amount not received 1 and 2 7 days 15 days Advice of delivery (AR) 1 and 2 7 days 15 days 7.3 At the end of the inquiry process, the liable designated operator must provide the sending designated operator with an appropriate authorization code allowing it to indemnify the claimant.
\n7.4 If the liable designated operator fails to return the authorization code within the prescribed time, or if the information received cannot be considered as a final reply within the meaning of article 25-001.1 and 2, the sending designated operator shall automatically indemnify the rightful claimant on behalf of the designated operator of destination.
\n7.5 For letter post, a minimum performance target of 80% of on-time responses, as defined in para- graph 8.1, is required for any designated operator that participates in the supplementary remuneration programme described in article 31-104. For parcel post, a minimum performance target of 90% of on-time responses, as well as an average maximum time of eight working hours to open the requests and replies received, as defined in paragraphs 8.1 to 8.3, are required for any designated operator to be eligible to receive the IBIS inward land rate bonus referred to in article 33-201. Nevertheless, designated operators are encouraged to observe the 95% target for the two-level inquiry workflow defined in paragraph 3.
\n8 The efficiency of treatment and the quality of transactions shall be analyzed on the basis of the following performance indicators:
\n8.1 On-time response: responses given within the agreed level 1 or level 2 reply time.
\n8.2 For letter post: time to open the request; for parcel post, time limit for opening the request received.
\n8.3 For parcel post: time limit for opening the reply received.
\n8.4 Time to escalate from level 1 to level 2.
\n8.5 Outstanding messages: inquiries not answered within a stipulated response time and still not answered when the report is run.
\n8.6 Resolution rate after the first response.
\n8.7 Total duration up to the final response.
\n1 Principles 1.1 With the exception of ECOMPRO parcels, designated operators' liability shall be binding for items conveyed à découvert and forwarded in closed mails and for parcels returned with no reason for non- delivery given.
\n1.2 Designated operators which undertake to cover risks arising from a case of force majeure shall be liable towards senders of letter-post items and parcels posted in their country for any loss, theft or damage due to a case of force majeure occurring at any time during transmission of the items. This undertaking shall also cover any redirection or return to sender.
\n1.3 The designated operator in whose service the loss, theft, damage or unexplained return occurred shall decide, according to the laws of its country, whether the loss, theft, damage or unexplained return was due to circumstances amounting to force majeure. These circumstances shall be communicated to the designated operator of the country of origin if the latter designated operator so requests.
\n1.4 Designated operators participating in the exchange of COD items shall be liable, up to the COD amount, for the delivery of COD items without collection of funds or against collection of a sum lower than the COD amount. Designated operators shall assume no liability for delays which may occur in the collection and dispatch of funds.
\n2 Indemnity 2.1 Letter post 2.1.1 The amount of the indemnity referred to in article 22.2.1 of the Convention for the loss of, total theft from or total damage to a registered item shall be 30 SDR. The indemnity for the loss of, total theft from or total damage to a registered M bag shall be 150 SDR. Charges and fees paid by the sender for posting the item, with the exception of the registration charge, shall be added to these values to determine the total compensation payable.
\n2.1.2 The amount of the indemnity referred to in article 22.2.2 of the Convention for registered items that are partially rifled or partially damaged shall not exceed the corresponding amounts mentioned in paragraph 2.1.1 for registered items that are lost, totally rifled, or totally damaged.
\n2.2 Parcels 2.2.1 The indemnity referred to in article 22.3.1 of the Convention shall not exceed the amounts calculated by combining the rate of 40 SDR per ordinary parcel and the rate of 4.50 SDR per kilogramme. Charges and fees paid for posting the item shall be added.
\n2.2.2 Designated operators may agree to apply, in their reciprocal relations, the amount of 130 SDR per parcel regardless of the weight.
\n2.2.3 The amount of the indemnity referred to in article 22.3.2 of the Convention for an ordinary parcel that is partially rifled or partially damaged shall not exceed the corresponding amounts mentioned in paragraph 2.2.1 or in paragraph 2.2.2.
\n2.2.4 The indemnity relating to an insured parcel that is lost, totally or partially rifled or damaged shall be limited to the amounts referred to in article 22.4 of the Convention.
\n2.2.5 The indemnity for the unexplained return of a parcel shall, in accordance with article 22.6 of the Convention, be commensurate with the charges paid by the sender for posting the parcel in the country of origin and the charges incurred for returning the parcel from the country of destination.
\n3 Conditions for payment of indemnity for parcels 3.1 Payment of indemnities resulting from the liability of the intermediate or destination designated operator shall be subject to the following conditions:
\n3.1.1 Subject to article 17-215.1.5, the parcel must be identified by a barcoded unique item identifier con- forming to UPU Technical Standard S10.
\n3.1.2 The inquiry must be entered in IBIS by the designated operator of origin if both designated operators are using the system.
\n3.1.3 If the liable designated operator is not an IBIS user, the claim shall be made in accordance with article 21-002.
\nparcel 1 The designated operator making delivery of a rifled or damaged registered or insured item, or rifled or damaged parcel, shall prepare a CN 24 report on the joint inspection and have it countersigned, whenever possible, by the addressee. The inspection may be completed via electronic means, such as video conferencing or the transmission of photographic evidence by e-mail or secure document transmission. The CN 24 report may be transmitted via e-mail with electronic signature. One copy of the report shall be furnished to the addressee or, if the item is refused or redirected, attached to it. One copy shall be retained by the designated operator which prepared the report. One copy of the report shall be sent under registered cover or by e-mail or by other electronic means to the appropriate office listed in the Letter Post or Parcel Post Compendium Online of the country to which the dispatching office of exchange belongs.
\n2 The designated operator of the country of origin that has received a copy of the CN 24 report in accordance with paragraph 1 of this article, article 17-137.11 or article 17-234.2, shall notify the sender that the item has been rifled or damaged.
\n3 If the item is delivered, the copy of the CN 24 report prepared by the office of exchange in accordance with article 17-137.11 shall be attached to the item and dealt with in accordance with the regulations of the country of destination. If the item is refused, the said copy shall remain attached to the item.
\n4 When national regulations so require, an item subjected to the treatment specified in 1 shall be returned to the sender if the addressee refuses to countersign the CN 24 report.
\n5 If the liability for a parcel assumed according to article 23.1 of the Convention has to be shared with another designated operator the request to this effect shall be recorded using the Internet-Based Inquiry System accompanied by an electronic copy or translation of the CN 24 report. Where appropriate, an electronic copy of the CP 78 verification note mentioned in article 17-234.2 shall be provided using the Internet-Based Inquiry System.
\n1 A designated operator which finds damage that is due to the fault of the sender shall inform the designated operator of origin, whose responsibility it is to take action against the sender where appropriate.
\n2 For letter-post items and with reference to the provisions of paragraph 1, the designated operators of origin and of destination may agree to draw up the accounting procedure concerning the amount of damage to be covered by the sender.
\n1 The designated operator of origin or destination, as the case may be, shall be authorized to indemnify the rightful claimant on behalf of the designated operator which, having participated in the conveyance and having been duly informed, has either: (i) allowed 30 days to pass, from the date of receipt of such a request through IBIS (as per the procedures defined in article 21-003) or (for letter-post items only) of a CN 08 form sent by fax or any other electronic means by which the receipt of inquiry can be confirmed; or (ii) (for letter- post items only) allowed two months to pass from the date of receipt of such a request through a CN 08 form sent by post, without finally settling the matter, or without having reported:
\n1.1 that the damage appeared to be due to a case of force majeure;
\n1.2 that the item had been detained, confiscated or destroyed by the competent authority because of its contents or seized under the legislation of the country of destination.
\n2 In this case, none of the designated operators that participated in the conveyance may refuse the reimbursement of the indemnity, postal charges and other fees paid to the rightful claimant by the designated operator of origin or destination, as the case may be.
\n3 For designated operators using a CN 08 form for letter-post items, the period of two months stipulated under 1 shall begin to run from the date on which the duly completed CN 08 form (including the necessary information concerning the transmission of dispatches) is received by the designated operator of destination.
\n4 The designated operator of origin shall be authorized to indemnify the rightful claimant on behalf of the designated operator of destination which, having been duly informed about the request of the designated operator of origin to provide confirmation of delivery of the item under inquiry, mentioned in article 21-002.1.9, has allowed 30 days to pass, from the date of the sending of such a request by the designated operator of origin, without replying to a second inquiry concerning inappropriate execution of service.
