202. Article

They shall be indicated in detail on a CP 77 statement of charges. This statement shall be affixed at one edge to the dispatch note. 11 The rates, charges and fees provided for under 9 shall be collected from the sender. Designated operators may however refrain from calculating the exact amount of these charges and instead fix standard rates for parcels to be returned to sender. 12 Parcels returned to the sender and undeliverable to him shall be dealt with by the designated operator concerned in accordance with its own legislation. Article RC 140 Return to sender of wrongly accepted parcels 1 Any parcel wrongly accepted and returned to sender shall be subject to the rates, charges and fees prescribed in article RC 139.9. 2 These rates, charges and fees shall be payable by the sender, if the parcel has been wrongly admitted in consequence of an error of the sender or if it falls within one of the prohibitions laid down in article 15 of the Convention. 3 They shall be payable by the designated operator responsible for the error, if the parcel has been wrongly admitted in consequence of an error attributable to the postal service. In this case the sender shall be entitled to a refund of the charges paid. 4 If the rates which have been allocated to the designated operator returning the parcel are insufficient to cover the rates, charges and fees mentioned in 1, the outstanding charges shall be recovered from the designated operator of the sender's country of residence. 5 If there is a surplus, the designated operator which sends back the parcel shall return the balance of the rates to the designated operator of the sender's country of residence for refund to the sender. Article RC 141 Return to sender due to suspension of services 1 The return of a parcel to the sender due to the suspension of services shall be free of charge. The unallocated rates collected for the outward journey shall be credited to the designated operator of the sender's country of residence for refund to the sender. Article RC 142 Non-compliance by a designated operator with given instructions 1 When the designated operator of destination or an intermediate designated operator has not complied with the instructions given at the time of posting or subsequently, it shall bear the conveyance charges (outward and return) and any other uncancelled charges or fees. Nevertheless, the charges paid for the outward journey shall remain the responsibility of the sender if he declared, at the time of posting or subsequently, that in the event of non-delivery he would abandon the parcel. 2 The designated operator of the sender's country of residence shall be authorized automatically to bill the charges referred to in 1 to the designated operator which has not complied with the instructions given and which, althoughduly informed, has allowed three months without finally settling the matter. The period shall run from the date on which that designated operator was informed of the case. 3 The provision in 2 shall also apply if the designated operator of the sender's country of residence has not been informed that the non-compliance appeared to be due to force majeure or that the parcel had been detained, seized or confiscated in accordance with the internal regulations of the country of destination. Article RC 143 Parcels containing items whose early deterioration or decay is to be feared 1 Articles contained in a parcel whose early deterioration or decay is to be feared shall be separated from other parcels in order to avoid deterioration to other parcels. If separation is impossible, the spoilt or decayed articles shall be destroyed. This provision shall apply in accordance with the national legislation of the member country. 2 When a parcel has been destroyed in accordance with 1, a formal report of the destruction shall be drawn up. A copy of the report accompanied by the dispatch note shall be sent to the office of origin. Article RC 144 Treatment of requests for withdrawal of parcels from the post or for alteration or correction of address 1 The sender of a parcel may ask for it to be returned or for its address to be altered. He must guarantee payment of the amounts due for any onward transmission. 2 However, designated operators shall have the option of not accepting the requests referred to in 1 when they do not accept them in their internal service. 3 Preparation of request 3.1 Every request for withdrawal of items from the post or for alteration or correction of address shall entail completion by the sender of a CN 17 form. One form may be used for several items posted at the same time, at the same office, by the same sender to the same addressee. 3.2 In handing in the request at the post office the sender shall prove his iden­tity and produce the certificate of posting, if any. The designated operator of the country of origin shall assume responsibility for the proof of identity. 3.3 A request for simple correction of address (without alteration of the name or status of the addressee) may be made direct to the office of destination by the sender. The charge prescribed in 4 shall not be collected in such a case. 3.4 Through notification of the International Bureau, any designated operator may make provision for CN 17 requests concerning it to be exchanged through its central administration or through a specially appointed office. This notification shall include the name of this office. 3.5 Designated operators which exercise the option provided for under 3.4 shall bear any charges which may result from the transmission in their internal service by post or by telecommunication of the communications to be exchanged with the office of destination. Recourse to telecommunication or other similar service shall be compulsory when the sender has himself used such means and the office of destination cannot be advised in time by post. 3.6 If the item is still in the country of origin, the request shall be dealt with according to the legislation of that country. 4 Charges 4.1 The sender shall pay, for each request, a special charge the guideline maximum amount of which shall be 1.31 SDR. 4.2 The request shall be forwarded by post or by telecommunication at the sender's expense. The forwarding conditions and the provisions relating to the use of telecommunications are set out in 6 below. 4.3 The charges prescribed under 4.1 and 4.2 shall be levied only once for each request for withdrawal from the post or alteration or correction of address involving several items posted at the same time, at the same office, by the same sender to the same addressee. 5 Transmission of request by post 5.1 If the request is to be sent by post, the CN 17 form, accompanied if possible by a perfect facsimile of the envelope or of the address of the item, shall be sent direct to the office of destination under registered cover by the quickest route (air or surface). 5.2 If requests are exchanged through the central administrations, a copy of the request may, in an emergency, be sent direct by the office of origin to the office of destination. Requests sent direct shall be acted on. The items concerned shall be withheld from delivery until the arrival of the request from the central administration. 5.3 On receipt of the CN 17 form, the office of destination shall search for the item in question and take the necessary action. 5.4 The action taken by the office of destination on every request for withdrawal from the post or alteration or correction of address shall be communicated immediately to the office of origin by the quickest route (air or surface), using a copy of the CN 17 form with the "Reply of the office of destination" part duly completed. The office of origin shall inform the applicant. The same shall apply in the following circumstances: 5.4.1 fruitless searches; 5.4.2 items already delivered to the addressee; 5.4.3 item confiscated, destroyed or seized. 5.5 A non-priority or surface item shall be returned to origin by priority or by air following a request for withdrawal from the post when the sender undertakes to pay the corresponding difference in postage. When an item is redirected by priority or by air following a request for alteration or correction of address, the difference in postage corresponding to the new route shall be collected from the addressee and retained by the delivering designated operator. 6 Transmission of request by telecommunications 6.1 If the request is to be made by telecommunications, the CN 17 form shall be handed over to the corresponding service for transmission of the details to the post office of destination. The sender shall pay the corresponding charge for that service. 6.2 On receipt of the message received by telecommunications, the office of destination shall search for the item in question and take necessary action. 6.3 Any request for alteration or correction of address concerning an insured item made by telecommunications shall be confirmed by post, by the first mail, as prescribed under 5.1. The CN 17 form shall then bear at the head, in bold letters, the note "Confrmation de la demande transmise par voie des télécommunications du ..." (Confirmation of request made by telecom­munications dated ...); pending such confirmation, the office of destination shall merely retain the item. However, the designated operator of destination may, on its own responsibility, act on the request made by telecommunications without waiting for confirmation by post. 6.4 In relations between two designated operators of countries which admit this procedure, the sender may ask to be informed by telecommunications of the action taken by the office of destination on his request. He shall pay the relevant charge. If telegrams are used, he must pay the charge for a telegram, calculated on a fifteen-word basis. When telex is used, the charge to the sender shall normally be the same amount as that charged for forwarding the request by telex. 6.5 If the sender of a request sent by telecommunications has asked to be notified by similar means, the reply shall be sent by this means to the office of origin. It shall inform the applicant as quickly as possible. The same shall apply if a request by telecommunications is not sufficiently explicit to identify the item with certainty. Article RC 145 Inquiries 1 Separate inquiries shall be made for uninsured and insured parcels. 2 Principles 2.1 Within the period of time prescribed in article 17 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 parcel and the anticipated transmission time has not expired, the sender should be informed of this transmission time. 3 Preparation of request 3.1 Every inquiry shall involve the preparation of a CN 08 form. 3.2 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, and very legibly, preferably in roman capital letters and arabic figures, or even better, in printed characters. 3.3 If the inquiry concerns a cash-on-delivery item, it shall also be accompanied by a duplicate form CN 29ter. 3.4 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. 3.5 Any designated operator may, by notifying the International Bureau, ask for CN 08 inquiries concerning its service to be forwarded to the central administration or to one or more specially appointed offices. 3.6 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. If the sender so requires, they 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. 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. 3.7 Replies to inquiries sent by fax or e-mail must, wherever possible, be sent by the same means. 3.8 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 RC 128.4.1, or a copy of a signature of acceptance or some other form of evidence of receipt from the recipient, in conformity with article RC 116.2 or RC 125.7.1.1. 4 Inquiries about ordinary and insured parcels 4.1 Where an inquiry concerns ordinary parcels exchanged under the system of bulk advice, the number and date of dispatch of the mail shall be entered on the CN 08 inquiry form. The form shall, where possible, be sent by fax or e-mail, without additional cost to the customer; otherwise the inquiry shall be sent by registered post. In the latter case, the form shall be sent automatically, without a covering letter and always by the quickest route (air or surface). 4.2 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. 4.3 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. 4.4 A designated operator which is unable to establish either delivery to the addressee or correct transmission 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. 4.5 The CN 08 form, duly completed as prescribed under 4.3 and 4.4, shall, where possible, be returned by fax or e-mail or by the quickest route (air or surface) to the address of the office which prepared it. 4.6 The designated operator of origin shall send inquiries about parcels 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. Nevertheless, 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. 4.6.1 Inquiries sent to intermediate designated operators that so indicate in the Parcel Post Compendium shall be accompanied by a CN 37, CN 38 or CN 41, as appropriate. The copies may be either electronic or physical, according to the principles stated under 3.6. 4.6.2 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. 5 Inquiries about the non-return to sender of an advice of delivery 5.1 In the case provided for in article RC 128.4.3 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 "Duplicate" 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. 6 Requests to be sent by telegram, by telex or by EMS 6.1 If a request is made for transmission of an inquiry by telegraph, a telegram shall be sent, instead of the CN 08 form either to the designated operator of the country of destination or to the specially appointed office concerned. The telegraph charge shall be collected from the inquirer. 6.2 If a request is made for transmission by EMS, the charges normally collected for this service may be collected from the inquirer. 6.3 In relations between two designated operators of countries admitting this procedure, the sender may ask to be advised by telegram of the action taken on his inquiry. In this case, he must pay the charge for a telegram, calculated on a fifteen-word basis. When telex is used, the charge collected from the sender shall normally be the same amount as that charged for forwarding the inquiry by telex. The cost of a reply sent by other means of telecommunication or by EMS shall be waived on the basis of reciprocity. 6.4 If the inquiry by telegram or by telex does not establish what happened to an item, the inquiry shall be made again by post before indemnity is considered. A CN 08 form shall then be prepared for treatment according to 4.1 to 4.6. 7 If the inquiry concerns a parcel 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 …). 8 As a complete replacement for the sending of the CN 08 form for inquiries, designated operators shall use the common Internet-based Inquiry System, in cases involving barcoded items. However, for COD items and transit items, form CN 08 may be used instead. The following standards shall be used: 8.1 Investigation request: an initial request from the sending designated operator to the destination designated operator asking for information from the tracking system. This shall be returned within 12 working hours where the common Internet-based Inquiry System or e-mail communication is in place. 8.2 Special search: if the investigation request is unsuccessful, the sending designated operator can ask for a check to be made, by the destination designated operator, of the distribution centres and offices that the item should have passed through en route to its destination. This shall be returned within 24 working hours where the common Internet-based Inquiry System or e-mail communication is in place. 8.3 Full investigation: if the special search fails to locate the item, then a further search shall be completed within 160 working hours, after which the sending designated operator may indemnify the rightful claimant on behalf of the destination designated operator. An appropriate authorization code should be provided electronically by the liable designated operator. If the 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 RC 152.1, the sending designated operator shall indemnify the rightful claimant automatically on behalf of the destination designated operator. 9 Designated operators are encouraged to observe the following indicative targets associated with the on-time response to inquiries using the common Internet-based Inquiry System with partner designated operators: 9.1 95% on-time response to inquiries based on the standards specified in paragraph 8 of this article if the operator operates a track and trace system; or 9.2 85% on-time response to inquiries based on the standards specified in paragraph 8 of this article if it does not have a track and trace system. 