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First Additional Protocol to the Universal Postal Convention

Table of contents

Article

I. (Article 17 amended) Basic services

II. (Article 18 amended) Supplementary services

III. Entry into force and duration of the Additional Protocol to the Universal Postal Convention

First Additional Protocol to the Universal Postal Convention

The plenipotentiaries of the governments of the member countries of the Universal Postal Union, met in Extraordinary Congress at Riyadh, having regard to article 29.2 of the Constitution of the Universal Postal Union concluded at Vienna on 10 July 1964, have by common consent and subject to article 24.3 of the Constitution adopted the following amendments to the Universal Postal Convention.

Article I

(Article 17 amended)

Basic services

1 Member countries shall ensure that their designated operators accept, handle, convey and deliver letter post items.

2 Letter-post items containing only documents are:

2.1 priority items and non-priority items, up to 2 kilogrammes;

2.2 letters, postcards and printed papers, up to 2 kilogrammes;

2.3 items for the blind, up to 7 kilogrammes.

2.4 (delete).

3 Letter-post items containing goods are:

3.1 priority and non-priority small packets, up to 2 kilogrammes;

3.2 items for the blind, up to 7 kilogrammes, as specified in the Regulations.

3.3 (delete).

4 Letter-post items shall be classified on the basis of both the speed of treatment of the items and the contents of the items in accordance with the Regulations.

5 Within the classification systems referred to in 4, letter-post items may also be classified on the basis of their format as small letters (P), large letters (G), bulky letters (E) or small packets (E). The size and weight limits are specified in the Regulations.

6 Higher weight limits than those indicated in paragraphs 2 and 3 apply optionally for certain letter-post item categories under the conditions specified in the Regulations.

7 Member countries shall also ensure that their designated operators accept, handle, convey and deliver parcel-post items up to 20 kilogrammes.

8 Weight limits higher than 20 kilogrammes apply optionally for certain parcel-post items under the conditions specified in the Regulations.

Article II

(Article 18 amended)

Supplementary services

1 Member countries shall ensure the provision of the following mandatory supplementary services:

1.1 registration service for outbound and inbound priority and airmail letter-post items containing documents only.

1.2 (delete).

1.3 tracked delivery service for inbound priority and airmail letter-post items containing goods.

2 Member countries may ensure the provision of the following optional supplementary services in relations

between those designated operators which agreed to provide the service:

2.1 insurance for letter-post items and parcels;

2.2 cash-on-delivery service for letter-post items and parcels;

2.3 tracked delivery service for inbound priority and airmail letter-post items containing documents and outbound priority and airmail letter-post items containing documents and goods;

2.4 delivery to the addressee in person of registered or insured letter-post items;

2.5 free of charges and fees delivery service for letter-post items and parcels;

2.6 cumbersome parcels services;

2.7 consignment service for collective items from one consignor sent abroad;

2.8 merchandise return service, which involves the return of merchandise by the addressee to the original seller, with the latter's authorization;

2.9 special bags containing newspapers, periodicals, books and similar printed documentation for the same addressee at the same address called "M bags", up to 30 kilogrammes.

3 The following three supplementary services have both mandatory and optional parts:

3.1 international business reply service (IBRS), which is basically optional. All member countries or their designated operators shall, however, be obliged to operate the IBRS "return" service;

3.2 international reply coupons, which shall be exchangeable in any member country. The sale of international reply coupons is, however, optional;

3.3 advice of delivery for registered and insured letter-post items, parcels and insured items. All member countries or their designated operators shall admit incoming advices of delivery. The provision of an outward advice of delivery service is, however, optional.

4 The description of these services and their charges are set out in the Regulations.

5 Where the service features below are subject to special charges in the domestic service, designated operators shall be authorized to collect the same charges for international items, under the conditions described in the Regulations:

5.1 delivery for small packets weighing over 500 grammes;

5.2 letter-post items posted after the latest time of posting;

5.3 items posted outside normal counter opening hours;

5.4 collection at sender's address;

5.5 withdrawal of a letter-post item outside normal counter opening hours;

5.6 poste restante;

5.7 storage for letter-post items weighing over 500 grammes (with the exception of items for the blind), and for parcels;

5.8 delivery of parcels, in response to the advice of arrival;

5.9 cover against risks of force majeure;

5.10 delivery of letter-post items outside normal counter opening hours.

Article III

Entry into force and duration of the First Additional Protocol to the Universal Postal Convention

This Additional Protocol shall come into force on 1 January 2025 (with the exception of the changes to paragraphs 1.1 and 1.2 of article II, which shall enter into force on 1 January 2026) and shall remain in force for an indefinite period.

In witness whereof the plenipotentiaries of the governments of the member countries have drawn up this Additional Protocol, which shall have the same force and the same validity as if its provisions were inserted in the text of the Universal Postal Convention itself, and they have signed it in a single original which shall be deposited with the Director General of the International Bureau. A copy thereof shall be delivered to each member country by the International Bureau of the Universal Postal Union.

Done at Riyadh, 5 October 2023.