\n5 The designated operator of origin or destination, as the case may be, shall be authorized to postpone payment of the indemnity to the rightful claimant in cases where the inquiry is not properly completed or incorrect and requires additional information or amendment, thereby causing the time limit set in 1 to be exceeded. The indemnity may be paid by the end of an additional period of (i) 30 days in the case of a request received through IBIS (as per the procedures defined in article 21-003), or (for letter-post items only) of a CN 08 form sent by fax or any other electronic means; or (ii) (for letter-post items only) two months in case of requests through a CN 08 form sent by post, from the date on which the CN 08 form is completed or amended. If no additional information is added or no amendment is made to the inquiry, the designated operator concerned shall be authorized not to indemnify the rightful claimant.
\n6 In case of an inquiry concerning a COD parcel, the designated operator of origin shall be authorized to indemnify the rightful claimant up to the COD amount on behalf of the designated operator of destination which, having been duly informed, has allowed the same period as mentioned in paragraph 1 to pass without finally settling the matter.
\n7 No reservations concerning the periods for the treatment and settlement of inquiries and the period and conditions for the payment of indemnity and the reimbursement of paying designated operators may be made to this article, except within the framework of a bilateral agreement.
\n1 The payment of the indemnity shall be made as soon as possible and, at the latest, within a period of three months from the day following the day of inquiry.
\n2 No reservations concerning the period for the payment of indemnity may be made to this article, other than within the framework of a bilateral agreement.
\nThe return of a CN 08 form in which the \"Particulars to be supplied by the intermediate services or by the service of destination\", \"Particulars to be supplied by the service of destination\" and \"Final reply\" sections have not been completed shall not be considered as a final reply within the meaning of article 25-001.
\n1 Until the contrary is proved, liability shall rest with the designated operator which, having received the item without reporting a discrepancy by means of a CN 43 verification note, in the case of letter-post items, and by means of a CN 43 verification note and/or a CP 78 verification note, or a CN 37, CN 38 or CN 41 delivery bill, in the case of parcels, at the time of receipt of the mail in which the item was dispatched, and being furnished with all the prescribed means of inquiry, cannot prove either delivery to the addressee or, where appropriate, correct transfer to another designated operator.
\n2 If the loss theft or damage occurs in the course of conveyance without it being possible to establish in which country's territory or service it happened, the designated operators concerned shall bear the loss equally.
\n2.1 In the case of the loss of registered items, this principle shall apply only to items identified by a CN 04 label with a unique item identifier, in accordance with article 18-101, Registered items. Otherwise, the dispatching designated operator alone shall bear the loss.
\n2.2 In the case of an uninsured parcel, when the amount of indemnity does not exceed the amount calculated in article 22-001.2.2 for a parcel of one kilogramme, this sum shall be borne equally by the designated operator of origin and the designated operator of destination, intermediate designated operators being excluded.
\n3 As regards insured items, the liability of a designated operator towards other designated operators shall in no case exceed the maximum insured value that it has adopted.
\n4 Designated operators not providing the insured items service shall assume, in respect of such items conveyed in closed mails, the liability laid down for registered items and/or for uninsured parcels. This provision shall also apply when designated operators do not accept liability for insured items carried on board the ships or aircraft used by them.
\n5 If the loss, theft or damage of an insured item occurs in the territory or service of an intermediate designated operator which does not provide the insured items service, the designated operator of origin shall bear the loss not covered by the intermediate designated operator. The same rule shall apply if the amount of the damage is higher than the maximum insured value adopted by the intermediate designated operator.
\n6 Customs duty and other duties of which it has not been possible to secure cancellation shall be borne by the designated operator liable for the loss, theft or damage.
\n7 A designated operator which has paid the indemnity shall take over the rights, up to the amount of the indemnity, of the person who has received it in any action which may be taken against the addressee, the sender or third parties.
\noperators 1 Until the contrary is proved and subject to article 25-004, an intermediate designated operator or designated operator of destination shall be relieved of all liability:
\n1.1 when it has observed the provisions for inspection of mails and parcels and establishment of irregularities;
\n1.2 when it can prove that it was informed of the inquiry after the destruction of the official records relating to the item in question, the period of retention having expired. This reservation shall not prejudice the rights of the claimant;
\n1.3 when, in the case of individual entry of registered letter-post items, correct delivery of the lost item cannot be proved because the designated operator of origin did not enter the registered items in detail on the CN 33 special lists.
\n2 Until the contrary is proved, a designated operator dispatching a registered or insured letter-post item shall be relieved of all liability if the office of exchange to which the item has been consigned has not sent to the dispatching designated operator, by the first available mail after inspection, a CN 24 report stating either that the whole packet of registered or insured articles or the particular item is missing or has been tampered with.
\n3 If the theft or damage of a registered or insured item has been established in the country of destination or, in the case of return to sender, in the country of origin, it shall be for the designated operator of that country to prove:
\n3.1 For letter-post items:
\n3.1.1 that neither the packet, envelope or receptacle and its fastening, nor the wrapping and fastening of the item bore any apparent trace of theft or damage;
\n3.1.2 in the case of an insured item, that the weight established at the time of posting has not varied;
\n3.1.3 when a registered item or an insured item has been lost, rifled or damaged as the result of force majeure, the designated operator in whose territorial jurisdiction or services the loss, theft or damage occurred shall be liable to the designated operator of origin only if the two designated operators undertake to cover risks of force majeure.
\n3.2 For parcels:
\n3.2.1 that neither the wrapping nor the fastening of the parcel bore any apparent trace of theft or damage;
\n3.2.2 that in the case of an insured parcel, the weight established at the time of posting has not varied;
\n3.2.3 that, in the case of parcels forwarded in closed receptacles, both the receptacles and their fastening were intact.
\n4 Additional provisions applicable only to parcels 4.1 In the case of parcels sent in bulk, none of the designated operators concerned may repudiate its share of liability by showing that the number of parcels found in the mail differs from that advised on the parcel bill.
\n4.2 In the case of bulk transmission of parcels, the designated operators concerned may agree that liability be shared in the event of loss of, theft from or damage to certain categories of parcels, determined by mutual agreement.
\n4.3 When a parcel has been lost, rifled or damaged as the result of force majeure, the designated operator in whose territorial jurisdiction or services the damage occurred shall not be liable towards the designated operator of origin unless the two designated operators undertake to cover risks of force majeure.
\n5 When the proof mentioned in 3 has been furnished, none of the other designated operators concerned may repudiate its share of liability on grounds that it handed over the item without the next designated operator having made any objection.
\n1 When the loss, theft or damage occurs in the service of an air carrier, reimbursement of the indemnity paid to the sender shall be recovered from the carrier:
\n1.1 by the designated operator of origin if it settles conveyance dues direct with the air carrier;
\n1.2 by the designated operator that collected the conveyance dues, when the designated operator of origin does not settle them direct with the air carrier. The indemnity paid to the sender shall be reimbursed to the designated operator of origin by the designated operator that collected the conveyance dues.
\noperator 1 The designated operator which is liable or on behalf of which payment is made shall reimburse the paying designated operator the amount of indemnity, charges and fees paid to the rightful claimant according to the mandatory information provided on the CN 08 form, or in IBIS, respectively. The accounting procedures to be followed are described in articles 26-003 and 26-004.
\n2 If the indemnity, charges and fees paid which were reimbursed to the rightful claimant are due to be borne by several designated operators, the whole of the indemnity, charges and fees paid which were reimbursed to the rightful claimant shall be paid to the paying designated operator by the first designated operator which, having duly received the item claimed for, is unable to prove its correct transfer to the next service.
\nIt shall rest with this designated operator to recover from the other designated operators which are liable each one's share of the indemnity paid to the rightful claimant.
\n3 The designated operator whose liability is duly established and which has at first declined to pay the indemnity shall assume all additional costs resulting from the unwarranted delay in payment.
\n1 If, one year after the date of dispatch of authorization to pay the indemnity, the paying designated operator has not debited the account of the designated operator which is liable, the authorization shall be considered null and void. The designated operator which received it shall then no longer be entitled to claim reimbursement of any indemnity paid, except for letter-post items, in cases where an accepted CN 48 account has been included in the CN 52 general account, pursuant to article 26-004.1.5.
\n2 When liability has been admitted, as well as in the case provided for in article 25-001.1, the amount of the indemnity may also be automatically recovered from the designated operator which is liable through a liquidation account, either direct or through the intermediary of a designated operator which regularly draws up liquidation accounts with the designated operator which is liable.
\n3 If the sender or the addressee takes delivery of an item found afterwards against repayment of the amount of the indemnity, that sum shall be refunded to the designated operator or, where appropriate, designated operators which bore the loss, within one year of the date of such repayment.
\n4 Regarding letter-post items, designated operators may agree to settle periodically for the indemnities which they have paid to the rightful claimants and which they have accepted as justified.
\n5 The designated operators of origin and destination may agree that the whole of the loss shall be borne by the designated operator which has to make the payment to the rightful claimant.