10 No reservations concerning the periods for the handling and settlement of inquiries may be made to this article, other than within the framework of a bilateral agreement. Chapter 5 Customs matters Article RC 146 Customs declarations and customs clearance of parcels 1 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 the necessary steps to inform their customers on how to comply with customs formalities, and specifically to ensure that CN 23 customs declarations are completed in full in order to facilitate rapid clearance of items. 2 Designated operators shall take all steps to speed up customs clearance of air parcels as much as possible. Article RC 147 Presentation-to-Customs charge 1 The guideline maximum amount of the presentation-to-Customs charge referred to in article 18.2 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. 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 18.2 of the Convention. 3 In the absence of special agreement, the charge shall be collected at the time of delivery of the parcel to the addressee. However, in the case of parcels 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. Article RC 148 Cancellation of customs duty and other fees 1 Designated operators shall undertake to seek from the competent authorities in their countries cancellation of the fees (including customs duty) in the case of a parcel: 1.1 returned to sender; 1.2 redirected to a third country; 1.3 abandoned by the sender; 1.4 lost in their service or destroyed because of total damage of the contents; 1.5 rifled or damaged in their service. 2 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. Chapter 6 Liability of member countries or designated operators Article RC 149 Application of the liability of member countries or designated operators 1 Principles 1.1 Designated operators' liability shall be as binding for parcels conveyed à découvert as for those forwarded in closed mails or those returned with no reason for non-delivery given on the parcel. 1.2 Designated operators which undertake to cover risks arising from a case of force majeure shall be liable towards senders of 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 parcels. This undertaking shall also cover any redirection or return to sender. 1.3 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 damage 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. 1.4 Designated operators participating in the exchange of COD parcels shall be liable, up to the COD amount, for the delivery of COD parcels 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. 1.5 With effect from 1 March 2006, all liability claims shall be limited to parcels identified by a unique item identifier conforming to Standard S10d (Identification of postal items: Part D: 13-character identifier for parcels), as published in the UPU Technical Standards. 2 Indemnities 2.1 The indemnity referred to in article 21.4.1 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. 2.2 Designated operators may agree to apply, in their reciprocal relations, the amount of 130 SDR per parcel regardless of the weight. 2.3 The amount of the indemnity referred to in article 21.4.2 of the Convention for an ordinary parcel that is partially rifled or partially damaged shall not exceed the corresponding amounts mentioned in paragraph 2.1 or in paragraph 2.2 respectively for parcels that are lost, totally rifled or totally damaged. 2.4 The indemnity for the unexplained return of a postal parcel shall 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. Article RC 150 Delivery of a rifled or damaged parcel 1 The office making delivery of a rifled or damaged parcel shall prepare a CN 24 report on the joint inspection and have it countersigned, whenever possible, by the addressee. One copy shall be handed to the addressee or, if the parcel is refused or redirected, attached to it. One copy shall be retained by the designated operator which prepared the report. 2 When internal regulations so require, a parcel treated in accordance with 1 shall be returned to the sender if the addressee refuses to countersign the CN 24 report. 3 If the parcel is delivered, the copy of the CN 24 report prepared by the office of exchange in accordance with article RC 186.2 shall be dealt with in accordance with the regulations of the country of destination. If the parcel is refused, the said copy shall remain attached to the parcel. 4 If the liability assumed according to article 22.1 of the Convention has to be shared with another designated operator the request to this effect shall be sent to it by letter accompanied by a copy or a translation of the CN 24 report. Where appropriate, a copy of the CP 78 verification note mentioned in article RC 183.4 shall be attached to the letter. Article RC 151 Establishment of sender's liability 1 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. Article RC 152 Payment of indemnity 1 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 allowed two months and, if the case was reported by fax or any other electronic means by which the receipt of inquiry can be confirmed, 30 days to pass without finally settling the matter, or without having reported: 1.1 that the damage appeared to be due to a case of force majeure; 1.2 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. 2 The periods of two months and thirty days stipulated under 1 begin to run from the date on which the CN 08 form was duly completed by the designated operator of origin, including the necessary information concerning the transmission of dispatches. 3 This clause shall be valid only if the designated operator sent the CN 08 form to the correct address of the recipient designated operator as listed in the Parcel Post Compendium or updated by an International Bureau circular. 4 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 RC 145.3.8, has allowed 30 days to pass, from the date of sending of such a request by the designated operator of origin, without replying to a second inquiry concerning inappropriate execution of service. 5 The designated operator of origin or destination, as the case may be, shall be authorized to postpone indemnifying the rightful claimant in cases where the inquiry form is not properly completed or incorrect and has to be returned foradditional information or correction, thereby causing the time limit set in 1 to be exceeded. The indemnity may be paid by the end of an additional period of two months from the date of completion or correction of the CN 08 form. Without this additional information or correction, the designated operator concerned shall be authorized not to indemnify the rightful claimant. 6 In case of an inquiry concerning a COD item, 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 two months to pass without finally settling the matter. 7 No reservations concerning the periods for the handling 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, other than within the framework of a bilateral agreement. Article RC 153 Period for payment of indemnity 1 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. 2 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. Article RC 154 Automatic payment of indemnity 1 The 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 RC 152.1. Article RC 155 Determination of liability between designated operators 1 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 and/or a CP 78 verification note, or a CN 37, CN 38 or CN 41 delivery bill, 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. 2 If the loss, theft or damage occurs in 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. However, in the case of an uninsured parcel, when the amount of indemnity does not exceed the amount calculated in article 21.4.1 of the Convention 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. 3 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. 4 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. 5 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. 6 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. 7 A designated operator which has paid the indemnity shall take over the rights, up to amount of indemnity, of the person who has received it in any action which may be taken against the addressee, the sender or third parties. Article RC 156 Procedures for determining the liability of designated operators 1 Until the contrary is proved and subject to article RC 155.2, an intermediate designated operator or designated operator of destination shall be relieved of all liability: 1.1 when it has observed the provisions for inspection of mails and parcels and establishment of irregularities; 1.2 when it can prove that it was informed of the inquiry after the destruction of the official records relating to the parcel in question, the period of reten­tion having expired. This reservation shall not prejudice the rights of the claimant. 2 If the theft or damage has been established in the country of destination or, in the case of return to sender, in the country of residence, it shall be for the designated operator of that country to prove: 2.1 that neither the wrapping nor the fastening of the parcel bore any apparent trace of theft or damage; 2.2 that in the case of an insured parcel, the weight established at the time of posting has not varied; 2.3 that, in the case of parcels forwarded in closed receptacles, both the recep­tacles and their fastening were intact. 3 When the proof mentioned in 2 has been furnished, none of the other designated operators concerned may repudiate its share of liability on grounds that it handed over the parcel without the next designated operator having made any objection. 4 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. 5 In the case of bulk transmission, 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. 6 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 damageoccurred shall not be liable towards the designated operator of origin unless the two designated operators undertake to cover risks of force majeure. Article RC 157 Recovery of indemnities paid from air carriers 1 When the loss, theft or damage occurs in the service of an air carrier, the designated operator which collects the conveyance dues shall reimburse the designated operator of origin for the indemnity paid to the sender. It shall be for the former designated operator to recover this amount from the air carrier in question. Where the designated operator of origin settles the conveyance dues direct with the air carrier, it shall itself seek reimbursement of the indemnity from the air carrier. Article RC 158 Reimbursement of the indemnity to the paying designated operators 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. The reimbursement shall be made within two months of the date of dispatch of the notice of payment. 2 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, within the period mentioned under 1, by the first designated operator which, having duly received the parcel claimed for, is unable to prove its correct transfer to the next service. It 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. Article RC 159 Settlement of indemnities between designated operators 1 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. 2 When liability has been admitted, as well as in the case provided for in article RC 152.1, the amount of the indemnity may also be automatically recovered from the designated operator which is liable. This shall be effected through a liquida­tion account, either direct or through the intermediary of an designated operator which regularly draws up liquidation accounts with the designated operator which is liable. 3 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. This refund shall be made within one year of the date of such repayment. 4 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. 5 The creditor designated operator shall be reimbursed in accordance with the rules for payment laid down in articles RC 211 and RC 212. Article RC 160 Accounting for amounts due in respect of indemnity for parcels 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 RC 207.3. 2 In case of disputed compensation claims unrelated to article RC 152 received via the CN 48 form, the sending designated operator shall provide on request evidence to support its claim, including a copy of both sides of the appropriate CN 08 forms where the Internet-based Inquiry System is not used. Chapter 7 Procedures concerning the transmission, routeing and receipt of parcels Article RC 161 General principles of the exchange of parcels 1 Designated operators may exchange, via one or more of their number, closed mails as well as à découvert parcels according to needs and service requirements. 2 When exceptional circumstances oblige a designated operator temporarily to suspendē its services wholly or in part, it shall immediately inform the designated operators concerned. 3 When the conveyance of parcels in transit through a country takes place without the participation of the designated operator of that country, this form of transit shall not involve the liability of the member country or the designated operator of the transit country. 4 Designated operators may send surface parcels by air, with reduced priority. The designated operator of destination shall indicate, by providing an appropriate entry in the Parcel Post Compendium of Information, the details of the office of exchange or the airport of destination that will accept such parcels. 5 Each designated operator shall state on what conditions it accepts parcels in transit for countries for which it can act as intermediary. For that purpose, it shall use the CP 81 and CP 82 tables. These shall show, in particular, the rates to be assigned to it. 6 The official Compendium of Information of general interest relating to the implementation of the postal parcels service provides the details on the exchange of parcels. 7 On the basis of that information and of the CP 81 and CP 82 tables of intermediate designated operators, each designated operator shall decide on the routes to be used for forwarding its parcels. These data also enable it to set the charges to be collected from senders. 8 Designated operators shall send the CP 81 and CP 82 tables direct to each other at least one month before their application. They shall send copies of them to the International Bureau. Subsequent amendments to these tables shall be announced in the same way. The time limit for notification shall not apply to the cases mentioned in article RC 198.1. 9 Each designated operator shall forward by the routes and means that it uses for its own parcels those parcels transferred to it by another designated operator for transit across its territory. 10 In the event of the interruption of a prescribed route, parcels in transit shall be forwarded by the best route available. 11 If the use of the new dispatch route occasions higher costs (additional land or sea rates), the transit designated operator shall act in accordance with article RC 198.1. 12 Transit shall be effected under the conditions laid down by these Regulations, even when the designated operator of origin or destination of the parcels does not participate in the postal parcels service. 13 In the relations between designated operators of countries separated by one or more intermediate territories parcels shall follow the routes which the designated operators concerned have agreed upon. 14 Every designated operator providing the air parcel service shall forward by the air routes that it uses for its own items of that type, air parcels transferred to it by another designated operator. If the forwarding of air parcels by another route offers advantages over the existing air routes, the air parcels shall be forwarded by that route. 15 Designated operators which do not participate in the air parcel service shall forward such parcels by the air communications they use for the conveyance of their airmail correspondence. In the absence of an air link, air parcels shall be forwarded by such designated operators by the surface route normally used for other parcels. 16 The exchange of postal parcel mails shall be carried out by offices called "offices of exchange". Wherever an office of exchange needs to be specified on a postal form, this shall be done in accordance with the rules set out in UPU Technical Standard S34 (Registration of International Mail Processing Centres). This encompasses: 16.1 the name of the office of exchange; 16.2 the name of the designated operator responsible for the office of exchange; 16.3 in barcoded identifiers: the S34 code identifying the office of exchange. 