2030. Article

The Postal Operations Council shall be authorized to supplement remuneration for these and other supplementary services where the services provided contain additional features to be specified in the Regulations. 12 For tracked delivery service items there shall be a supplementary payment per item for the service feature, in accordance with the conditions specified in the Regulations. The Postal Operations Council shall be authorized to supplement remuneration for tracked delivery service items on the basis of performance in the electronic transmission of information, as specified in the Regulations. 13 For small packets (E) letter-post items, registered and insured and tracked delivery service items not carrying a barcoded identifier or carrying a barcoded identifier that is not compliant with the UPU�s Technical Standard S10, there shall be a further additional payment of 0.5 SDR per item unless otherwise bilaterally agreed. 14 The remuneration for returned undeliverable letter-post items shall be specified in the Regulations. 15 For terminal dues payment purposes, letter-post items posted in bulk in accordance with the conditions specified in the Regulations shall be referred to as "bulk mail". 15.1 The payment for bulk mail containing goods shall be established as provided for in article 29.1.4 or 29.1.2, as appropriate. The conditions in paragraphs 6.4 and 8 and articles 29.1.5.6.1 and 29.4 shall not apply. 15.2 The payment for bulk mail containing documents (P and G format) shall be established as provided for in article 30. The conditions in paragraphs 6.3.1 and 8 shall not apply. 15.3 The designated operator of destination may request the payment by applying the rates per item and per kilogramme. Alternatively, the payment shall be established by applying the total rate per kilogramme on the basis of a worldwide average composition of one kilogramme of mail in paragraphs 5 and 7 based on the per-item and per-kilogramme rates in articles 29 and 30. The conditions in paragraph 8 and articles 29.1.5.6 and 29.4 shall not apply in the calculation of the total rate per kilogramme. 16 No reservations may be made to this article. Article XV (Article 29 amended) Terminal dues. Provisions to determine the remuneration rates of bulky (E) and small packet (E) letter-post items 1 General provisions 1.1 The provisions in this article shall apply equally to the remuneration of bulky (E) letter-post items in 2026. 1.2 In 2026, the rates of bulky (E) and small packet (E) letter-post items shall be calculated from the P/G format line at 0.273 kilogrammes, exclusive of VAT or other taxes, as set out in article 30.1. 1.2.1 The rates in 2026 shall not lead to an increase of more than 13% in revenue for a bulky (E) and small packet (E) letter-post item of 0.273 kilogrammes, compared to 2025. 1.2.2 In 2026, the rates in 1.2 may not be higher than 1.265 SDR per item and 2.844 SDR per kilogramme. 1.2.3 In 2026, the rates in 1.2 may not be lower than 0.819 SDR per item and 1.842 SDR per kilogramme. 1.2.4 Further conditions regarding the calculation of these rates are specified in the Regulations 1.3 Beginning with rates in effect for the year 2027 onwards, each designated operator shall provide the International Bureau with its domestic rates for equivalent services in order to determine the remuneration rates for small packet (E) letter-post items in accordance with this article. 1.4 Additionally, designated operators may notify the International Bureau by 1 May of the year preceding the year in which the remuneration rates would apply of a self-declared rate per item and a self-declared rate per kilogramme, expressed in local currency or SDR, that shall apply in the following calendar year for bulky (E) and small packet (E) letter-post items in 2026 and for small packet (E) letter-post items only from 2027. The International Bureau shall annually convert the self-declared rates provided in local currency into values expressed in SDR. To calculate the rates in SDR, the International Bureau shall use the average monthly exchange rate of the five-month period ending on the last day of the month of February of the year preceding the year for which the self-declared rates would be applicable. The resultant rates shall be notified by means of an International Bureau circular no later than 1 July of the year preceding the year in which the self-declared rates would apply. 1.4.1 The rates applicable to bulky (E) and/or small packet (E) letter-post items that have been self-declared pursuant to this article shall substitute the rates determined in accordance with 1.2. 