\n6 The creditor designated operator shall be reimbursed in accordance with the rules for payment laid down in article 35-005.
\n1 Letter-post items 1.1 When payments have to be charged to the designated operators which are liable, the creditor designated operator shall prepare CN 48 monthly or quarterly accounts.
\n1.2 The rules for the transfer and acceptance of accounting forms provided for in article 35-001 shall be applied to CN 48 accounts.
\n1.3 The CN 48 account shall be sent to the debtor designated operator, no later than two months after the end of the period to which it relates.
\n1.4 The acceptance period for the CN 48 account shall be two months.
\n1.5 In principle, these accounts shall be settled separately.
\nHowever, designated operators may come to an agreement that they are to be settled with the CN 51 detailed account or with the CN 52 general account, or possibly with the CP 75 account.
\n2 Parcels 2.1 When it is necessary to recover payments from the designated operators which are liable and several amounts are involved, these shall be summarized on a CN 48 form. The total amount shall be carried forward to the CP 75 account mentioned in article 34-014.
\n2.2 In case of disputed compensation claims unrelated to article 25-001 received via the CN 48 form, the sending designated operator shall provide on request evidence to support its claim.
\nRemuneration
\n1 All statement and account forms shall be transmitted electronically or, if this means is not available, sent in duplicate as registered items.
\n2 Each designated operator shall notify other designated operators, through the International Bureau, of the electronic and postal addresses to which all the accounting forms must be sent.
\n3 Debtor designated operators may refuse to check and to accept statements and accounts that have not been submitted by the creditor designated operators within the applicable transmission period.
\n4 The deadline for accepting a statement or account shall apply to both transmission methods (electronically or as a registered item). By default, the acceptance period shall commence on the date on which the form was generated. In the event of transmission via a registered item, if a period of two weeks or more separates the date on the statement or account (corresponding to the date when the form was generated) from the date of receipt, the receiving designated operator shall have the right to inform the partner designated operator that the acceptance period commences only on the date of receipt.
\n5 The acceptance of a statement or account shall consist of sending a signed copy of the form, with no changes or amendments, to the designated operator that prepared it. This shall be transmitted electronically, or, if this means is not available, as a registered item.
\n6 In the total amount of each account made out in SDRs, decimals shall be ignored in the total or the balance.
\n7 Discrepancies in the accounts shall not be taken into consideration unless they exceed a total of 9.80 SDR per account.
\n8 If the designated operator that prepared a statement or account has not received any notice of amendment or any acceptance from the partner designated operator that received the form within the acceptance period applying to the form, it shall regard it as fully accepted, meaning accepted as rendered, with no changes or amendments.
\n9 If a notice of amendment is sent by the designated operator that received the form or if a discussion about the content of the form is started, the acceptance deadlines shall no longer apply, but both parties shall make constant efforts to settle the case rapidly. If the designated operator that sent the original statement or account sends an amended one, the rules in paragraph 5 shall apply to this amended version.
\n1 Settlements between designated operators of international accounts arising from postal traffic may be regarded as current transactions and effected in accordance with the current international obligations of the member countries concerned, when there are agreements to this effect. In the absence of such agreements, accounts shall be settled in accordance with the following provisions.
\n2 The accepted account shall serve as a basis for the preparation, as necessary, of the final liquidation account between the two designated operators.
\n3 Designated operators may settle their accounts either bilaterally, or through the multilateral clearing system of the International Bureau, or by any other system of settling accounts. Participation in the multilateral clearing system of the International Bureau shall be open only to designated operators that have signed the membership agreement pertaining to the system.
\n4 For 2020, where two sets of terminal dues rates apply, the designated operator invoking article 29.7 shall create one modified CN 61 form for the settlement of accounts, regardless of the creditor designated operator, reflecting the separate rates for the periods from January to June 2020, and from July to December 2020. Only for the purpose of the deadlines for the settlement of accounts on the basis of the modified CN 61 forms in the year 2020 shall the designated operator invoking article 29.7 be considered as the creditor designated operator.
\n5 The creditor designated operator shall choose the method of settling the accounts after consulting the debtor designated operator. If there is disagreement, the choice of the creditor designated operator shall prevail in all cases. In the case of settlement through the multilateral clearing system of the International Bureau both the creditor and debtor should be signatories to the relevant membership agreement and mutually agree to include the relevant account in the system.
\nThe settlement of accounts through the clearing system of the International Bureau shall be effected through the provisions laid down by the UPU*Clearing User Group.
\nsystem 1 Debts shall be paid in the currency selected by the creditor designated operator after consultation with the debtor designated operator. If there is disagreement, the choice of the creditor designated operator shall prevail in all cases. If the creditor designated operator does not specify a currency, the choice shall rest with the debtor designated operator.
\n2 The amount of the payment, as determined in the selected currency, shall be equivalent in value to the balance of the account expressed in SDR.
\n3 Subject to the provisions set out under 4, the amount to be paid in the selected currency shall be determined by converting the SDR into currencies of payment in accordance with the following provisions:
\n3.1 In the case of currencies for which the SDR exchange rate is published by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the exchange rate in force on the day prior to payment or the most recent rate published shall be used.
\n3.2 In the case of other currencies of payment, as a first stage, the amount in SDRs shall be converted into an intermediate currency for which the value is published daily by the IMF in terms of the SDR, using the most recent exchange rate published.
\nAs a second stage, the result thus obtained shall be converted into the currency of payment, applying the latest rate of exchange quoted on the exchange market of the debtor member country.
\n3.3 In the case of provisional payments provided for in article 35-012, the procedures described in 3.1 and 3.2 above differ. Thus, in the case of currencies for which the SDR exchange rate is published by the IMF, the rate in force on 30 June of that year or on the next working day, if 30 June is a holiday, shall be used; in the case provided for in 3.2, the conversion into an intermediate currency shall be made at the last rate published in June of that year.
\n4 If, by mutual agreement, the creditor designated operator and the debtor designated operator have chosen the currency of a country which is not a member of the IMF and whose laws do not permit the application of the provisions set out under 3, the designated operators concerned shall agree on the relationship between the SDR and the value of the selected currency.
\n5 For the purpose of determining the official or generally accepted foreign exchange market equivalent of a currency, the rate used shall be the closing rate for currency which can be used in the majority of merchandise trade transactions, or the most recent rate quoted.
\n6 The debtor designated operator shall transmit, on the date of payment, the amount of the selected currency by postal giro or any other means, acceptable to both designated operators. If the creditor designated operator expresses no preference, the choice shall fall to the debtor designated operator.
\n7 Creditor designated operators shall publish, by means of a circular issued by the International Bureau, any changes to addresses to which cheques or wire transfers are to be sent.
\n8 The payment charges (fees, clearing charges, deposits, commission, etc.) collected in the debtor country shall be borne by the debtor designated operator. The charges collected in the creditor country, including payment charges collected by banks in intermediate countries, shall be borne by the creditor designated operator. When the postal giro transfer system, with exemption from charges, is used, exemption shall also be granted by the office of exchange in the third country or countries acting as intermediary between the debtor designated operator and the creditor designated operator when there are no direct exchanges between these.
\n9 If, between the dispatch of the transfer order or the remittance by other means and its receipt by the creditor designated operator, a variation occurs in the equivalent value of the selected currency calculated as described under 3, 4 or 5, and if the difference resulting from such variation exceeds 5% of the amount due (as calculated following such variation), the total difference shall be shared equally between the two designated operators.
\n10 Payment shall be made as quickly as possible and at the latest within six weeks from the date of acceptance or of notification of official acceptance for liquidation accounts and accounts indicating the amounts or balances to be settled. After that period the amounts due shall be chargeable with interest at the rate of 6% per annum reckoned from the day following the day of expiry of the said period. By payment is meant the dispatch of funds or of the instrument of payment (cheque, draft, etc.) or the signing of the order for transfer or deposit by the organization responsible for the transfer in the debtor member country. If a situation arises where bank transfers are not possible, preventing the debtor country from making payment for accepted accounts, the debtor and creditor designated operators may request the assistance of the International Bureau to facilitate the transfer of payment. The debtor designated operator requesting the International Bureau's assistance in transferring the payment must confirm the request in writing, provide proof that payment cannot be made directly between the two designated operators, and provide proof that the accounts have been accepted.
\n11 Creditor designated operators may request, in their bilateral relations, that the payment due be made through a debtor designated operator, in such a way as to recover the debt of the initial debtor designated operator through another debtor designated operator that has exchanges with the creditor designated operator. In order for this mechanism to be activated, all three parties must be in agreement with the procedure established for this purpose.
\n12 When payment is made, the document of transfer (cheque, draft, etc.) shall be accompanied by particulars of the title, period, amount in SDRs, conversion rate used and applicable date of such rate for each amount included in the total sum remitted.