17 Designated operators that send more than 100 tonnes of parcels per year must, and all other designated operators are encouraged to: 17.1 identify receptacles using UPU-standard S9 receptacle content identifiers; 17.2 include the S9 identifier on the receptacle label in accordance with S29; 17.3 electronically pre-advise all outbound dispatches using UPU-standard compliant messages specifying the S9 identifiers of the receptacles contained in each dispatch; 17.4 electronically confirm receipt of inbound receptacles, that have been preadvised, using UPU-standard compliant response and/or event reporting messages. 18 The volume requirements shall have yearly incremental reductions to allow all designated operators to comply with these standards. The volume will be reduced to 75 tonnes of parcels per year beginning in 2011; 50 tonnes of parcels beginning in 2012; and 25 tonnes of parcels beginning in 2013. 19 All offices of exchange shall be registered in the International Mail Processing Centre code list by the designated operator responsible for that office. This list is published on the UPU website. 20 On any form, an office of exchange shall be identified by its name, together with the name of the responsible designated operator, as published in the above-mentioned code list. 21 In barcoded identifiers, the S34 code shall be used to identify a particular office of exchange. Designated operators should maintain a list of the operator responsible for each code in their databases. Article RC 162 Barcode application and specifications 1 All designated operators shall apply a barcodes on all outward international postal parcels (i.e. air, S.A.L., surface). The specifications shall be as follows: 1.1 Each parcel must be identified by a unique item identifier conforming to Standard S10d (Identification of postal items: Part D: 13-character identifier for parcels), as published in the UPU Technical Standards. 1.2 The item identifier must also be represented by a barcode conforming to Standard S10d (Identification of postal items: Part D: 13-character identifier for parcels), as published in the UPU Technical Standards. 1.3 Designated operators of origin shall apply only one UPU standard S10d (Identification of postal items - Part D: 13-character identifier for parcels) barcode to parcels dispatched to other countries. 1.4 In cases where intermediate and destination designated operators overlabel parcels with a barcode label, they shall have the option of either: 1.4.1 applying an S10d overlabel barcode that shall duplicate the originating designated operator's original unique item identifier; or 1.4.2 applying an overlabel barcode that shall not cover the originating designated operator's S10d barcode. 1.5 In cases where a parcel is undeliverable and must be returned to the designated operator of origin, any S10d barcode overlabel that is not identical to the originating designated operator's unique item identifier shall be removed or obliterated. The returning designated operator shall ensure that the sender's address is not covered by any overlabels. 1.6 Designated operators may agree bilaterally to the use of unique item identifiers and barcodes which are already in use on international parcels. 1.7 Designated operators may agree bilaterally to the use of licence plates which conform to Standard S26 (Licence plates for parcels), as published in the UPU Technical Standards. Article RC 163 Tracking and tracing - Item and dispatch specifications 1 Designated operators that operate a track and trace system shall under-take to provide track and trace information using UPU messaging standard M17 - EMSEVT version 1.0 about outward and inward parcels on their national territory and shall ensure that the data are exchanged with all partner designated operators for the following tracking events and associated data elements: 1.1 Mandatory tracking events Events Description Data elements 1.1.1 EMC Departure from outward office of exchange Item identification Destination country Event date Event time Office of Exchange 1.1.2 EMD Arrival at inward office of exchange Item identification Destination country Event date Event time Office of Exchange 1.1.3 EMH Attempted/ Unsuccessful delivery Item identification Destination country Event date Event time Office (delivery) Unsuccessful delivery code 1.1.4 And/EMI Final delivery Item identification Destination country Event date Event time Office (delivery) 1.2 Optional tracking events Events Description Data elements 1.2.1 EMA Posting/Collection Item identification Destination country Event date Event time Origin office 1.2.2 EMB Arrival at outward office of exchange Item identification Destination country Event date Event time Office of Exchange 1.2.3 EME Held by Customs Item identification Destination country Event date Event time Office of Exchange Retention code 1.2.4 EMF Departure from inward office of exchange Item identification Destination country Event date Event time Office of Exchange 1.2.5 EMG Arrival at delivery office Item identification Destination country Event date Event time Delivery Office 1.2.6 EMJ Arrival at transit office of exchange Item identification Destination country Event date Event time Office of exchange (transit) 1.2.7 EMK Departure from transit office of exchange Item identification Destination country Event date Event time Office of exchange (transit) 1.2.8 The capture and transmission of event EMF shall be mandatory where event EME is captured and transmitted, unless governmental and legally binding provisions prevent this. 2 All designated operators shall capture and exchange pre-dispatch and dispatch receipt information in accordance with UPU messaging standards M14 - PREDES version 2.0 and M13 -RESDES version 1.1 inclusive of the following associated data elements: 2.1 PREDES version 2.0 data element requirements Description Data elements 2.1.1 Dispatch identification Origin office Destination office Dispatch category Dispatch class Dispatch year Dispatch serial number 2.1.2 Dispatch date/time Dispatch close date Dispatch close time 2.1.3 Transportation information Carrier code 2.1.4 Receptacle information Receptacle type Receptacle ID Receptacle number in dispatch 2.1.5 Item information Item ID 2.2 RESDES version 1.1 data element requirements Description Data elements 2.2.1 Dispatch identification Origin office Destination office Dispatch category Dispatch class Dispatch year Dispatch serial number 2.2.2 Transportation information Carrier code 2.2.3 Receptacle information Receptacle type Receptacle ID Receptacle number in dispatch 2.2.4 Event information Receptacle event code Receptacle event date Receptacle event time 2.3 Designated operators may agree bilaterally to use UPU messaging standard M36b PREDES version 3 for the transmission of pre-dispatch information. Article RC 164 Tracking and tracing - Indicative targets for transmission times 1 Designated operators shall endeavour to observe the following targets associated with the transmission of item event information from the time of the actual event in the transmission of such information to partner designated operators: 1.1 EMC Departure from outward office of exchange Within 48 elapsed hours 1.2 EMJ Arrival at transit office of exchange Within 48 elapsed hours 1.3 EMK Departure from transit office of exchange Within 48 elapsed hours 1.4 EMD Arrival at inward office of exchange Within 48 elapsed hours 1.5 EME Held by Customs Within 48 elapsed hours 1.6 EMF Departure from inward office of exchange Within 48 elapsed hours 1.7 EMH Unsuccessful delivery Within 120 elapsed hours 1.8 EMI Final delivery Within 120 elapsed hours 2 Designated operators shall endeavour to observe the following targets associated with the transmission of dispatch information in the exchange of such information with partner designated operators: 2.1 PREDES Pre-advice of dispatch information Within 24 elapsed hours 2.2 RESDES Advice of dispatch receipt information Within 48 elapsed hours Article RC 165 Tracking and tracing - Indicative performance targets for transmitting data 1 Designated operators are encouraged to observe the following indicative targets associated with the transmission of item event information in the exchange of such information with partner designated operators: 1.1 Ninety percent of parcels that receive an EMC (Departure from office of exchange) event should have an EMD event transmitted within 48 hours of the event time and date. 1.2 Ninety percent of parcels that receive an EMD event should have an EMH and/or an EMI event transmitted within 120 hours of the event time and date. Article RC 166 Steps to be taken in the event of temporary suspension and resumption of services 1 If services are temporarily suspended, the designated operator or designated operators concerned must be notified of the fact by telecommunications, indicating, if possible, the probable duration of the suspension of services. The same procedure shall be applied when the suspended services are resumed. 2 The International Bureau must be notified of the suspension or resumption of services if a general announcement is considered necessary. If necessary, the International Bureau shall notify designated operators by telecommunications. 3 The designated operator of origin shall have the option of refunding the postage charges, special charges and air surcharges to the sender if, owing to the suspension of services, the benefit accruing from conveyance of the item in question was obtained only in part or not at all.. Article RC 167 Different methods of transmission 1 The exchange of parcel mails shall be effected, as a general rule, by means of receptacles. Adjacent designated operators may agree to the handing over of certain categories of parcels unenclosed. 2 In the service between designated operators of non-adjacent countries, the exchange shall, as a general rule, be effected in closed mails. 3 Designated operators may agree to effect exchanges in transit à découvert. However, it shall be obligatory to make up closed mails if an intermediate desig­nated operator states that the parcels in transit à découvert are such as to hinder its work. 4 Surface airlifted parcels (S.A.L.) shall be exchanged on the conditions agreed upon between the designated operators concerned. Article RC 168 Transmission in closed mails 1 In the normal circumstances of transmission in closed mails, the receptacles (bags, baskets, crates, etc) shall be marked, closed and labelled in the manner laid down below. 2 Making up of bags 2.1 Mails, including those made up solely of empty bags, shall be contained in bags the number of which shall be kept to the strict minimum. The bags shall be in good condition to protect their contents. Each bag shall be labelled. 2.2 The bags shall be closed, sealed preferably with lead. The seals may also be made of light metal or plastic. The sealing shall be so done that it cannot be handled or tampered with without showing signs thereof. The impressions of the seals shall reproduce, in very legible roman letters, the name of the office of origin or an indication sufficient to identify that office. However, if the designated operator of origin so wishes, the impressions of the seals need only reproduce an indication of the name of the designated operator of origin. 2.3 For the make-up of air parcels, bags either entirely blue or with wide blue bands shall be used. For making up surface mails or surface airlifted mails, surface bags of a colour other than that of the airmail bags (e.g. beige, brown, white, etc) shall be used. Designated operators of destination must, however, check all the bag labels in order to ensure correct processing. 2.4 The bags shall show legibly in roman letters the office or country of origin and bear the word "Postes" (Post) or any other similar expression distin­guishing them as postal dispatches. 3 Labelling of mails 3.1 The labels of the bags shall be made of sufficiently rigid canvas, of plastic, of strong cardboard, of parchment, or of paper glued to wood. They shall be provided with an eyelet. Yellow ochre coloured CP 83, CP 84 and CP 85 labels shall be used. Their layout and text shall conform to the specimens annexed hereto. The gross weight of each bag or receptacle forming part of the mail shall be shown on each respective label. The weight shall be rounded up to the nearest hectogramme when the fraction of the hectogramme is equal to or greater than 50 grammes and rounded down to the nearest hectogramme otherwise. 3.2 The labels or addresses of closed receptacles containing air parcels shall bear the indication or label "Par avion" (By airmail). 3.3 In addition, a special closing may be adopted for receptacles other than bags, provided that the contents are sufficiently protected. 4 Intermediate offices shall not enter any serial number on the labels of bags or packets of closed mails in transit. 5 Insured parcels shall be sent in separate receptacles. In case of dispatch in the same bag as uninsured parcels, insured parcels shall be placed in an inner receptacle sealed with wax or lead. The outer bag containing insured parcels shall be in good condition. It shall be provided, if possible, at the edge of its mouth with piping making it impossible to open the bag illicitly without leaving visible traces. Receptacles containing insured parcels, whether alone or together with uninsured parcels, shall be marked with the letter V. 6 Fragile parcels shall also be sent in separate receptacles. They shall be provided with the label referred to in article RC 130.5.1. 7 Express parcels shall be sent in separate receptacles, if their number justifies it. Receptacles containing only or some such parcels shall bear the label or indication "Exprès" (Express). 8 COD parcels shall be sent in separate receptacles, if their number so justifies. Receptacles containing COD parcels only shall bear the label or indication "Remboursement" (COD). 9 The label of the receptacle containing the parcel bill shall always be marked with a very clearly drawn F. By special agreement between the designated opera­tors concerned, it may be marked with the number of bags making up the mail and, if applicable, the number of parcels sent à découvert. 10 Cumbersome parcels, fragile parcels, or those whose nature necessitates it may be sent unenclosed: in order to determine the mail of which they are part, such parcels shall be provided with a CP 83 or CP 84 label. Labels of unenclosed insured parcels shall be endorsed with the letter V. However, parcels going by sea, with the exception of cumbersome parcels, shall be sent in receptacles. 11 As a general rule, bags and other receptacles containing parcels shall not weigh more than 32 kilogrammes. 12 For conveyance purposes, bags of parcels and unenclosed parcels may be placed in containers. The methods of using containers shall be subject to special agreement between the designated operators concerned. Article RC 169 Use of barcodes 1 Designated operators may use computer-generated barcodes and a unique identification system in the international postal services for purposes such as track/ trace systems and other identification purposes. The specifications shall be laid down by the Postal Operations Council. 2 Designated operators which choose to use barcodes in the international services shall comply with the technical specifications laid down by the Postal Operations Council. Article RC 170 Parcel bills 1 All the parcels to be forwarded by surface, S.A.L or air shall be entered by the dispatching office of exchange on a CP 87 parcel bill. The gross weight of the dispatch shall always be entered on the CP 87. 2 The parcel bill shall be inserted in one of the receptacles comprising the mail. Where appropriate, it shall be inserted in one of the bags containing insured parcels or express parcels. 3 The parcel bills relating to mails containing insured parcels shall be inserted in a pink envelope. If the insured parcels are placed in a wax-sealed inner receptacle, the pink envelope containing the parcel bill shall be attached to the outside of this receptacle. 4 The parcel bill shall be completed with all the details called for. 5 Designated operators may agree, bilaterally or multilaterally, to exchange parcel bills or parcel bill data via electronic means. In this case, they may decide that the dispatches they exchange do not need to be accompanied by a CP 87 parcel bill. 6 As regards service parcels and prisoner-of-war and civilian internee parcels sent by air, the air conveyance dues shall be credited to the designated operators concerned. 7 In the absence of special agreement, surface and S.A.L. parcel bills shall be numbered separately according to an annual series for each dispatching office of exchange and each office of exchange of destination. The numbering shall be different for each route if more than one route is used. The last number of the year shall be shown on the first parcel bill of the following year. If a mail is cancelled, the dispatching office shall enter on the parcel bill beside the number of the mail the indication "Dernière dépêche" (Last mail). In the case of sea and air services, the name of the ship carrying the mail or, where appropriate, the air service used shall be shown, whenever possible, on the parcel bills. 