\nIf it is not possible for details to accompany the transfer or remittance, an explanatory letter shall be provided by electronic means or else by mail and by the fastest route (air or surface) on the day that the payment is made. The detailed explanation shall be in French or in a language understood by the designated operator to which payment is made.
\n1 The rules for payment set out below shall apply to all debts arising out of a postal transaction and expressed in SDR. These debts may result from general accounts or statements drawn up by the International Bureau or from liquidation accounts or statements not drawn up by the Bureau. The said rules shall also relate to the settlement of discrepancies, of interest or, where applicable, of payments on account.
\n2 Any designated operator may discharge its liabilities by payments on account, from which its debts shall be deducted when these have been established.
\n3 Provided the periods for payment are observed, any designated operator may settle postal debts expressed in SDRs by offsetting credits and debits in its relations with another designated operator. The offsetting may be extended by mutual agreement to debts arising from telecommunications services when both designated operators operate postal and telecommunications services. Offsetting may not be effected with debts in respect of transactions contracted out to an organization or company under the control of a designated operator if that designated operator objects.
\n4 The inclusion of an airmail account in a general account containing different debts shall not result in delaying the payment of the air conveyance dues owed to the airline concerned.
\nsampling statements 1 Sampling may be performed in two cases: for statistical counts for exchanges of mail between designated operators of countries in the target system in accordance with articles 31-116 and 31-118, and for the revision mechanism.
\n2 Preparation, transmission and acceptance of CN 53 and CN 54 bills:
\n2.1 The CN 53 bill provides sampling details for a receiving office. For each sampled receptacle, it provides the receptacle identifier, the receptacle type, the number of items and the gross and net weight. Separate CN 53 bills are prepared for each transportation mode (air, S.A.L., surface), possibly per receptacle type and, where appropriate, by format.
\n2.2 For sampling in the target system, the CN 53 bill is prepared by the receiving designated operator.
\n2.3 For the revision mechanism, the CN 53 bill is prepared by the operator requesting the application of the revision mechanism, reporting information gathered during the observation days.
\n2.4 The designated operator that prepared the CN 53 bills shall prepare a CN 54 recapitulative statement that summarizes the CN 53 bills by transportation mode (air, S.A.L., surface) and format (where appropriate) for a calendar quarter.
\n2.5 The CN 54 recapitulative statement, accompanied by the CN 53 forms, shall be sent to the other designated operator concerned each quarter not later than three months after receipt of the last mail included in the statistics.
\n2.6 Operators may agree to substitute the CN 53 and CN 54 forms with the e53 message (electronic statement of sampling) defined in UPU standard M50.
\n2.7 The e53 electronic statement of sampling shall be used when sampling mail that has not been format- separated.
\n2.8 The acceptance period for a CN 54 recapitulative statement or equivalent e53 message shall be three months.
\n3 Preparation, transmission and acceptance of CN 54bis recapitulative statements 3.1 From the accepted CN 54 (or equivalent e53 message) and CN 56 recapitulative statements, the designated operator that had prepared the CN 54 shall prepare a CN 54bis annual statement consolidating the data concerning the mails sampled by transportation mode, format (where appropriate) and quarter and on which is calculated the annual number of items per kilogramme for the year and, where appropriate, the format in question.
\n3.2 For the revision mechanism, from the CN 54bis annual statement, the designated operator that requested the statistical count shall calculate the average number of items per kilogramme and, in case of application of the revision mechanism, the new rate of terminal dues by application of the formula set forth in article 31-112.6.
\n3.3 The CN 54bis annual statements shall be sent to the other designated operator concerned not later than one month after the acceptance of the CN 54 and CN 56 recapitulative statements concerning the fourth quarter.
\n3.4 The acceptance period for a CN 54bis annual statement shall be one month.
\n4 In cases where the other designated operator concerned has carried out control statistics:
\n4.1 For sampling in the target system: the annual number of items per kilogramme reported in the CN 54bis shall be regarded as valid if this number differs by 10% or less from that of the other designated operator and does not result in an annual payment difference of more than 5%. These limits shall be valid only if, in the sampling of the designated operator carrying out the statistical counts for terminal dues, the sampling respects the general principles for statistical counts and estimation of the number of items per kilogramme as described in article 31-115.1.1.
\n4.2 For the revision mechanism: the data established by the designated operator that requested application of the revision mechanism shall be regarded as valid if it does not differ by more than 10% from that established by the other designated operator.
\n5 If there is a difference of more than 10% between the designated operators' annual number of items per kilogramme or an annual payment difference of more than 5%, the designated operators concerned shall agree on the values to be used for settling terminal dues by taking into account the precision of the statistical systems used by each designated operator.
\n6 If the two parties cannot agree about application of this article, the designated operator may resort to the arbitration procedure in article 153 of the General Regulations.
\n55, CN 56 and CN 69 statements 1 After receipt of each quarter's last mail dispatched by the office of exchange of origin, the destination designated operator shall prepare, by type of mail, by format (where appropriate), by dispatching office of exchange and by destination office of exchange, from the particulars on the CN 31 letter bills, a CN 55 statement of mails.
\n2 For each designated operator of the country of origin of the mails, the designated operator of the country of destination shall prepare quarterly, from the particulars on the CN 55 statements, by type of mail, by office of origin, by office of destination and, where appropriate, by format, a CN 56 recapitulative statement of mails.
\n3 The CN 55 statements shall be sent to the designated operator of the country of origin in support of the CN 56 recapitulative statements.
\n4 For surface transit mail, the designated operator of transit shall prepare a CN 69, by origin and destination office of exchange and type of mail, based on its own record of the receptacles that it forwards as closed transit and in accordance with the particulars contained in the CN 37 delivery bills that it prepares, during the quarter.
\n5 The CN 56 recapitulative statement shall be sent to the designated operators of origin of the mails no later than four months after the end of the quarter to which it relates.
\nOperators may agree to substitute this form and the supporting CN 55 statements with the e55 message (electronic terminal dues statement) defined in UPU standard M51.
\n6 The acceptance period for a CN 56 statement or equivalent e55 message shall be two months. If verification reveals any discrepancies, the corrected CN 55 statement shall be attached in support of the duly amended and accepted CN 56 recapitulative statement. If the designated operator of destination of the mails disputes the amendments made to the CN 55 statement, the designated operator of origin shall confirm the actual data by sending photocopies of the CN 31 forms drawn up by the office of origin upon dispatch of the disputed mails, or by giving access to the corresponding electronic data through a PREDES message, if the CN 31 was exchanged electronically. The forms shall be transmitted within two months of the date of dispatch of the corrected CN 56 recapitulative statement and CN 55 statement.
\n7 Designated operators may agree that the CN 55 or CN 56 statements shall be prepared by the designated operator of origin of the mails. In this case, the acceptance procedure provided for under 5 and 6 shall be adapted accordingly.
\n8 The CN 69 statements of closed transit mail shall be generated by the designated operator of transit and sent to the designated operator of origin no later than four months after the end of the quarter to which they relate. Where the CN 69 statement reports empty receptacles, it shall be sent to the designated operator of destination instead of that of origin, with the same deadline.
\n9 The acceptance period for CN 69 statements shall be two months.
\n1 Non-sampled flows received consist of dispatches received that exclusive comprise mail that does not require any sampling and provision of an item count at dispatch level. These flows include dispatches of registered/insured items (UR dispatches) and dispatches of tracked items (UX dispatches).
\n2 To avoid delays in payment for mail received, a designated operator may choose to request payment for non-sampled flows from a partner designated operator on a quarterly basis instead of yearly if all the following conditions are met:
\n2.1 The receiving designated operator that wishes to activate quarterly payment has so informed the partner designated operator in advance, by 30 September for application on 1 January of the following year and subsequent years.
\n2.2 Either the partner designated operator has agreed to the request in paragraph 2.1 by 30 November of the same year, or the annual volume of non-sampled mail for either registered or tracked items is above the threshold of 100,000 items. For the latter calculation, the annual volume shall be counted from the last two quarters of the previous year and the first two quarters of the current year.
\n3 The separate accounting for non-sampled flows received may be discontinued:
\n3.1 Upon request of the receiving designated operator to the sending operator, notified by 30 November, in which case it shall take effect on 1 January of the following year and subsequent years;
\n3.2 Upon request of the sending designated operator to the receiving operator, notified by 30 November, and provided that the annual volume (calculated as per paragraph 2.2) of non- sampled mail to the receiving operator is below 100,000 items for both registered and tracked items, in which case it shall take effect on 1 January of the following year.
\n4 When payment for non-sampled flows is requested on a quarterly basis and the conditions in paragraph 2 are met, the following rules shall apply:
\n4.1 The quarterly account covers terminal dues and additional payments for the non-sampled mail received, but excludes the supplementary remuneration covered in form CN 60;
\n4.2 The designated operator of destination of the non-sampled mail shall prepare a quarterly CN 71 account based on the particulars of the CN 56 recapitulative statements.
\n4.3 The CN 71 account shall be based on accepted CN 56 statements. It shall be sent rapidly after the CN 56 statement has been accepted, and at the latest within six months after the end of the quarter to which it relates.
\n4.4 A CN 71bis annual account shall be generated to adjust the amounts due, once final rates are agreed, and request payment of the difference. The form shall also be generated even where there is no difference, as confirmation and potentially as a supporting document for Quality of Service Fund payments.
\n4.5 The CN 71bis form shall be sent by the creditor and accepted by the debtor within the same time limits as those applicable for the CN 61.
\n4.6 Where a designated operator has activated the payment of non-sampled mail received through the CN 71 and CN 71bis for a year with a partner designated operator, then such non-sampled mail shall be excluded from the CN 61 between them.
\n4.7 Where the payment of non-sampled mail received through the CN 71 and CN 71bis is activated one way and/or the other between two partners, if either of these partners requests a provisional payment to the other, the corresponding provisional payment request shall not include terminal dues for non- sampled mail.
\n1 The designated operator of destination shall report all bulk mail received in a CN 57 quarterly account on the basis of the data on the CN 32 letter bill data.
\n2 In case of dispute, the designated operator of origin or the designated operator of destination shall transmit copies of the CN 32 letter bills regarding the disputed mails to the partner designated operator, or give access to the corresponding electronic data, if the CN 32 was exchanged electronically.
\n3 The designated operator of origin may refuse to check and accept any CN 57 account which has not been presented within four months after the quarter concerned.
\n4 The CN 57 account shall be accepted and settled by the designated operator of origin within two months after it is prepared.
\n5 When provisional rates are used in the CN 57, once the final rates are agreed, a CN 57bis annual account may be generated to adjust amounts and request payment of the difference.
\n6 The CN 57bis shall be sent by the creditor and accepted by the debtor within the same time limits as those applicable for the CN 61.
\n1 The costs concerning mail intended for direct access to the domestic system shall be billed by the designated operator of destination by means of mutually agreed accounting forms.
\n2 The accounts shall be settled by the designated operator of origin within the period set by the designated operator of destination of the mail. This period shall not be less favourable than that set by the designated operator in question for its domestic customers. The designated operator of destination shall also choose the currency of payment in accordance with the provisions of article 35-004.1.
\n3 In cases where the data concerning mail intended for direct access to the domestic system entered on the accounting statements differs, the designated operator of origin shall transmit photocopies of the accounting forms that had accompanied the disputed mails.
\ntransit charges and terminal dues detailed accounts 1 The creditor designated operator shall be responsible for preparing the accounts and forwarding them to the debtor designated operator. However, the forwarding of accounts shall be required even when the balance is less than the minimum provided for this purpose in article 35-013.8 and 9.
\n2 The detailed accounts shall be prepared as follows:
\n2.1 Transit charges. On a CN 62 form, on the basis of the total weight of the categories of mail as appears from the CN 69 recapitulative statements.
\n2.2 Additional sea transit charges, as provided for in article 27-102.2. On a CN 62bis form sent in duplicate together with supporting documentation such as the invoices sent by the port service provider.
\n2.3 Terminal dues. On a CN 61 form, on the basis of the difference between the amounts to be brought to account based on the weights of mail received and dispatched for each category of mail as appear from the CN 56 recapitulative statements, or if necessary from the CN 54bis recapitulative statements, and from the CN 19 accounts.
\n3 The CN 61 detailed accounts shall be sent to the debtor designated operator as soon as possible after the end of the year to which they refer.
\n4 The CN 61 detailed accounts shall exclude all figures for mail flows settled quarterly, as defined in article 35-008.
\n5 The CN 62 and CN 62bis detailed accounts shall be prepared by the creditor designated operator on a quarterly, half-yearly or annual basis, as chosen by the creditor designated operator.
\n6 The debtor designated operator shall not be obliged to accept detailed statements or accounts or supplementary accounts that are not sent to it within 10 months of the end of the year concerned.
\n7 The acceptance period for detailed accounts shall be two months.
\n8 As an exceptional measure, supplementary detailed statements or accounts may be sent to the debtor designated operator only if they refer to statements or accounts already submitted for the period in question. The reason for issuing supplementary statements or accounts is to amend original statements or accounts so as to correct erroneous records or document additional claims and/or information. The conditions in 6 and 7 shall apply to the issuance of supplementary statements or accounts; if these conditions are not met, the debtor designated operator shall not be obliged to accept the supplementary statements or accounts.
\n9 Designated operators may agree to settle terminal dues accounts for surface mails and for airmails separately. In this case, the designated operators concerned shall determine the procedures for preparing, accepting and settling such accounts.
\n1 Creditor designated operators shall be entitled to provisional payments in respect of terminal dues as follows:
\n1.1 The provisional payments for one year shall be calculated on the basis of the weights and statistical results (where applicable) of mail used for the final settlements of the previous year.
\n1.2 If the quarterly settlement for non-sampled mail (article 35-008) to or from a partner is activated for the current year, then the provisional payment request to that partner must exclude all amounts for non-sampled flows.
\n1.3 The debtor designated operator shall not be obligated to accept provisional payment accounts received after 30 June.
\n1.4 Should the previous year's account not yet be settled, the provisional payments shall be calculated on the basis of the duly accepted CN 56 recapitulative statements for the last four quarters and the corresponding, duly accepted CN 54 recapitulative statements of items (where applicable).
\n1.5 The provisional payments in respect of a year shall be made no later than the end of July of that year. The provisional payments shall then be adjusted as soon as the final accounts of the year are accepted or regarded as fully accepted.
\n2 For 2020, provisional payments shall be calculated on the basis of the provisional terminal dues rates applicable from January 2020 to June 2020.
\n3 The CN 64 statements concerning the provisional payments laid down in 1 shall be sent by the creditor designated operator to the debtor designated operator in the second calendar quarter of the year to which they relate.
\n4 If a creditor designated operator is in a \"net debtor\" position in relation to other accounts accepted between two designated operators, the debtor designated operator may offset outstanding accepted debts against the provisional payment. If the outstanding debt is greater than the requested provisional payment, the debtor designated operator shall not be required to make the terminal dues provisional payment for that year. The creditor designated operator may also request that the debtor designated operator apply the provisional payment to outstanding debts between the two designated operators.
\n1 Except in the cases detailed in paragraphs 2 and 3, payments of terminal dues and transit charges may only be made on the basis of the CN 61 and CN 62 detailed accounts, on which the method of settlement shall be indicated.
\n2 If provisional payment has been made for terminal dues, as soon as the CN 61 detailed account is accepted or regarded as fully accepted, the creditor designated operator shall prepare separate CN 64 statements.
\n3 A CN 64 statement shall also be prepared for terminal dues when amounts are carried over from a previous period (see paragraph 10).
\n4 The acceptance period for CN 64 statements shall be one month.
\n5 Any amendments to CN 64 statements made by the debtor designated operator must be accompanied by the supporting CN 61 detailed accounts.
\n6 For contributions to individual QSF accounts:
\n6.1 For flows between a designated operator contributing to the Quality of Service Fund and designated operator benefiting from the Fund, the latter designated operator shall send the International Bureau, as the body responsible for billing the amounts due in respect of the Quality of Service Fund a copy of the CN 61 detailed accounts or, as appropriate, a copy of the CN 64 statements accepted or regarded as fully accepted.
\n6.2 The International Bureau shall not be obliged to accept CN 64 statements and CN 61 detailed accounts received more than six months after their acceptance.
\n6.3 In the event of failure to comply with the deadline for transmitting CN 61 and CN 64 documents. A designated operator shall forfeit the right to the QSF funds with the contributing country concerned, for the year in question.
\n7 For contributions to the QSF Common Fund:
\n7.1 It shall be the duty of the creditor designated operator in group III to send a copy of the CN 61 detailed accounts, and, where applicable, CN 64 statements accepted or considered as fully accepted, to the International Bureau.
\n7.2 These documents shall be sent as soon as possible but at the latest within 12 months following the end of the year concerned.
\n8 In the case provided for under 4, the statements shall be endorsed \"Aucune observation de l'opérateur désigné débiteur n'est parvenue dans le délai réglementaire\" (No comment received from debtor designated operator within the prescribed period).
\n9 If the balance of a CN 62 account does not exceed 163.35 SDR, it shall be carried over to the next CN 62 account, unless the designated operators concerned participate in the clearing system of the International Bureau.