8 If air parcels are sent from one country to another by surface routes along with other parcels, their presence shall be shown by an appropriate note on the CP 87 parcel bill. 9 Every insured parcel shall be entered on the parcel bill with the letter "V" in the "Observations" column. 10 Every parcel redirected or returned to sender shall be entered on the parcel bill with the note "Réexpédié" (Redirected) or "Retour" (Return) in the "Observa­tions" column. 11 The number of receptacles comprising the mail and, unless otherwise agreed between the designated operators concerned, the number of receptacles to be returned, shall be entered on the parcel bill. In the absence of special agreement, designated operators shall number the receptacles of the same mail. The serial number of each receptacle shall be written on the CP 83 and CP 84 label. 12 Where closed mails are exchanged between designated operators of coun­tries which are not adjacent, the dispatching office of exchange shall prepare for each of the intermediate designated operators a CP 88 special parcel bill. That office shall insert thereon the total number of parcels and the gross weight of the mail. The CP 88 parcel bill shall be numbered in an annual series for each dispatching office of exchange and for each intermediate designated operator. In addition, it shall bear the serial number of the relative mail. The last number of the year shall be shown on the first parcel bill of the following year. In the case of sea services, the name of the ship carrying the mail shall be entered on the CP 88 parcel bill, whenever this is possible. 13 When air parcels are forwarded by surface mail, the dispatching office of exchange shall prepare a CP 88 special parcel bill for the transit designated opera­tors concerned. 14 The special CP 88 parcel bill shall be sent unenclosed or in any other way agreed between the designated operators concerned, accompanied, where appro­priate, by the documents required by the intermediate countries. Article RC 171 Drawing up of CP 87 parcel bills 1 With the exception of those categories of parcels mentioned in 2 to 6 below, all parcels sent to designated operators of destination shall be entered in bulk in the CP 87 parcel bill. The number and total weight of these parcels, including the weight of the bags, shall be indicated in the "Bulk entry" section of the parcel bill. 2 Parcels which are redirected, parcels returned to sender or parcels forwarded in transit à découvert shall always be entered individually, with the amount of dues payable or the corresponding rate mentioned. The number and weight of these parcels shall not be included in the number and gross weight of the parcels indicated in the "Bulk entry" section of the parcel bill. The number and gross weight of the parcels indicated in the "Bulk entry" section of the parcel bill shall always include all parcels other than those redirected, returned to sender, or forwarded in transit à découvert. 3 Insured parcels shall also be entered individually but without mention of the corresponding rate. Their number and weight shall be included in the number and total weight of the parcels indicated in the "Bulk entry" section of the parcel bill. 4 When the designated operators concerned have agreed to detailed entry of parcel bills, all ordinary parcels sent to designated operators of destination shall be entered individually in the parcel bill, but without the corresponding inward land rate. In accordance with paragraph 2, their number and weight, including the weight of the bags, shall be included in the number and total weight of the parcels indicated in the "Bulk entry" section of the parcel bill. 5 The presence of COD parcels shall be indicated in the bulk entry section of the form. 6 Service parcels and prisoner-of-war and civilian internee parcels for which, under article 7.1 and 2 of the Convention, no rates are allocated shall not be included in the number and total weight of the parcels indicated on the parcel bill. Article RC 170.6 shall be applicable for the dispatch of such parcels by air. Article RC 172 Dispatch of documents accompanying parcels 1 The accompanying documents referred to in article RC 122.1 and 2 shall be affixed to the relevant parcel. 2 The CP 72 manifold set shall be pasted on the parcel. 3 If the CP 72 manifold set cannot be pasted on the parcel or if the parcel is to be accompanied by other documents not included in the set, the accompanying documents shall be placed in a CP 91 or CP 92 transparent adhesive envelope. This shall be affixed to the parcel. 4 Where applicable, the COD money order forms, franking notes and advices of delivery shall be dispatched in the same way. 5 The designated operators of origin and destination may agree to attach the accompanying documents to the parcel bill. 6 In the case provided for in 5, the designated operators concerned may agree to send the parcel bill and the documents accompanying the parcels by air to the office of exchange of destination. 7 In the case of parcels on which the CP 72 manifold set cannot be pasted or to which the transparent adhesive envelope cannot be affixed because of the size or the nature of the wrapping of the parcels, the accompanying documents shall be attached firmly to the parcel. 8 Designated operators which are unable to use transparent adhesive enve­lopes shall have the option of sending the accompanying documents by attaching them firmly to the parcels. 9 The designated operators of origin and destination may agree that docu­ments accompanying parcels exchanged in direct mails shall be dispatched in accordance with any other system which suits them. Article RC 173 Routeing of mails 1 Closed mails shall be forwarded by the most direct route possible. 2 When a mail consists of several bags, these shall as far as possible remain together and be forwarded by the same post. 3 The designated operator of the country of origin may prescribe the route to be followed by the closed mails which it dispatches, provided that the use of that route does not entail special costs for an intermediate designated operator. Information about the routeing shall be entered on the CN 37, CN 38 or CN 41 bills and on the CP 83, CP 84 or CP 85 labels. 4 Closed airmails shall be forwarded by the fight requested by the designated operator of the country of origin, provided that it is used by the designated operator of the country of transit for the transmission of its own mails. If that is not the case or if there is insufficient time for the transhipment, the designated operator of the country of origin shall be so informed. 5 In the event of a change in a service for the exchange of closed mails estab­lished between two designated operators via one or more third-party countries, the designated operator of origin of the mail shall inform the designated operators of those countries of the fact. 6 If it is a question of an alteration in the routeing of mails, the new route to be followed shall be reported to the designated operators which previously provided the transit. The old route shall be reported, for information, to the designated operators which will provide the transit in the future. Article RC 174 Transhipment of air parcels and of surface airlifted (S.A.L.) parcels 1 In principle, the transhipment at the same airport of parcel mails in course of transmission shall be performed by the designated operator of the country in which the transhipment takes place. 2 This shall not apply when the transhipment takes place between aircraft of the same airline performing successive stages of the journey. 3 In the case referred to under 2 and where the designated operators of origin and of destination and the airline concerned agree in advance, the airline making the transhipment may prepare, if necessary, a special delivery bill to replace the original CN 38 or CN 41 bill. The parties concerned shall mutually agree on the relevant procedures and form in conformity with article RC 176. 4 If the designated operator of the country of origin so wishes, its mails shall be transhipped directly at the transit airport, between two different airlines. The airlines concerned must however agree to make the transhipment and the designated operator of the transit country must be informed of it beforehand. 5 In the case referred to under 4 and where the designated operators of origin and of destination and the airline concerned agree in advance, the airline making the transhipment may prepare if necessary a special delivery bill to replace the original CN 38 or CN 41 bill. The parties concerned shall mutually agree on the relevant procedures and form in conformity with article RC 176. 6 In the cases referred to under 2 and 4, the bags of mails may be provided with a CN 42 label, in addition to the labels provided for the conveyance of airmail. 7 When surface mails from a designated operator are reforwarded by air by another designated operator, the conditions of such reforwarding shall be covered by a special agreement between the designated operators. Article RC 175 Steps to be taken when direct transhipment of air parcels cannot take place as scheduled 1 If mails documented for direct transhipment fail to connect with the sched­uled fight at the transhipment airport, the airline shall hand them over immediately to postal officials at the transhipment airport for reforwarding by the quickest route (air or surface). 2 This shall not apply when: 2.1 the designated operator dispatching the mails has provided for reforwarding on a later fight; 2.2 in the absence of the arrangements referred to under 2.1, the airline responsible for handing over the mails can arrange for them to be reforwarded within 24 hours of their arrival at the transhipment airport. 3 In the case referred to under 1, the office which did the reforwarding shall inform the office of origin of each mail by CP 78 verification note, indicating in particular on the verification note the air service from which the mail was taken and the services used (air or surface) for onward transmission to its destination. Article RC 176 Preparation and checking of CN 37, CN 38 or CN 41 delivery bills 1 The delivery bills shall be completed, in accordance with their layout, on the basis of the particulars appearing on the bag labels or with the address. The total number and total weight of the bags and items in each mail shall be entered in bulk by category. Designated operators of origin may elect to enter each bag individually should they wish to do so. However, any intermediate or transit country must list each transit receptacle individually, maintaining the designated operator of origin, office of destination, dispatch and receptacle number indicated by the designated operator of origin. The six-character IMPC code identifying the origin and destination of the receptacle shall be recorded in columns 2 and 3 respectively. 2 Any intermediate office or office of destination which notices errors in the entries on the CN 38 or CN 41 delivery bill shall immediately correct them. It shall report them by CP 78 verification note to the last dispatching office of exchange and to the office of exchange which made up the mail. Designated operators may agree to make systematic use of electronic mail or any other appropriate means of telecommunication for reporting irregularities. 3 When the mails forwarded are inserted in containers sealed by the postal service, the serial number and the number of the seal of each container shall be entered in the column of the CN 37, CN 38 or CN 41 bill reserved for that purpose. Article RC 177 Missing CN 37, CN 38 or CN 41 delivery bill 1 In the absence of the CN 37 bill, the receiving office shall prepare one in triplicate in accordance with the load received. Two copies accompanied by a CP 78 verification note shall be sent to the dispatching office, which shall return one copy after examination and signature. 2 When a mail reaches the airport of destination - or an intermediary airport responsible for forwarding it with another carrier - without a CN 38 or CN 41 bill, the designated operator under whose jurisdiction the airport comes shall automati­cally prepare one. The latter shall be duly countersigned by the carrier from whom the mail is received. This fact shall be reported by CP 78 verification note, together with two copies of the CN 38 thus prepared, to the office responsible for loading the mail. The latter office shall be requested to return one copy duly authenticated. 3 If the original CN 38 or CN 41 bill is missing, the designated operator receiving the mail shall accept the CN 46 substitute bill prepared by the airline. This fact shall be reported to the office of origin by means of a CP 78 verification note, accompanied by two copies of the CN 46 substitute bill. 4 Designated operators may agree to make systematic use of electronic mail or any other appropriate means of telecommunication for settling cases where the CN 38 or CN 41 bill is missing. 5 The exchange office at the airport of destination - or an intermediary airport responsible for forwarding the mail with another carrier - may accept, without prepa­ration of a CP 78 verification note, a CN 38 or CN 41 bill provided by the original carrier which has been electronically transmitted from its office at the airport of dispatch and signed by its representative at the airport where the mail is unloaded. 6 If the airport of loading cannot be determined, the verification note shall be sent straight to the office of dispatch of the mail for it to forward the note to the office through which the mail transited. Article RC 178 Steps to be taken in the event of an accident 1 When, as a result of an accident in course of conveyance, a ship, train, aircraft or any other transport facility is unable to continue its journey and deliver the mail at the scheduled ports of call or stations, the crew shall hand over the mails to the post office nearest to the place of the accident or to the office best able to reforward the mail. If the crew are unable to do this, that office, having been informed of the accident, shall take immediate action, taking over the mail and reforwarding it to its destination by the quickest route after its condition has been checked and any damaged items put in order. 2 The designated operator of the country in which the accident occurred shall inform all designated operators of previous ports of call or stations, by telecom­munications, of the fate of the mail. These designated operators in turn shall advise by the same means all other designated operators concerned. 3 Designated operators which had mail on the transport facility involved in the accident shall send a copy of the CN 37, CN 38 or CN 41 delivery bills to the designated operator of the country where the accident occurred. 4 The qualified office shall then notify the offices of destination of the mails involved in the accident by CP 78 verification note giving details of the circumstances of the accident and the results of the check of the mails. One copy of each verification note shall be sent to the offices of origin of the relative mails and another to the designated operator of the country to which the transport company belongs. These documents shall be sent by the quickest route (air or surface). Article RC 179 Steps to be taken in the event of an interrupted fight, or of diversion or missending of air parcels 1 When an aircraft interrupts its fight for a length of time likely to delay the mails or when, for any reason whatsoever, the mails are unloaded at an airport other than that given on the CN 38 delivery bills, the airline shall hand over such mails immediately to the officials of the designated operator of the country where the stop has been made. The latter shall reforward them by the quickest route (air or surface). 2 The designated operator which receives missent airmail dispatches or bags owing to a labelling error shall attach a new label to the dispatch or bag, with an indication of the office of origin, and reforward it to its correct destination. 3 In every case the office which did the reforwarding shall inform the office of origin of each dispatch or bag by CP 78 verification note, indicating in particular on the verification note the air service from which the mail was taken, the services used (air or surface) for onward transmission to its destination and the cause of missending, such as transportation or labelling error. Article RC 180 Steps to be taken in the event of an interrupted fight, or of diversion or missending of surface airlifted (S.A.L.) parcels 1 When mails included in a surface dispatch sent by air (S.A.L.) are on a fight that is interrupted or are unloaded at an airport other than the one indicated on the CN 41 delivery bill, the procedure shall be as follows: 1.1 Officials of the designated operator of the country where the mails are in transit shall take charge of them and reforward them by surface if conditions are such that the mails can be sent promptly to the country of destination. The designated operator of origin shall be informed by e-mail or any other form of telecommunication. 