\n10 If the balance of a CN 61 or CN 64 account does not exceed 326.70 SDR, it shall be carried over to the next CN 64 account, unless the designated operators concerned participate in the clearing system of the International Bureau.
\n11 Settlements may be made in accordance with the provisions of articles 35-002 and 35-003.
\n1 Each designated operator shall have its offices of exchange prepare immediately a CP 94 statement at the end of each month or quarter for all the items received from one and the same designated operator by dispatching office and per mail. For those designated operators producing these on a quarterly basis, separate statements may be produced for each calendar month.
\n2 E-commerce accounts when different rates are defined in accordance with article 33-201.
\n2.1 In the CP 94 statement, the rates used shall be those for the weight step 5-30 kg, or else rates agreed between the two parties.
\n2.2 The CP 94bis statement shall be prepared together with the CP 94 statement, based on additional information received through the PREDES message.
\n3 In the event of alteration of CP 88 or CP 87 parcel bills, the number and date of the CP 78 verification note prepared by the transferring office of exchange or the office of exchange to which the transfer is made shall be shown in the \"Observations\" column of the CP 94 statement.
\n4 The CP 94 statement and, if relevant, the CP 94bis statement shall be summarized in a CP 75 account.
\n5 Designated operators that were net creditors in the preceding year have the option of receiving payment on a monthly, quarterly, half-yearly or annual basis. The option exercised shall remain in force for a period of one calendar year starting from 1 January.
\n6 Designated operators may use the direct billing system or the bilateral offsetting system.
\n7 Under the direct billing system:
\n7.1 The CP 75 accounts shall serve as bills for direct settlement. The CP 75 account, accompanied by the CP 94 statements, as well as CP 94bis supplementary statements if relevant, shall be sent to the designated operator concerned for acceptance and payment on a monthly, quarterly, half-yearly or annual basis, no later than two months after the arrival of the last parcel bill of the period to which it related and at most five months after the period to which it related.
\n7.2 The acceptance period for CP 75 accounts shall be two months. When any difference exceeding 9.80 SDR occurs, the CP 94 or CP 94bis statement shall be corrected and be attached with the amended CP 75 account as proof.
\n8 Under the bilateral offsetting system:
\n8.1 The CP 94 statements, as well as CP 94bis supplementary statements if relevant, shall be sent to the designated operator concerned for acceptance on a monthly, quarterly, half-yearly or annual basis, no later than two months after the arrival of the last parcel bill of the period to which it related.
\n8.2 The preparation and dispatch of a CN 52 general account may be carried out, without waiting for a possible amendment of the CP 75 accounts, as soon as a designated operator that has all the CP 94 and possibly CP 94bis statements relating to the period concerned finds that it is the creditor.
\n8.3 The creditor designated operator shall prepare both the CP 75 and the CN 52 general accounts and transmit both simultaneously to the debtor designated operator on a monthly, quarterly, half-yearly or annual basis no later than five months after the period to which they refer. Nevertheless, as soon as the CP 75 accounts between two designated operators are accepted or regarded as fully accepted, they may be summarized in a CN 52 general account prepared at one of the abovementioned frequencies.
\n8.4 The acceptance period for the CP 75 and CN 52 accounts shall be two months. When any difference exceeding 9.80 SDR is noted by the debtor designated operator, the CP 94 or CP 94bis statements shall be corrected and be attached with the amended CP 75 account as proof.
\n9 If, within the acceptance period, verification reveals any discrepancies in a CP 75 account received, the corrected CP 94 or CP 94bis shall be attached in support of the duly amended and accepted CP 75 account. If the designated operator of destination of the mails disputes the amendments made to the CP 75 account, the designated operator of origin shall confirm the actual data by giving access to the corresponding PREDES electronic message, or, in cases where dispatch information was sent with a paper form, by sending photocopies of the CP 87 form. All information shall be transmitted within two months of the date of dispatch of the corrected CP 75.
\n10 Supplementary accounts may be sent to the debtor designated operator only if they refer to accounts already submitted for the period in question. The reason for issuing supplementary accounts is to amend original accounts so as to correct erroneous records or document additional claims/information. The conditions in 7 and 8 shall apply to the issuing of supplementary accounts; otherwise the debtor designated operator shall not be obliged to accept the supplementary accounts.
\n11 When the balance of a CP 75 or CN 52 account does not exceed 163.35 SDR, it shall be carried into the next CP 75 or CN 52 account unless the designated operators concerned participate in the clearing system of the International Bureau.
\n12 Settlements may be made in accordance with the provisions of article 35-002.
\nOptional services
\n1 In relations between designated operators which have agreed to provide this service, EMS takes priority over other postal items. It shall consist of the collection, dispatch and delivery in a very short space of time of correspondence, documents or goods.
\n2 EMS shall be regulated on the basis of multilateral or bilateral agreements. Aspects that are not expressly governed by such agreements shall be subject to the appropriate provisions of the Acts of the Union.
\n3 This service shall wherever possible be identified by a logo as shown in the specimen below and comprising the following elements:
\n3.1 an orange wing;
\n3.2 the letters EMS in blue;
\n3.3 three horizontal orange stripes.
\nThe logo may be supplemented by adding the name of the domestic service.
\n4 Charges for the service shall be set by the designated operator of origin in consideration of costs and market requirements.
\nWith a view to preserving the EMS network and if circumstances so require, a member country and/or a designated operator shall have the option of providing the EMS service with private sector companies operating in another country, subject to the national legislation in that country.
\n1 In relations between designated operators which have agreed to provide this service, the integrated logistics service may include the collection, receipt, processing, storage, handling, dispatch, transfer transport and physical delivery of separate or combined documents or goods.
\n2 The details for an integrated logistics service involving two or more designated operators shall be based on bilateral agreements. Aspects that are not expressly governed by the latter shall be subject to the appropriate provisions of the Acts of the Union.
\n3 Charges for the service shall be set by the designated operator of origin in consideration of costs and market requirements.
\n1 Hybrid mail is an electronic-based postal service whereby the sender posts the original message in either a physical or an electronic form, which is then electronically processed and converted into a letter-post item for physical delivery to the addressee. Where national legislation so permits, and when the sender or the addressee so requests, the designated operator effecting delivery may convert the original transmission received to non-physical means (such as fax, e-mail, or SMS) or to multiple means.
\n1.1 Where physical delivery to the addressee is used, the information is generally transmitted by electronic means for the longest possible part of the process and physically reproduced at a premises as close to the recipient's address as possible.
\n2 The tariffs applicable to hybrid mail are fixed by member countries or designated operators, taking costs and market requirements into account.
\nThe bureau fax range of services permits the transmission of texts and illustrations true to the original by facsimile.
\nThe range of text-based services permits the transmission of texts and illustrations produced by means of data-processing equipment (PC, mainframe computer).
\n1 In relations between designated operators which have agreed to provide this service, the electronic postal certification mark, as defined by UPU Technical Standard S43, provides a chain of evidence, stored by a designated operator as a trusted third party, to prove the existence of an electronic event, for a certain content, at a certain date and time, and involving one or more identified parties. The designated operators concerned shall ensure that they continue to adhere to UPU Technical Standard S43, in accordance with the applicable procedures adopted by the Postal Operations Council upon the recommendation of the UPU Standards Board.
\n2 The provision of the electronic postal certification mark service across borders shall be governed by an accepted Trust Model, as defined in a multilateral agreement between designated operators participating in this service. This Trust Model is based on the fact that the different digital provider designated operators shall mutually authenticate themselves when dealing with cross-border electronic postal certification mark transactions. This shall be done by the designated operators through the exchange of the relevant information from their electronic postal certification mark Digital Identities (the keys of their electronic postal certification mark service i.e. X509 Digital Certificates).
\n2.1 Each designated operator's digital identity constitutes a unique digital identifier (a string or a token) given by a trusted third party that shall unequivocally identify that designated operator when interacting, for electronic postal certification mark cross-border transactions purposes, with other designated operators and their users.
\n3 In order to allow participating designated operators to be in a position to operate a cross-border electronic postal certification mark service they shall:
\n3.1 obtain their electronic postal certification mark digital identity from a trusted third-party digital identity provider; and 3.2 inform all other designated operators offering an electronic postal certification mark service of this identity and distribute their digital identity accordingly.
\n4 Charges for the electronic postal certification mark service shall be set by the designated operator of origin in consideration of costs and market requirements. Each designated operator shall:
\n4.1 retain the revenue generated by its offer of the electronic postal certification mark service unless participating designated operators agree to share the revenue from the electronic postal certification mark service; and 4.2 provide verification of the electronic postal certification mark free of additional charges, regardless of where the electronic postal certification mark was applied.
\n5 The electronic postal certification mark service between participating designated operators shall be regulated on the basis of a multilateral agreement which shall reflect and complement the applicable provisions contained in these Regulations.