1.2 If rapid delivery by surface to the country of destination cannot be ensured, the designated operator of the transit country shall get in touch, by e-mail or any other form of telecommunication, with the designated operator of origin of the mails to determine how the latter are to be reforwarded to their destination and how compensation for reforwarding is to be calculated and settled. 1.3 The designated operator of the country of transit shall make out a new delivery bill (CN 37, CN 38 or CN 41, as required) and redirect the mails as instructed by the designated operator of origin. Article RC 181 Preparation of trial notes 1 To determine the most favourable route for the dispatch of parcels, the dispatching office of exchange may send to the office of exchange of destination a trial note in the form of the specimen CN 44. This note shall be attached to the parcel bill on which its presence shall be indicated. If the CN 44 form is missing when the mail arrives, the office of destination shall make out a duplicate. The trial note, duly completed by the office of destination, shall be returned by the quickest route to the address indicated or, in the absence of such an indication, to the office which prepared it. Article RC 182 Transfer of mails 1 Surface parcels 1.1 In the absence of special agreement between the designated operators concerned, the transfer of surface parcel mails shall be carried out by means of a CN 37 delivery bill. 1.2 Two copies of the CN 37 bill shall be prepared. The first shall be for the receiving office and the second for the dispatching office. The receiving office shall acknowledge receipt on the second copy and return it imme­diately by the quickest route (air or surface). 1.3 The CN 37 delivery bill may be prepared in triplicate when the transfer of mails between two corresponding offices is made through a transport service. In that case, the first copy shall be for the receiving office and shall accompany the mail. The second shall receive the acknowledgement of receipt by the transport service and shall be given to the dispatching office. The third shall be retained by the transport service after being signed by the receiving office. 1.4 The CN 37 delivery bill may also be prepared in triplicate when the trans­mission of mails is effected by a means of transport without accompanying staff. The first two copies shall be sent with the mail and the third retained by the dispatching office. The first copy shall be for the receiving office and the second shall be returned by the quickest route, duly signed by the latter, to the dispatching office. 1.5 Because of their internal organization, certain designated operators may request that separate CN 37 bills be made out for letter-post mails on the one hand, and for parcels on the other. 1.6 When the transfer of mails between two corresponding offices involves a sea service, the dispatching office of exchange may prepare a fourth copy of the CN 37 delivery bill, which the receiving office of exchange shall return after certifying it. In this case the third and fourth copies shall accompany the mail. One copy of the CN 37 bill must be sent beforehand by air or by electronic mail or any other appropriate means of telecommunication, either to the receiving office of exchange or the port of offloading or to its central administration. 2 Air parcels and surface airlifted (S.A.L.) parcels 2.1 Air parcel mails to be handed over at the airport shall be accompanied by CN 38 forms. 2.2 Mails to be handed over at the airport shall be accompanied by fve copies of a CN 38 delivery bill, for each stop in the case of air parcels or a CN 41, in the case of surface airlifted (S.A.L.) parcels. 2.3 One copy of the CN 38 or CN 41 bill, signed as a receipt for the parcels by the airline or the authority responsible for the ground services, shall be retained by the dispatching office. 2.4 Two copies of the CN 38 or CN 41 bill shall be retained at the airport of loading by the airline carrying the parcels. 2.5 Two copies of the CN 38 or CN 41 bill shall be inserted in a CN 45 envelope. These shall be conveyed in the aircraft's fight portfolio or other special pouch in which the fight documents are kept. Upon arrival at the airport of offloading of the parcels, the first copy, duly signed as a receipt for the parcels, shall be kept by the airline which has carried the parcels. The second copy shall accompany the parcels to the post office to which the CN 38 or CN 41 bill is addressed. 2.6 CN 38 or CN 41 bills which have been transmitted electronically by the air carrier may be accepted at the receiving exchange office if the two copies identified under 2.4 are not immediately available. In this case, two copies of the CN 38 or CN 41 bill must be signed by the air carrier representative at the destination airport prior to submission to the receiving designated operator. Except as noted in 2.6.1 and 2.6.2, one copy shall be signed by the receiving designated operator as a receipt for the parcels and shall be kept by the air carrier. The second copy shall, in any case, accompany the parcels to the post office to which the CN 38 or CN 41 bill is addressed. 2.6.1 Designated operators that have developed an electronic receipting system for parcel dispatches which they receive from transport carriers may use the receipting records of that system instead of the CN 38 or CN 41 process described under 2.6. In lieu of the signed copy of the CN 38 or CN 41 forms, the receiving designated operator may provide the air carrier with a printed copy of the electronic receipting record for that dispatch. 2.6.2 Alternatively, designated operators that exchange EDI messaging for parcel dispatches and consignments may use the EDI receipt messages instead of the CN 38 or CN 41 process as described under 2.6. In lieu of the signed copy of the CN 38 or CN 41 forms, the receiving designated operator may transmit the EDI receipt message. 2.7 Designated operators may agree among themselves to make systematic use of electronic mail or any other appropriate means of telecommunica­tion for transmitting CN 38 or CN 41 bills between the office preparing the document and the office receiving it. 2.8 When parcels are sent by surface to an intermediate designated operator for reforwarding by air, they shall be accompanied by a CN 38 or CN 41 bill for the intermediate office. A CN 38 or CN 41 bill shall also be prepared for the designated operator of the country of destination in respect of air parcels reforwarded by surface. 3 If CN 37, CN 38 and CN 41 delivery bills are produced by electronic means and transmitted online to a transport service or a cooperating agent without the direct participation of the designated operator's staff and printed out there, the designated operators or companies involved in the transport operations may agree that a signature shall not be required on the delivery bills. 4 The receiving designated operators shall ensure that the carriers can hand over the parcels to a competent service. 5 The mails shall be handed over in good condition. However, a mail may not be refused because of damage or theft. 6 The weight of bags or other receptacles containing insured air parcels shall be shown separately on the CN 38 delivery bill. The letter V shall also be written in the "Observations" column opposite this entry. Article RC 183 Check of mails 1 Every office of exchange receiving a mail shall immediately check the receptacles and their fastening. It shall also check the origin and destination of the bags making up the mail and entered on the delivery bill, and then the parcels and the various documents which accompany them. These checks shall be made in the presence of the other interested parties whenever this is possible. 2 The office of destination shall keep a close check on whether the mails arrive in the sequence in which they were dispatched, particularly in the case of mails containing insured parcels. 3 When the receptacles are opened, the constituent parts of the fastening (string, lead seal, label) shall be kept together; to achieve this, the string shall be cut in one place only. 4 Any irregularities discovered shall be reported without delay by a CP 78 verification note. When the office of exchange of destination has not sent off a CP 78 note by the first available post, it shall be considered, until the contrary is proved, as having received all the bags and parcels in good condition. 5 When the findings of an office of exchange are such as may involve the liability of a transport undertaking, they must where possible be countersigned by the representative of that undertaking as well as by the designated operator of transit or of destination taking over the mails, which shall confirm that there are no irregu­larities. This signature may be made either on the CP 78 verification note, a copy of which shall be handed to the undertaking, or, as the case may be, on the CN 37, CN 41 or CN 38 delivery bill accompanying the mail. Should there be any reservations with respect to the carrier service, the copies of the CN 37, CN 38 or CN 41 delivery bill must indicate such reservations. By analogy, designated operators exchanging information electronically may apply the procedures outlined in article RC 182.2.6. 6 The discovery, at the time of the check, of any irregularities whatsoever may in no case be the cause of the return of a parcel to sender except as provided for in article RC 135.3 and 4. Article RC 184 Discovery of irregularities and processing of verification notes 1 When an intermediate office receives a mail in bad condition, it shall check the contents if it thinks that they have not remained intact and put it in new packing just as it is. It shall copy the particulars from the original label on to a new one and apply to the latter an impression of its date-stamp, preceded by the endorsement "Remballé à ..." (Repacked at ...). The fact shall be reported by means of a CP 78 verification note, to be prepared in four or five copies, as appropriate. One copy shall be retained by the office which prepared it, and the others shall be sent to: 1.1 the office of exchange from which the mail was received (two copies); 1.2 the dispatching office of exchange (if this is not the office referred to above); and 1.3 the office of destination (inserted in the repacked mail). 2 In the event of the absence of a mail or one or more of the bags comprising it, or of any other irregularity the fact shall be notified as described in 1. However, intermediate offices of exchange shall not be bound to check the documents accompanying the parcel bill. 3 If the office of exchange of destination discovers errors or omissions in the parcel bill it shall immediately make the necessary corrections. It shall take care to cross out the incorrect entries in such a way as to leave the original entries legible. These corrections shall be made in the presence of two officials; unless there is an obvious error, the corrections shall be accepted in preference to the original statement. The office of exchange shall also carry out the routine checks when the receptacle or its fastening gives grounds for presuming that the contents have not remained intact or that some other irregularity has occurred. The irregularities which have been established shall be notified without delay to the dispatching office of exchange by a CP 78 verification note, to be prepared in three or four copies as appropriate. One copy shall be retained by the office of exchange which prepared it and the others shall be sent to: 3.1 the dispatching office of exchange (two copies); and 3.2 the intermediate office of exchange from which the mail was received (if the mail was not received direct). 4 The absence of a mail or of one or more of the bags comprising it, or of the parcel bill, shall be notified as described in 3. If the parcel bill is missing, the office of exchange of destination shall prepare a replacement parcel bill. 5 The absence of a surface parcel mail or air parcel mail shall be notified at the latest on receipt of the first mail following the missing mail. Similarly, the absence of one or more bags or parcels sent unenclosed in a surface parcel mail or air parcel mail shall be notified at the latest on receipt of the first mail following the said mail. 6 The office of exchange of destination shall have the right not to make corrections and not to make out a CP 78 verification note if the errors or omissions in respect of the rates due do not exceed 10 SDR per parcel bill. 7 Verification notes shall be sent preferably by telefax or by any other electronic means of communication or, if sent by mail, by the quickest route in a special envelope marked in bold letters "Bulletin de verification" (Verification note). These envelopes may either be pre-printed or distinguished by a stamp impression clearly reproducing the indication. Irregularities concerning insured parcels which involve the liability of member countries or designated operators shall always be notified immediately by electronic means, if available. 8 The offices to which the CP 78 verification notes are sent shall return them as promptly as possible after having examined them and indicated thereon their observations, if any; they shall retain one copy. The returned verification notes shall be attached to the parcel bills to which they relate. Corrections made to a parcel bill which are unsupported by documentary evidence shall not be considered valid. However, if these verification notes are not returned to the office of exchange which issued them within a period of one month from the date of their dispatch they shall be considered, until the contrary is proved, as duly accepted. Article RC 185 Discrepancies of weight or size of parcels 1 Unless there is an obvious error, the view of the office of origin shall prevail as regards the establishment of the weight or size. 2 Discrepancies in weight less than one kilogramme relating to ordinary parcels may not be made the subject of verification notes or the cause of the parcels being returned. 3 Discrepancies in weight of insured parcels up to ten grammes above or below the weight stated may not be queried by the intermediate designated operator or designated operator of destination unless the external condition of the parcel makes it necessary. Article RC 186 Receipt by the office of exchange of a damaged or insufficiently packed parcel 1 Any office of exchange which receives a damaged or insufficiently packed parcel shall send it on, after having repacked it if necessary. The original packing, the address and the labels shall be preserved as far as possible. The weight of the parcel before and after repacking shall be shown on the actual packing of the parcel. This indication shall be followed by the note "Remballé à ..." (Repacked at ...) stamped with an impression of the date-stamp and signed by the officials who did the repacking. 2 If the condition of the parcel is such that the contents could have been removed or damaged, this fact shall be reported to the dispatching office of exchange by means of a sufficiently explicit note on the CP 78 verification note. The parcel shall also be automatically opened and its contents checked. The results of this check shall be given in a CN 24 report. This shall be prepared in duplicate, one copy shall be retained by the office of exchange which prepared it and the other attached to the parcel. 3 The procedure described in 2 shall also apply if the parcel shows a discrepancy in weight such as to suggest the removal of the whole or part of the contents. Article RC 187 Notification of irregularities for which designated operators may be liable 1 Any office of exchange which, on the arrival of a mail, discovers the absence of, theft from or damage to one or more parcels shall proceed as follows: 1.1 It shall indicate in as much detail as possible on the CP 78 verification note or in the CN 24 report the condition in which it found the outer packing of the mail. Unless this is impossible for a stated reason, the receptacle, the string, the lead or other seal and the label shall be kept intact for a period of six weeks from the date of verification. They shall be sent to the designated operator of origin if it so requests. 1.2 It shall send a duplicate of the verification note to the last intermediate office of exchange, if any, at the same time as to the dispatching office of exchange. 