\n5.1 The multilateral agreement shall specify the provisions required to provide the electronic postal certification mark service between member countries. Participating designated operators shall, by common consent, be obligated to comply with the provisions contained in the multilateral agreement.
\n5.2 Aspects that are not expressly governed by the electronic postal certification mark multilateral agreement shall be subject to the appropriate provisions of the Acts of the Union.
\n6 The electronic postal certification mark service shall, wherever possible, be identified by a logo defined in the multilateral agreement referred to in paragraph 5 above.
\n1 Postal registered electronic mail provides a secure and trusted exchange of electronic messages, enabling the sending of electronic messages by an authenticated mailer for delivery to an authenticated addressee or addressees with proof of sending and proof of delivery.
\n2 Postal registered electronic mail:
\n2.1 ensures the confidentiality and integrity of the message;
\n2.2 ensures the authenticity and non-repudiation of the users and designated operators;
\n2.3 generates evidence of operations and all significant events within a complete operational cycle;
\n2.4 generates notifications that a particular event or operation has occurred and sends them to the corresponding parties; and 2.5 stores the generated evidence for future attestation.
\n3 Designated operators providing postal registered electronic mail shall be registered in a designated operator trust list which is managed and published by the UPU, acting as the designated operator trust list distribution point.
\n4 Customer charges for the provision of the postal registered electronic mail service shall be set by the designated operator of origin, taking into consideration the costs and market needs.
\n5 For the provision of postal registered electronic mail between participating designated operators, bilateral or multilateral agreements shall be established. The postal registered electronic mail operational arrangements, defined in the bilateral or multilateral agreements, shall specify the provisions required to pro- vide the postal registered electronic mail service across borders, including any remuneration conditions between participating designated operators.
\n6 The interoperability aspects related to the provision of the postal registered electronic mail service shall be based on the relevant UPU standards.
\n7 Designated operators may decide to identify the postal registered electronic mail by means of a collective brand, and to provide it via the secure .POST platform.
\n1 The postal electronic mailbox enables the sending of electronic messages by an authenticated mailer, delivery to the authenticated addressee, and access, management and storage of electronic messages and information by the authenticated addressee.
\n2 The postal electronic mailbox:
\n2.1 ensures the authenticity of the mailers and addressees; and 2.2 allows for the storage of electronic messages and information.
\n1 Designated operators may agree to establish telematic links among themselves and with other partners.
\n2 The designated operators concerned shall be free to choose the suppliers and the technical facilities (hardware and software) to support the exchange of data.
\n3 In consultation with the supplier of network services, designated operators shall agree bilaterally on the method of payment for these services.
\n4 Designated operators shall not be financially or legally liable if another designated operator fails to make the payments owed in respect of services relating to the provision of telematic links.
\n1 Designated operators shall observe internationally agreed standards to ensure system compatibility.
\n2 The International Bureau shall publish, maintain and update the UPU Technical Standards, UPU EDI Messaging Standards and UPU Code Lists for the benefit of designated operators.
\n3 For exchanges of data with other designated operators and external partners, designated operators shall use messages developed within the framework of the UPU and published by the International Bureau in the UPU EDI Messaging Standards when such messages are defined and suitable for the intended exchange.
\nUsage of such messages shall be in accordance with the provisions of article 17-006. Messages developed by other organizations may also be used once they have been approved by the UPU and published in the UPU EDI Messaging Standards.
\n4 The International Bureau shall regularly publish a list of available documents and guides on telematic links and shall make them available on request to designated operators providing telematic services.
\n1 Designated operators shall decide on the method of payment for network services following one of the three procedures outlined below:
\n1.1 the sending designated operator pays only for the messages it sends;
\n1.2 the receiving designated operator pays only for the messages it receives;
\n1.3 the sending and receiving designated operators agree to share equally the cost of messages sent and received.
\n2 If two designated operators cannot agree on a method of payment for network services, the method described in 1.1 will automatically apply, unless these two designated operators can agree bilaterally on an alternative method of payment.
\nFinal provisions
\nThese Regulations shall come into force on 1 July 2022 (with the exception of all the provisions contained in section VII, \"Remuneration\", which shall come into force on 1 January 2022) and shall remain in force for an indefinite period.
\nVolume II Letter Post Regulations
\nCommon rules applicable to the international postal service
\n1 Intermediate designated operators shall be informed, as far as possible in advance, of the establishment of an exchange of closed mails as mentioned in article 11 of the Convention.
\n2 The address of these mails shall be worded as follows:
\nFrom the office of …………………………………………………………………………………. For {the (nationality) naval (or air) unit of (designation of the unit) at ... ...... }(Country) the (nationality) ship (name of ship) at ............................................................... or From the (nationality) naval (or air) unit of (designation of the unit) at ....................... }(Country) From the (nationality) ship (name of ship) at ......................................................................
\nFor the office of ............................................................................................................................. or From the (nationality) naval (or air) unit of (designation of the unit) at ....................... }(Country) From the (nationality) ship (name of ship) at ......................................................................
\nFor { the (nationality) naval (or air) unit of (designation of the unit) at ............... ... }(Country) the (nationality) ship (name of ship) at ...............................................................
\n3 The mails concerned shall be forwarded by the fastest route (air or surface), according to the indication written on the address, and under the same conditions as mails exchanged between post offices.
\n4 The captain of a mail-boat conveying mails for a naval unit or a warship shall hold them at the disposal of the commanding officer of the naval unit or ship of destination, should the latter ask him for delivery en route.
\n5 If the ships are not at the place of destination when the mails addressed to them arrive there, the mails shall be kept at the post office until they are collected by the addressee or redirected to another point. Redirection may be requested either by the designated operator of origin, by the commanding officer of the naval unit or ship of destination, or by a consul of the same nationality.
\n6 Those mails which are marked \"Aux soins du Consul d'...\" (Care of the Consul of ...) shall be delivered to the consulate indicated. At the request of the consul they may afterwards be received back into the postal service and redirected to the place of origin or to another address.
\n7 Mails addressed to a warship shall be regarded as being in transit up to the time of their delivery to the commanding officer of that ship, even when they have been originally addressed to the care of a post office or to a consul charged to act as forwarding agent. They shall not, therefore, be regarded as having reached their address until they have been delivered to the warship concerned.
\n8 By agreement between the designated operators concerned, the above procedure shall also be applicable, if necessary, to mails exchanged with military units placed at the disposal of the United Nations and with military aircraft.
\n1 No delivery charge may be collected from the addressee in respect of small packets weighing less than 500 grammes. Where domestic small packet items weighing over 500 grammes are subject to a delivery charge, the same charge may be collected in respect of incoming international small packets.
\n2 Designated operators shall be authorized to collect in the cases mentioned below the same charges as in the domestic service.
\n2.1 Charge on letter-post items posted after the latest time for posting, collected from the sender.
\n2.2 Charge on items posted outside normal counter opening hours, collected from the sender.
\n2.3 Charge for collection at the sender's address, collected from the sender.
\n2.4 Charge, for delivery of a letter-post item outside normal counter opening hours, collected from the addressee.
\n2.5 Poste restante charge collected from the addressee.
\n2.6 A storage charge for any letter-post item weighing more than 500 grammes of which the addressee has not taken delivery within the prescribed period. This charge shall not apply to items for the blind.
\n2.7 The charge for withdrawal of letter-post items outside normal counter opening hours.
\n3 Designated operators prepared to cover risks of force majeure shall be authorized to collect a charge for cover against risks of force majeure the guideline amount of which shall be 0.13 SDR for each registered item.
\n1 Designated operators of member countries which by reason of their national system are unable to adopt the metric-decimal system of weight may use suitable equivalents of their national system.
\n2 For any category of letter-post items, the last weight step shall not exceed the maximum weight shown in article 17-103.
\n3 Member countries or designated operators which have abolished postcards, printed papers or small packets as separate categories of item in their domestic service may do the same in respect of mail for abroad.
\n4 The charges applicable to priority letter-post items shall include any additional costs of fast transmission.
\n5 Designated operators that apply the system based on the contents of letter-post items shall be authorized:
\n5.1 to collect air surcharges for letter-post airmail items;
\n5.2 to collect for surface airlifted (S.A.L.) items with reduced priority surcharges lower than those which they collect for airmail items;
\n5.3 to fix combined charges for the payment of airmail items and S.A.L. items, taking into account the cost of the postal services rendered by them and the cost of air conveyance.
\n6 The surcharges shall be related to the air conveyance dues and shall be uniform for at least the whole of the territory of each country of destination whatever the route used; in calculating the air surcharge for a letter-post airmail item, designated operators shall be authorized to take into account the weight of any forms used by the public which may be attached to the item.