2 If it considers it necessary, the office of exchange of destination may, at the expense of its designated operator, inform the dispatching office of exchange of its discoveries by telecommunications. 3 Where offices of exchange in direct contact are concerned, the respective designated operators of these offices may agree on the method of procedure in the case of irregularities for which they may be liable. Article RC 188 Check of mails of parcels forwarded in bulk 1 Articles RC 183 to RC 187 shall be applicable only to rifled and damaged parcels as well as to parcels entered individually on the parcel bills. The other parcels shall be simply checked in bulk. 2 The designated operator of origin may agree with the designated operator of destination to limit to certain categories of parcels the detailed check and the preparation of the CP 78 verification notes and CN 24 reports. The same may be agreed with the intermediate designated operators. 3 If the number of parcels found in the mail differs from the number given on the parcel bill, the verification note shall correct only the total number of parcels. 4 If the gross weight of the mail given on the parcel bill does not correspond to the gross weight found, the verification note shall correct only the gross weight of the mail. Article RC 189 Reforwarding of a parcel arriving out of course 1 Any parcel arriving out of course shall be reforwarded to its proper destina­tion by the quickest route (air or surface). 2 Any parcel reforwarded in application of this article shall be subject to the rates for forwarding to its proper destination and the charges and fees mentioned in article RC 136.4.3. 3 The reforwarding designated operator shall report the matter in a CP 78 verification note to the designated operator from which the parcel has been received. 4 It shall treat the parcel arriving out of course as if it had arrived in transit à découvert. If the rates which have been allocated to it are insufficient to cover the costs of reforwarding, it shall credit the true designated operator of destination and, where appropriate, the intermediate designated operators with the relative conveyance rates. It shall then credit itself, through a claim on the designated operator responsible for the office of exchange which missent the parcel, for the amount of the expense which it has incurred. This designated operator shall collect them Article RC 190 Return of empty receptacles 1 In the absence of special agreement between the designated operators concerned, bags shall be returned empty by the next post in a mail for the country to which they belong and if possible by the normal route followed on the outward journey. The number of bags returned by each mail shall be noted on the CP 87 parcel bill. 2 Designated operators of origin may make up special mails for the return of empty bags. However, the make-up of special mails shall be compulsory when the designated operators of transit or destination so request. For bags being returned by air, the make-up of special mails shall be compulsory. The special mails shall be described on CN 47 bills. If special mails for empty bags being returned by surface are not made up, the number and the weight of sacks of empty bags shall be entered in the appropriate column of the CN 37 bill. 3 The return shall be carried out between offices of exchange appointed for the purpose. The designated operators concerned may agree among themselves as to the procedure for the return. In long-distance services, they shall, as a general rule, appoint only one office responsible for receiving the empty bags returned to them. 4 The empty bags shall be rolled into suitable bundles. Where appropriate, the label blocks, labels of canvas, parchment or other stout material shall be placed inside the bags. 5 If there are not too many of them, the empty bags to be returned may be placed in the bags containing postal parcels. In all other cases, including when empty bags are being returned by air, they shall be placed in separate bags labelled with the name of the offices of exchange. These bags may be sealed by agreement between the designated operators concerned. The labels shall be endorsed "Sacs vides" (Empty bags). 6 If the check made by a designated operator establishes that bags belonging to it have not been returned to its service within a period longer than that required for their transmission (round trip), it shall be entitled to claim reimbursement of the value of the bags as provided for under 7. The designated operator in question may refuse this reimbursement only if it can prove the missing bags were returned. 7 Each designated operator shall fix, periodically and uniformly for each kind of bag used by its offices of exchange, a value in SDRs and communicate it to the designated operators concerned through the International Bureau. In case of reimbursement, the cost of replacing the bags shall be considered. 8 By prior agreement, a designated operator may use the bags belonging to the designated operator of destination for making up its own airmails. The bags of third parties may not be used. 9 Mails of empty bags shall be treated like letter-post mails which do not give rise to the payment of terminal dues but are subject to the payment of 30% of the transit charges applicable to letter-post mails. 10 A dispatching designated operator may indicate whether or not it would like to have the receptacles used for a particular dispatch returned. This indication shall be made on the parcel bill used for the dispatch. Chapter 8 Quality of service Article RC 191 Quality of service targets 1 Member countries or designated operators shall monitor actual performance against the service targets fixed by them. Chapter 9 Rates and air conveyance dues Article RC 192 Inward land rates 1 Level of the inward land rates base rate 1.1 For the years 2010 to 2013, the level of inward land rates referred to in article 33.1 of the Convention is given below: 1.1.1 The base rate shall be a country-specific maximum inward land rate per parcel and per kilogramme. These rates shall be calculated by setting the rate at 71.4% of the rate set by an individual designated operator for the year 2004 plus any inflation adjustments requested under article RC 193. 1.1.2 However, if the new base inward land rate is less than 2.85 SDR per parcel and 0.28 SDR per kilogramme, subject to the cap set in 1.1.3, the inward land rate applicable to such a designated operator shall be the level of the global minimum inward land rate of 2.85 SDR per parcel and 0.28 SDR per kilogramme. 1.1.3 Where a particular designated operator applies the minimum inward land rate as determined under 1.1.2, the actual application shall be subject to a cap of the combined per-parcel and per-kilogramme remuneration of 4.25 SDR for a parcel of 5 kilogrammes. If 71.4% of the sum of the 2004 per-parcel and per-kilogramme remuneration is above 4.25 SDR, the minimum rate shall be formed by 71.4% of both the per-parcel and perkilogramme rate. If 71.4% of the sum of the 2004 per-parcel and per-kilogramme remuneration is below 4.25 SDR, the minimum rates shall be formed in accordance with 1.1.2. 1.1.4 For the purposes of determining inward land rates, the term "designated operator" shall be considered to refer to each country or territory which operates an independent parcelpost service. Where the parcel-post services of a country or territory are operated by the designated operator of another country or territory, in accordance with article 12 of the Convention, they shall be considered to be part of that designated operator, both for the purpose of determining the service features provided, and for calculating the inward land rates based on service features provided. 2 Bonus payments 2.1 Provided that a designated operator complies with the mandatory acceptance of liability for lost, rifled and damaged parcels according to article 21 of the Convention and complies with the mandatory use of the UPU standard S10d barcode according to article RC 162.1, it will be possible for that designated operator to increase the base rates referred to in 1 by providing between one and four of the clearly defined "service features" (described below) which, in turn, will enable it to qualify for bonus payments of up to 40% of its base rate. The possibility of qualifying for bonus payments shall be open to any designated operator, irrespective of whether it has been awarded a countryspecific or global base rate. 3 Definition of service features and bonus payments 3.1 Service feature 1: track and trace 3.1.1 If a designated operator provides track and trace information about inward parcels bearing a UPU standard S10d barcode and is technologically equipped to transmit data on all the mandatory tracking events and actively transmits such data in accordance with the associated data elements defined in article RC 163.1.1 to all partner designated operators, in line with the indicative performance targets for transmission times defined in RC 164, it shall be entitled to receive, in addition, a bonus of 10% of the base rates referred to in 1. 3.1.2 If a designated operator provides track and trace information about inward parcels bearing a UPU standard S10d barcode and is technologically equipped to transmit data for events EME and EMF, and actively transmits such data in line with the definition and associated data elements defined in article RC 163.1.2 and with the indicative performance targets for transmission times defined in RC 164, it shall be entitled to receive, in addition, a bonus of 5% of the base rates referred to in 1. 3.1.3 If a designated operator provides track and trace information about inward parcels bearing a UPU standard S10d barcode and is technologically equipped to transmit dispatch-level information using PREDES version 2 and RESDES version 1.1 messages, and actively transmits such data in line with the definition and associated data elements defined in article RC 163.2 and with the indicative performance targets for transmission times defined in RC 164, it shall be entitled to receive, in addition, a bonus of 5% of the base rates referred to in 1. 3.1.4 If a designated operator meets the target fixed in article RC 165.1.2, it shall be entitled to receive, in addition, a bonus of 5% of the base rates referred to in 1. 3.2 Service feature 2: home delivery 3.2.1 Except for voluntary P.O. Box customers, if a designated operator makes an initial attempt at physical delivery to the addressee's address and leaves a card at the addressee's address if the addressee or any other person at the address is absent and if a designated operator, for taxable and dutiable items, offers the addressee the option of paying the tax or duty and taking physical delivery of the item, it shall receive, in addition, a bonus of 5% of the base rates referred to in 1. 3.3 Service feature 3: delivery standards 3.3.1 In accordance with article 20.1 and 20.2 of the Convention, if a designated operator provides all the following information required for an entry in the Parcel Post Compendium, it shall be entitled to receive, in addition, a bonus of 5% of the base rates referred to in 1. 3.3.1.1 Delivery standards for air and surface parcels, as defined by the matrix and headings in the Parcel Post Compendium. 3.3.1.2 An indication of the average customs clearance time for air and surface parcels. 3.4 Service feature 4: use of the common Internet-based Inquiry System 3.4.1 A designated operator shall be entitled to receive, in addition, a bonus of 5% of the base rate referred to in paragraph 1 if the following cumulative conditions are fulfilled: 3.4.1.1 it uses the UPU common Internet-based Inquiry System to handle all inquiries with designated operators using this common system according to article RC 145.8, and achieves the target fixed in article RC145.9. 4 The measurement of service features, provided that designated operators meet the minimum requirements in 2.1, shall be based on the performance of individual designated operators. In cases where recognized UPU reports do not provide the necessary information, the International Bureau will seek confirmation from the designated operators concerned to determine whether they meet the requirements of the service feature and are eligible for the relevant bonus. 4.1 Service feature 1: track and trace 4.1.1 If the designated operator transmits EMC, EMD, EMH and EMI events for inbound parcels to its partners, and transmission is in place and continuously operational, it shall receive a bonus of 10%. 4.1.2 If the designated operator transmits EMF events for items for which it provides an EME event (unless governmental and legally binding provisions prevent this), and transmission is in place and continuously operational, it shall receive a bonus of 5%. 4.1.3 If the designated operator transmits PREDES V2 messages to its partners, and transmits RESDES messages for the PREDES messages it receives, and transmission is in place and continuously operational, it shall receive a bonus of 5%. 4.1.4 If the designated operator transmits EMH and/or EMI events to its partners for 90% of inbound parcels for which an EMD event has been transmitted, it shall receive a bonus of 5%. 4.2 Service feature 2: home delivery 4.2.1 The International Bureau will seek information on whether or not a designated operator implements the provisions set out in the definition of service feature 2, as defined in 3.2.1. If a designated operator indicates that it does provide the service feature, then it shall, where eligible, receive a bonus of 5%. Notwithstanding the answer from the designated operator, the POC may determine that a designated operator is not eligible for the bonus based upon information provided in a report from the International Bureau for a decision on eligibility. If a designated operator fails to provide any information at all, it shall not qualify for the 5% bonus. 4.2.1.1 If governmental or legally binding restrictions mean that a designated operator faces certain limitations in implementing service feature 2, it may be able to qualify for the 5% bonus if it publishes information on the nature of the limitation in an appropriate entry in the Parcel Post Compendium. The accuracy of entries provided by designated operators for the Parcel Post Compendium may be subject to review by the International Bureau in cases where doubts are raised by partner designated operators. In such cases, entitlement to the 5% bonus may also be reviewed. 4.3 Service feature 3: delivery standards 4.3.1 If a designated operator provides all the information set out in article 20.1 and 20.2 of the Convention and as described in the definition of service feature 3, including an indication of an average customs clearance time, and therefore has a complete entry in the Parcel Post Compendium, and in addition, provides an annual update or confirmation of this information inclusive of an indication or notation of customs clearance time, by 31 August of the year prior, it shall receive a bonus of 5%. A designated operator that does not have a complete entry in the Compendium shall not qualify for the bonus. 4.4 Service feature 4: use of the common Internet-based Inquiry System 4.4.1 If a designated operator uses the common Internet-based Inquiry System in accordance with RC 145.8 and achieves the target performance indicated in article RC 145.9, it shall receive a bonus of 5%. Article RC 193 Modifications of the inward land rates 1 Designated operators wishing to claim an inflation-linked increase in their base inward land rate will be asked to provide, by 31 August in the year prior to that date, documentary evidence based on the country's official overall consumer price index in support of such a claim to the International Bureau. In no case shall the inflation-linked increase be above 5% for each year over which the inflation rate is calculated. The designated operator shall provide the official source and name of the organization responsible for the published index and the period taken into consideration. If this deadline has not been observed, such modifications shall not come into force until 1 January of the following year. Increases in the base inward land rates due to inflation-linked adjustment may only come into force on 1 January. 2 Designated operators shall indicate to the International Bureau the service features they are to provide from 1 January and 1 July, by 31 August in the year prior to that date. If designated operators have not notified their existing offer or their intention to implement these service features in the annual questionnaire, such potential modifications shall not come into force before 1 January of the following year regardless of when the designated operator implements the service feature. 2.1 For increases in the inward land rates applicable from 1 January for service features provided, the relevant service features must have been in place and continuously operational since 1 July in the prior year and continuously thereafter. 