\n7 The designated operator of origin may allow, for letter-post items containing:
\n7.1 newspapers and periodicals published in its country, a reduction of not more than 50% in principle of the tariff applicable to the category of items used;
\n7.2 books and pamphlets, music scores and maps, provided they contain no publicity matter or advertisement other than that appearing on the cover or the fly leaves, the same reduction as that provided for under 7.1.
\n8 Designated operators have the right to restrict the reduction provided for in 7 to newspapers and periodicals which fulfil the conditions required by national regulations for transmission at the tariff for newspapers. This reduction shall not extend to commercial printed papers such as catalogues, prospectuses, price lists, etc., no matter how regularly they are issued. The same shall apply to advertisements printed on sheets annexed to newspapers and periodicals. The reduction shall still be possible, however, in the case of detached advertising inserts to be considered as integral parts of the newspaper or periodical.
\n9 The designated operator of origin may apply to non-standardized items charges different from those applicable to standardized items defined in article 17-111.
\n10 The reduction in charges pursuant to 7 shall also apply to items conveyed by air, but no reduction shall be granted on the portion of the charge intended to cover the costs of such conveyance.
\n1 Every designated operator shall be free to choose the system based on the speed of treatment of items or based on the contents of items that it applies to its outward traffic.
\n2 In the classification system based on the speed of treatment of items, letter-post items are divided into:
\n2.1 priority items, i.e. items conveyed by the quickest route (air or surface) with priority;
\n2.2 non-priority items, i.e. items for which the sender has chosen a lower rate, implying a longer delivery time.
\n3 In the classification system based on contents, letter-post items are divided into documents or goods.
\n4 Every designated operator may admit priority items and airmail items consisting of a sheet of paper suitably folded and gummed on all sides. Such items shall be called \"aerogrammes\". \"Aerogrammes\" shall be considered as being similar to airmail letters in the classification system based on contents.
\ncontent 1 Designated operators in the target terminal dues system exchanging mail above a threshold shall apply the classification system based on the formats for their outward traffic, especially as far as making up of mails is concerned. The relevant conditions are specified in article 17-116.
\n2 In the classification system based on formats, the letter-post items provided for in article 17-101 may be further divided into:
\n2.1 small letters (P) containing documents only, as in articles 17-101 and 17-105;
\n2.2 large letters (G) containing documents only, as in articles 17-101 and 17-105;
\n2.3 bulky letters (format E) containing documents only, i.e. items classified neither as small letters nor as large letters, with physical specifications as defined in article 17 of the UPU Convention and in articles 17-103 and 17-104;
\n2.4 small packets (format E) containing goods, with physical specifications as defined in article 17 of the UPU Convention and in articles 17-103 and 17-104.
\n1 Priority and non-priority items may weigh up to 5 kilogrammes:
\n1.1 In relations between designated operators where both admit such items from their customers.
\n1.2 For items containing books and pamphlets, the designated operator of origin having the option of admitting such items.
\n2 In the system based on contents:
\n2.1 Letters and small packets may weigh up to 5 kilogrammes in relations between designated operators where both admit such items from their customers.
\n2.2 Printed papers may weigh up to 5 kilogrammes, the designated operator of origin having the option of admitting such items.
\n3 The limit of weight of items containing books or pamphlets may be raised to 10 kilogrammes by agreement between the designated operators concerned.
\n4 The items sent on postal service as mentioned in article 16.1 of the Convention and article 16-001 shall not be subject to the limits of weight laid down in article 17 of the Convention and 1 and 2 above. However, they shall not exceed the maximum weight of 30 kilogrammes per bag.
\n5 Designated operators may apply to letter-post items posted in their countries the maximum limit of weight laid down for articles of the same kind in their domestic service provided that such items do not exceed the limit of weight mentioned in article 17 of the Convention and 1 and 2 above.
\n1 The limits of size of items other than postcards, aerogrammes and small packets are given below:
\n1.1 maxima: length, width and depth combined: 900 mm, but the greatest dimension may not exceed 600 mm, with a tolerance of 2 mm; in roll form: length plus twice the diameter: 1,040 mm, but the greatest dimension may not exceed 900 mm, with a tolerance of 2 mm;
\n1.2 minima: to have a surface measuring not less than 90 x 140 mm, with a tolerance of 2 mm; in roll form: length plus twice the diameter: 170 mm: but the greatest dimension may not be less than 100 mm.
\n2 The limits of size of postcards shall be as follows:
\n2.1 maxima: 120 x 235 mm, with a tolerance of 2 mm, provided they are sufficiently stiff to withstand processing without difficulties;
\n2.2 minima: 90 x 140 mm, with a tolerance of 2 mm. The length shall be at least equal to the width multiplied by √2 (approximate value 1.4).
\n3 The limits of size of aerogrammes shall be as follows:
\n3.1 maxima: 110 x 220 mm, with a tolerance of 2 mm;
\n3.2 minima: 90 x 140 mm, with a tolerance of 2 mm. The length shall be at least equal to the width multiplied by √2 (approximate value 1.4).
\n4 The limits of size of small packets shall be as follows:
\n4.1 maxima: length, width and depth combined: 900 mm, but the greatest dimension may not exceed 600 mm, with a tolerance of 2 mm; in roll form: length plus twice the diameter: 1,040 mm, but the greatest dimension may not exceed 900 mm, with a tolerance of 2 mm;
\n4.2 minima: 105 x 148 mm, with a tolerance of 2 mm.
\n5 The limits of size in this article shall not apply to postal service items as mentioned in article 16.1 of the Convention and article 16-001.
\nletters (G) 1 For the classification of items based on their format, the limits of size and weight of small letters (P) shall be as follows:
\n1.1 minimum dimensions: 90 x 140 mm;
\n1.2 maximum dimensions: 165 x 245 mm;
\n1.3 maximum weight: 100 g;
\n1.4 maximum thickness: 5 mm.
\n2 For the classification of items based on their format, for items that are not small letter (P) format items, the limits of size and weight of large letters (G) shall be as follows:
\n2.1 minimum dimensions: 90 x 140 mm;
\n2.2 maximum dimensions: 305 x 381 mm;
\n2.3 maximum weight: 500 g;
\n2.4 maximum thickness: 20 mm.
\n3 For operations, accounting and sampling purposes, the following rule shall apply:
\n3.1 If an item exceeds the limits of a format in one or more of the four criteria (length, width, thickness and weight), it shall be classified in the next largest format, provided that it fits within the dimensions of that format.
\n1 Items shall be made up securely and in such a way that there is no risk of other items getting trapped in them. The packing shall be adapted to the shape and nature of the item and the conditions of transport. In the case of letters and small packets, it must ensure the integrity of the contents during transport. Every item shall be made up in such a way as not to affect the health of officials. The make-up shall prevent any danger if the item contains articles of a kind likely to injure officials called upon to handle it or soil or damage other items or postal equipment. Metal fasteners used for closing items shall not have sharp edges, nor shall they hamper the execution of the postal service.
\n1.1 Designated operators may agree to exchange bulk items, which have not been wrapped or packed. The dispatching designated operator and the designated operator of destination shall set by mutual agreement the conditions of posting of such items.
\n2 The UPU Id-tag, as defined in UPU Technical Standard S18 may be applied to letter-post items to facilitate mail processing in both origin and destination countries and to support the exchange of processing information between the designated operators involved. The Id-tag shall be applied, under the authority of the designated operator, in accordance with the specifications adopted by the Postal Operations Council and the provisions of UPU Technical Standards S18 and S19. To maximize the readability of the Id-tag, designated operators:
\n2.1 may encode information in area R1, as defined in UPU Technical Standard S19, only in accordance with the technical provisions of UPU Technical Standards S18 and S19;
\n2.2 are encouraged to advise against using area R1 for purposes which might interfere with, or be interfered with by, its intended use for Id-tag encoding.
\n3 Designated operators shall strongly recommend that their customers comply with the following rules:
\n3.1 The right-hand half at least of the address side shall be reserved for the address of the addressee and for postage stamps, franking marks and impressions or indications in lieu thereof.
\nThe latter shall be applied, as far as possible, in the top right-hand corner. It shall be up to the designated operator of origin to treat items whose payment does not conform to this condition according to its national legislation.
\n3.2 The addressee's address shall be written on the item lengthwise and, if the item is an envelope, on the plain side which is not provided with the closing flap. The address may be situated on the flap side of the envelope if the destination designated operator accepts its use for bulk mailings. For items exceeding the size limits for small letter (P) format standardized items as defined in article 17-111.1, the address may be written parallel to the width of the item.
\n3.3 The addressee's address and name shall be worded in a precise and complete manner. They shall be written very legibly in roman letters and arabic numerals. If other letters and numerals are used in the country of destination, it shall be