2.2 For increases in the inward land rates applicable from 1 July for service features provided, the relevant service features must have been in place and continuously operational at the latest since 1 January of that year and continuously thereafter. 2.3 A designated operator requesting an increase in the inward land rates based on the introduction of new service features which fails to implement any announced service feature by the date indicated shall immediately inform the International Bureau. In such a case, the increase in inward land rates shall not apply. 2.4 The International Bureau shall monitor whether service features are in place and designated operators fulfil the requirements under this article before performing potential modifications. 3 Modifications to the bonus payment of the inward land rates based on the service features provided may be implemented twice a year, on 1 January and 1 July. The International Bureau shall notify applicable inward land rates to all designated operators by 30 September of the year prior to that in which they come into force, including any intended changes to inward land rates to apply from 1 July due to designated operators qualifying for additional bonus payments. The International Bureau shall confirm to all designated operators by 31 March any changes to ILRs that apply from 1 July. 4 At the initiative of designated operators, reductions in the inward land rates may come into force on 1 January, 1 April, 1 July or 1 October. They shall be notified to designated operators by the International Bureau without delay. Article RC 194 Transit land rates 1 The rates applied to calculate the transit land rate in accordance with article 33.2 of the Convention are given below: 1.1 0.200 thousandths of an SDR per kilogramme and per kilometre up to 1,500 kilometres; 1.2 0.140 thousandths of an SDR per kilogramme and per supplementary kilo­metre up to 5,000 kilometres; 1.3 0.100 thousandths of an SDR per kilogramme and per supplementary kilo­metre; 1.4 the distance rate shall be calculated per 100-kilometre distance step, based on the mid-value in each step. 2 For parcels in transit à découvert, intermediate designated operators shall be authorized to claim a single rate of 0.40 SDR per item. Article RC 195 Application of transit land rates 1 No transit land rate shall be payable for: 1.1 the transfer of airmails between two airports serving the same town; 1.2 the transport of such mails between an airport serving a town and a warehouse situated in the same town and the return of the same mails for reforwarding. 2 Each of the designated operators taking part in conveyance shall be authorized to collect for each parcel the transit land rates applicable to the relevant distance step. If there is no land route, only the single rate mentioned in article RC 194.2 shall apply. 3 Reforwarding, where applicable after warehousing, by the designated operators of an intermediate country of mails in transit à découvert entering and leaving by the same port or airport (transit not involving a land route) shall be subject to the single rate per parcel mentioned in article RC 194.2, but not to transit land rates. 4 When a foreign transport service crosses the territory of a country without the participation of the latter's services in accordance with article RC 161.3, parcels thus conveyed shall not be subject to the transit land rate. Article RC 196 Sea rate 1 The rates applied to calculate the sea rate in accordance with article 33.3 of the Convention are given below: 1.1 0.070 thousandths of an SDR per kilogramme and per nautical mile (1.852 km) up to 1,000 nautical miles; 1.2 0.040 thousandths of an SDR per kilogramme and per supplementary nautical mile up to 2,000 nautical miles; 1.3 0.034 thousandths of an SDR per kilogramme and per supplementary nautical mile up to 4,000 nautical miles; 1.4 0.022 thousandths of an SDR per kilogramme and per supplementary nautical mile up to 10,000 nautical miles; 1.5 0.015 thousandths of an SDR per kilogramme and per supplementary nautical mile; 1.6 the distance rate shall be calculated per 100-nautical-mile distance step, based on the mid-value in each step. Article RC 197 Application of sea rate 1 If necessary, the distance steps used to determine the amount of the sea rate applicable between two member countries shall be calculated on the basis of a weighted average distance. This shall be determined in terms of the tonnage of the mails carried between the respective ports of the two member countries. 2 Sea conveyance between two ports of the same member country may not give rise to the collection of the sea rate when the designated operator of that member country already receives, for the same parcels, payment in respect of land conveyance. 3 The sea rate for intermediate designated operators or services shall be applicable to air parcels only where the parcel is conveyed by an intermediate sea service. For this purpose every sea service provided by the designated operator of origin or destination shall be regarded as an intermediate service. 4 In the case of an increase, this shall also be applied to parcels originating in the member country to which the services providing sea conveyance belong. Nevertheless, this obligation shall not apply either in the relations between a member country and the territories for whose international relations it is responsible, or in the relations between these territories. 5 Article RC 193 shall apply in case of modification of the sea rate. Article RC 198 Application of new rates following unforeseeable changes in routeing 1 Reasons of force majeure or any other unforeseeable occurrence may oblige a designated operator to use, for the conveyance of its own parcels, a new dispatch route which causes additional sea or land conveyance costs. In such a case, it shall be required to inform immediately by telecommunications all the designated operators whose parcel mails or à découvert parcels are sent in transit through its country. From the fifth day following dispatch of this information, the intermediate designated operator shall be authorized to charge the designated operator of origin the land and sea rates corresponding to the new route. Article RC 199 Weight of mails used for remuneration of designated operators 1 For the purposes of remunerating designated operators of destination or transit, the gross weight of the mails shall include the weight of receptacles (trays, mailbags, etc) but shall not include that of shipping or airline containers. Designated operators of origin and destination may however agree bilaterally to use net weights, whatever the method of entry used for completing CP 87 or CP 88 parcel bills. Article RC 200 Allocation of rates 1 Allocation of rates to the designated operators concerned shall be made, in principle, in respect of each parcel. Article RC 201 Rates and dues credited to other designated operators by the designated operator of origin of the mail 1 In the case of exchange of closed mails, the designated operator of origin of the mail shall credit the designated operator of destination and each intermediate designated operator with its land and sea rates, including the exceptional rates authorized by the Convention or its Final Protocol thereto. 2 In the case of exchange in transit à découvert the designated operator of origin of the mail shall credit: 2.1 the designated operator of destination of the mail with the rates enumerated in 1 as well as rates due to the subsequent intermediate designated operators and to the designated operator of destination of the parcel; 2.2 the designated operator of destination of the mail with the amounts in respect of air conveyance dues to which it is entitled for reforwarding air parcels; 2.3 the intermediate designated operators preceding the designated operator of destination of the mail with the rates enumerated in 1. 3 Charges for handling closed transit mails shall be borne by the designated operator of origin of the mails. The rate applied shall be 0.195 SDR per kilogramme. 4 Transhipment at the same airport, in the course of transmission, of air parcels conveyed successively by several separate air services shall be performed without remuneration. Article RC 202 Allocation and recovery of rates, charges and fees in the case of return to sender or redirection 1 When rates, charges and fees have not been paid at the time of return to sender or redirection, the returning or redirecting designated operator shall proceed as indicated below. 2 In the case of exchange of direct mail the returning or redirecting designated operator shall recover from the designated operator to which the mail is addressed: 2.1 the rates due to it and to the intermediate designated operators; 2.2 the charges and fees due to it and which it has incurred. 3 The designated operator returning or redirecting the parcel in a closed mail shall credit the intermediate designated operators with the rates due to them. 4 In the case of transmission in transit à découvert, the intermediate designated operator shall be debited by the designated operator which returns or redirects the parcel with the amounts mentioned in 2. It shall credit itself by debiting the designated operator to which it hands over the parcel, with the sum due to it and with that due to the returning or redirecting designated operator. This procedure shall be repeated, if need be, by each intermediate designated operator. 5 The air conveyance dues for parcels returned to sender or redirected by air shall be recovered, where appropriate, from the designated operator of the countries where the request for return or redirection originated. 6 The allocation and the recovery of the rates, charges and fees in the case of the redirection of missent parcels shall be made in accordance with article RC 189.4. 7 Air conveyance dues for air parcel dispatches re-routed in the course of conveyance shall be settled in accordance with articles RC 203 and RC 205. Article RC 203 Calculation of air conveyance dues 1 Air conveyance dues relating to air parcel mails shall be calculated according to, on the one hand, the actual basic rate and the kilometric distances given in the "List of Airmail Distances" and, on the other, the gross weight of the mails. The actual basic rate may be less than and at most equal to the rate mentioned in article 32.1 of the Convention. 2 The air conveyance dues payable to the intermediate designated operator for à découvert air parcels shall be fixed in principle as indicated in 1, but per half kilogramme for each country of destination. Nevertheless, when the territory of the country of destination of these parcels is served by one or more lines with several stops in that territory, dues shall be calculated on the basis of a weighted average rate. This shall be determined on the basis of the weight of the parcels offoaded at each stop. The dues to be paid shall be calculated for each individual parcel, the weight of each being rounded upwards to the next half-kilogramme. Article RC 204 Air conveyance dues for lost or destroyed air parcels 1 The designated operator of origin shall be exempt from any payment in respect of the air conveyance of air parcels lost or destroyed as a result of an acci­dent occurring to the aircraft or through any other cause involving the liability of the air carrier. This exemption shall apply for any part of the fight of the line used. Article RC 205 Air conveyance dues for diverted or missent mails or bags 1 The designated operator of origin of a mail which has gone off its route in course of conveyance shall pay the conveyance dues for the mail relating to the sectors actually covered. 2 It shall settle the conveyance dues as far as the airport of offloading initially provided for on the CN 38 delivery bill when: 2.1 the actual forwarding route is not known; 2.2 the dues for the sectors actually covered have not yet been claimed; or 2.3 the diversion is attributable to the airline which effected the conveyance. 3 The supplementary dues relating to the sectors actually covered by the diverted mail shall be reimbursed as follows: 3.1 by the designated operator that committed the error in the case of misrouteing; 3.2 by the designated operator which has collected the conveyance dues paid to the airline when the latter has offloaded in a place other than that shown on the CN 38 delivery bill. 4 The provisions set out under 1 to 3 shall be applicable by analogy when part only of a mail is offloaded at an airport other than that indicated on the CN 38 delivery bill. 5 The designated operator of origin of a mail or bag missent owing to a labelling error shall pay the conveyance dues relating to the whole distance flown in accordance with article 32.3.1 of the Convention. Article RC 206 Payment of air conveyance dues for the transport of empty bags 1 Air conveyance dues for the transport of empty bags shall be payable by the designated operator owning the bags. 2 The maximum rate applicable in respect of the air conveyance of dispatches of empty bags shall correspond to 30% of the basic rate set in accordance with the provisions of article 32.1 of the Convention. Chapter 10 Preparation and settlement of accounts Article RC 207 Preparation of accounts 1 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. 2 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. 3 The CP 94 statement shall be summarized in a CP 75 account. 4 Designated operators that were net creditors in the preceding year would 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. 5 Designated operators may use the direct billing system or the bilateral offsetting system. 6 Under the direct billing system, the CP 75 accounts would serve as bills for direct settlement. The CP 75 account, accompanied by the CP 94 statement, but without the parcel bills, shall be sent by the quickest route to the designated operator concerned for acceptance and payment on a monthly, quarterly, half-yearly or annual basis. This dispatch shall be made during the two months following the arrival of the last parcel bill of the period to which it related. 7 The debtor designated operator shall pay the amount billed within a period of two months. If the designated operator which has sent the account does not receive any notice of amendment within two months, the account shall be regarded as fully accepted. When any difference exceeding 9.80 SDR occurs, the CP 94 statement should be corrected and be attached with the amended CP 75 account as proof. Debtor designated operators may refuse to check and to accept CP 75 accounts which have not been submitted by the creditor designated operators within six months of the period to which they refer. 8 Under the bilateral offsetting system, the creditor designated operator shall prepare both the CP 75 and the CN 52 accounts and submit both simultaneously and by the quickest route to the debtor designated operator on a monthly, quarterly, half-yearly or annual basis. 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 above-mentioned frequencies. 9 The debtor designated operator shall accept or amend the CP 75 and CN 52 accounts and submit payment to the creditor designated operator within two months. If the designated operator which has sent the accounts does not receive any notice of amendment within two months, the accounts shall be regarded as fully accepted. 10 When any difference exceeding 9.80 SDR is noted by the debtor designated operator, the CP 94 statements shall be corrected and be attached with the amended CP 75 account as proof. 11 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 when the designated operators concerned participate in the clearing system of the International Bureau. Article RC 208 Settlement of accounts 1 Settlements of international accounts arising from postal traffic between designated operators 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. 2 Each designated operator shall draw up its accounts and refer them in duplicate to the others concerned. One accepted copy, if necessary amended or accompanied by a statement of discrepancies, shall be returned to the creditor designated operator. This account shall serve as a basis for the preparation, as necessary, of the final liquidation account between the two designated operators. 3 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. 4 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. 5 The balance of each CP 75 account prepared by the creditor designated operator shall be paid to it by the debtor designated operator in accordance with the provisions of articles RC 209 to 212. 6 In the case of bilateral offsetting and of billing based on the imbalance: 6.1 the preparation and dispatch of a general account may be carried out, without waiting for a possible amendment of the CP 75 account, as soon as a designated operator which has all the accounts relative to the period concerned finds that it is the creditor. The check of the CN 52 account by the debtor designated operator and payment of the balance shall be carried out within a period of two months after receipt of the general account; the debtor designated operator shall not be obliged to accept accounts which are not transmitted to it within six months of the end of the year to which they refer; 6.2 any designated operator which has consistently owing to it every month by another designated operator a sum greater than 9,800.72 SDR shall be entitled to claim a monthly payment on account of up to three quarters of the amount of the debt; its request shall be met within a period of two months. Article RC 209 Settlement of accounts through the International Bureau 1 The settlement of accounts through the clearing system of the International Bureau shall be effected through the following provisions: 1.1 Participation in the clearing system of the International Bureau is open to designated operators or their services that have signed the membership agreement obligating them to abide by the terms of a system charter. 1.2 The International Bureau shall publish by means of a circular an updated list of participants at appropriate intervals. 1.3 A creditor designated operator intending to settle an account through the International Bureau shall send a copy of the account concerned to the debtor with the indication "Proposé pour inclusion dans UPU*Clearing". If the debtor has no modifcations to propose, the account shall be sent to the International Bureau and to the creditor designated operator with the remark "Accepté pour inclusion dans UPU*Clearing". In case the debtor has any modification to propose the account shall be sent back to the creditor designated operator, who shall, if the modification proposed is accepted, forward the account to the International Bureau. Accounts shall be forwarded to the International Bureau only when there is complete agreement by both debtor and creditor. 1.4 Payment shall be made in accordance with conditions laid down in the system charter. 1.5 In the case of non-compliance or faulty performance of obligations indicated in the system charter by a participant, the International Bureau shall take appropriate measures and inform all participants of the measures taken. Article RC 210 Adjustment of outstanding debts arising from the settlement of accounts through the International Bureau clearing system 1 Debts payable as a result of settlement of accounts through the Interna­tional Bureau clearing system by any designated operator which are overdue may be adjusted against credits due to the debtor designated operator from any other designated operator. Before undertaking such a step, the International Bureau shall consult the creditor designated operator concerned and send a reminder to the defaulting debtor. If no payment is made within a period of one month from the date of this reminder, the International Bureau is competent to unilaterally make the necessary accounting adjustments after informing all the parties concerned. The consent of the defaulting debtor is not necessary. 2 When making these accounting adjustments, the International Bureau will only offset accounts that have been accepted by both the defaulting debtor and the designated operator owing money to the defaulting debtor. 3 The defaulting debtor will have no claim against the designated operator owing money to it for any credits attributed by the International Bureau to the creditor in accordance with the procedure described in paragraph 1. Article RC 211 Payment of debts expressed in SDRs. General provisions 1 The rules for payment set out below shall apply to all debts arising out of a postal transaction and expressed in SDRs. 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. 2 Any designated operator may discharge its liabilities by payments on account, from which its debts shall be deducted when these have been established. 3 Provided the periods for payment are observed, any designated operator may settle postal debts expressed in SDRs by offsetting credits or 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. 4 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. Article RC 212 Rules for payment of accounts not settled through the International Bureau 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. 2 The amount of the payment, as determined in the selected currency, shall be equivalent in value to the balance of the account expressed in SDRs. 3 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: 3.1 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. 3.2 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. As 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. 4 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. 5 For the purpose of determining the equivalent of a currency, the rate referred to shall be the closing rate for currency which can be used in the majority of merchandise trade transactions on the offcial foreign exchange market. 6 The debtor designated operator shall pay, on the date of payment, the amount of the selected currency by postal giro or any other means acceptable to both designated operators. 7 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. 8 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. 9 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. 10 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. 11 When payment is made, the document of transfer (cheque, draft, etc), shall be accompanied by particulars of the title, period and amount in SDRs, conversion rate used and applicable date of such rate for each amount included in the total sum remitted. If 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 in the designated operator to which payment is made. Chapter 11 Miscellaneous provisions Article RC 213 Information to be supplied by designated operators 1 Designated operators shall communicate to the International Bureau, on the forms sent by the latter, the necessary information concerning the operation of the postal parcels service. This information shall cover the decisions taken on the optional application of certain general provisions of the Convention and of its Regulations. 2 Each designated operator shall notify the other designated operators, through the intermediary of the International Bureau, of: 2.1 the inward rates and, where appropriate, the transit land rates and sea rates which it collects; 2.2 relevant information concerning the optional services, conditions of acceptance, limits of weights, limits of sizes and other special features. 3 Any amendment to the information mentioned in 1 and 2 shall be notified without delay by the same means. Article RC 214 International Bureau publications 1 The International Bureau shall publish, on the basis of information supplied by the member countries and/or designated operators an official compendium of information of general interest relating to the implementation of the Convention and its Regulations in each member country. It shall also publish similar compendia relating to the implementation of the Postal Payment Services Agreement and its Regulations, on the basis of the information supplied by the member countries and/or designated operators concerned in accordance with the relative provisions in the Regulations of that Agreement. 2 It shall also publish, from information supplied by designated operators and, if appropriate, by the Restricted Unions as regards 2.1, or the United Nations as regards 2.5: 2.1 a list of addresses, heads and senior officials of member countries and designated operators and Restricted Unions; 2.2 an international list of post offices; 2.3 a compendium of transit information comprising: 2.3.1 a list of kilometric distances relating to land sectors of mails in transit; 2.3.2 a list of transit services provided for surface mail (including S.A.L. mail); 2.4 a list of equivalents; 2.5 a list of prohibited articles which shall also include narcotics prohibited under the multilateral treaties on narcotics and the definitions of dangerous goods prohibited from conveyance by post drawn up by the International Civil Aviation Organization; 2.6 a compendium of designated operators' internal charges; 2.7 statistical data relating to the postal services (internal and international); 2.8 studies, opinions, reports and other statements relating to the postal service; 2.9 the following three catalogues: 2.9.1 International Bureau library catalogue (listing the works acquired by the library); 2.9.2 International Bureau periodicals catalogue (listing the periodicals received at the International Bureau); 2.9.3 International Bureau film library catalogue (listing the films available for loan by the International Bureau to member countries and designated operators); 2.10 a catalogue of postal equipment; 2.11 a liste générale des services aéropostaux (known as "Liste CN 68") (General List of Airmail Services or CN 68 List), which shall be updated annually. Designated operators shall communicate updates to the International Bureau by 1 October of a given year, and the International Bureau shall publish the updated CN 68 before the end of that year. Changes shall come into effect on 1 January of the following year; 2.12 a liste des distances aéropostales (List of Airmail Distances) drawn up in collaboration with the air carriers. 3 It shall also publish: 3.1 the Manuals of the Convention and of the Postal Payment Services Agree­ment; 3.2 the other Acts of the UPU annotated by the International Bureau; 3.3 the Multilingual Vocabulary of the International Postal Service. 4 Amendments to the various publications listed under 1 to 3 shall be notified by circular, bulletin, supplement or other appropriate means. However, any amendments to the publications listed under 2.11 and 2.12 and the date on which the amendments take effect shall be notified to member countries and designated operators by the quickest means (air or surface), with the minimum of delay and in the most appropriate form. 5 The publications published by the International Bureau shall be distributed to designated operators in accordance with the following rules. 5.1 All publications, excepting the one specified under 5.2, shall be distributed in three copies, one of which shall be in the official language. The other two shall be supplied either in the official language or in the language requested in accordance with article 110 of the General Regulations. 5.2 The periodical Union Postale shall be distributed in proportion to the number of contribution units assigned to each member country and designated operator under article 130 of the General Regulations. 5.3 Over and above the number of copies distributed free of charge by virtue of the rules set out under 5.1, member countries and designated operators may purchase International Bureau publications at cost price. 6 Publications published by the International Bureau shall also be sent to the Restricted Unions. Article RC 215 Telegraphic addresses 1 For telegraphic communications exchanged between one another, designated operators shall use the following telegraphic addresses: 1.1 "Postgen" for telegrams intended for central administrations; 1.2 "Postbur" for telegrams intended for post offices; 1.3 "Postex" for telegrams intended for offices of exchange. 2 These telegraphic addresses shall be followed by the indication of the place of destination and, where appropriate, any other details considered necessary. 3 The telegraphic address of the International Bureau shall be "UPU Berne". 4 The telegraphic addresses indicated under 1 and 3, completed as necessary by the indication of the dispatching office, shall also serve as the signature to telegraphic communications. Article RC 216 Period of retention of documents 1 Documents of the international service shall be kept for a minimum period of 18 months from the day following the date to which they refer. However, if the documents are reproduced on microfilm, microfiche or similar medium, they may be destroyed as soon as it is established that the reproduction is satisfactory. 2 Documents concerning a dispute or inquiry shall be kept until the matter has been settled. If the initiating designated operator, being duly informed of the result of the inquiry, allows six months to pass from the date of the communication without raising any objections, the matter shall be regarded as closed. Article RC 217 Forms 1 The forms shall conform to the annexed specimens. 2 The texts, colours and dimensions of forms as well as other characteristics such as the position reserved for entering the barcode shall be those prescribed in these Regulations. Wherever an office of exchange needs to be specified on a postal form, the rules as set out in article RC 161.16 shall apply. 3 Forms for the use of the public shall bear an interlinear translation in French when they are not printed in that language. 4 Forms for the use of designated operators in their relations with one another shall be drawn up in French with or without interlinear translation, unless the desig­nated operators concerned arrange otherwise by direct agreement. 5 Forms as well as any copies thereof shall be completed in such a way that the entries are fully legible. The original form shall be sent to the appropriate designated operator or to the party most concerned. 6 The following forms shall be considered as forms for the use of the public: CN 07 (Advice of receipt/of delivery/of payment/of entry); CN 08 (Inquiry); CN 11 (Franking note); CN 17 (Request for withdrawal from the post, alteration or correction of address, cancellation or alteration of the COD amount); CN 23 (Customs declaration); CN 29 (COD label); CN 29ter (International COD coupon); CN 30 (R label combined with the name of office of origin, the number of the item and the triangle with word "Remboursement" (Cash-on-delivery); CP 71 (Dispatch note); CP 72 (manifold set) (Dispatch note/Customs declaration); CP 95 ("COD" label). Article RC 218 Application of standards 1 The execution of some Regulations may involve the application of certain standards. Member countries and designated operators should refer to the relevant UPU standards publications, which contain the standards approved by the UPU. 2 Except where the application of a UPU standard is explicitly required by a reference to it in the Regulations, the application of UPU standards shall be voluntary. Nevertheless, member countries and designated operators are advised to adhere to the standards that are relevant to their domestic and international operations in order to enhance processing efficiency and the interoperability of their systems and processes with other member countries and designated operators. 3 A UPU standard should be adopted in its entirety. Member countries and designated operators shall ensure that their use of a UPU standard is fully compliant with the requirements specified therein. They may deviate from recommendations only to the extent permitted by the standard concerned. Chapter 12 Transitional and final provisions Article RC 219 Entry into force and duration of the Regulations 1 These Regulations shall come into force on the day on which the Convention comes into operation. 2 They shall have the same duration as that Convention, unless otherwise decided by the Postal Operations Council. Done at Berne, 11 November 2008. Final Protocol to the Parcel Post Regulations At the moment of proceeding to approval of the Parcel Post Regulations, the Postal Operations Council has agreed the following: Article RC I Provision of the postal parcels service 1 Australia, Latvia and Norway reserve the right to provide the postal parcels service either as laid down in the Convention or, in the case of outward parcels and after bilateral agreement, by any other means which is more favourable to their customers. Article RC II Special conditions relating to limits of weights for parcels 1 Notwithstanding article RC 114, Canada shall be authorized to limit to 30 kilogrammes the maximum weight of inward and outward parcels. Article RC III Delivery procedure 1 Notwithstanding article RC 125.7.1.1, the designated operators of Australia, Canada and New Zealand are authorized not to obtain a signature of acceptance or some other form of evidence of receipt from the recipient when delivering or handing over an insured parcel without a barcode that meets all applicable UPU standards. 2 Notwithstanding article RC 116.2, the designated operators of Australia, Canada and New Zealand are authorized not to obtain a signature of acceptance or some other form of evidence of receipt from the recipient when delivering or handing over an ordinary parcel without a barcode that meets all applicable UPU standards. Article RC IV Maximum limits for insured items