1.5 Subject to 1.6, the self-declared rates shall: 1.5.1 at the average weight of a small packet (E) letter-post item of 0.273 kilogrammes, not be higher than the country-specific ceiling rates calculated in accordance with paragraph 1.6; 1.5.2 not exceed 70%, or the applicable percentage in paragraph 8, of the domestic single-piece charge for items equivalent to small packet (E) letter-post items offered by the designated operator in its domestic service and in effect on 1 May of the year preceding the year for which the self-declared rates would be applicable; 1.5.3 be based on the domestic single-piece charge in force for items within the designated operator�s domestic service having the specified maximum size and shape dimensions of small packet (E) letter-post items; 1.5.4 be made available to all designated operators; 1.5.5 be applied only to small packet (E) letter-post items; 1.5.6 be applied to small packet (E) letter-post flows from countries in group C, if the total mail flow is more than 75 tonnes per year; 1.5.6.1 where the total mail flow is less than 75 tonnes, but higher than the volume thresholds in article 28.6, the following rates shall apply to small packet (E) letter-post flows from group C: 1.5.6.1.1 for the year 2028, 0.895 SDR per item and 2.012 SDR per kilogramme; 1.5.6.1.2 for the year 2029, 0.935 SDR per item and 2.103 SDR per kilogramme; 1.5.6.1.3 for the year 2030, 0.977 SDR per item and 2.198 SDR per kilogramme. 1.6 The self-declared rates per item and per kilogramme for small packet (E) letter-post items shall not be higher than the country-specific ceiling rates determined by a linear regression of 11 points corresponding to 70%, or the applicable percentage in paragraph 8, of the priority single-piece tariffs of equivalent domestic services for 20-gramme, 35-gramme, 75-gramme, 175-gramme, 250-gramme, 375-gramme, 500-gramme, 750-gramme, 1,000-gramme, 1,500-gramme and 2,000-gramme small packet (E) letter-post items, exclusive of any taxes. 1.6.1 The determination of whether the self-declared rates exceed the ceiling rates shall be tested at the average revenue using the most current worldwide average composition of one kilogramme of mail in which an E format item weighs 0.273 kilogrammes. In instances in which the self-declared rates exceed the ceiling rates at the average E format weight of 0.273 kilogrammes, the ceiling per-item and per-kilogramme rates shall apply; alternatively, the designated operator in question may choose to reduce its self-declared rates to a level that conforms with paragraphs 1.6 and 3, as applicable. 1.6.2 When multiple packet rates are available based on thickness, the lesser domestic tariff shall be used for items up to 250 grammes, and the higher domestic tariff shall be used for items above 250 grammes. 1.6.3 Where zonal rates apply in the equivalent domestic service, the mid-point rate as specified in the Regulations shall be used, and domestic tariffs for non-contiguous zones shall be excluded for determination of the mid-point rate. Alternatively, the determination of the zonal tariff to be used may be based on the actual weighted average distance of inbound small packet (E) letter-post items (for the most recent calendar year). 1.6.4 Where the equivalent domestic service and tariff include additional features that are not part of the basic service, i.e. tracking, signature and insurance services, and such features are extended across all the weight increments listed in paragraph 1.6, the lesser of the corresponding domestic supplemental rate, the supplemental rate, or the suggested guideline charge in the Acts of the Union shall be deducted from the domestic tariff. The total deduction for all additional features may not exceed 25% of the domestic tariff. 2 Where the country-specific ceiling rates calculated in accordance with paragraph 1.6 result in a revenue calculated for small packet (E) item at 0.273 kilogrammes that is lower than the revenue calculated for the same item at the same weight on the basis of the rates specified below, the self-declared rates shall not be higher than the following rates: 2.1 for the year 2026, 0.819 SDR per item and 1.842 SDR per kilogramme; 2.2 for the year 2027, 0.856 SDR per item and 1.925 SDR per kilogramme; 2.3 for the year 2028, 0.895 SDR per item and 2.012 SDR per kilogramme; 2.4 for the year 2029, 0.935 SDR per item and 2.103 SDR per kilogramme; 2.5 for the year 2030, 0.977 SDR per item and 2.198 SDR per kilogramme. 3 In addition to the ceiling rates provided for in 1.6, the rates in a given year shall not lead to an increase of more than 10% in the revenue for a small packet (E) letter-post item weighing 0.273 kilogrammes, compared to the previous year. 3.1 Beginning with rates in effect from 2027, any unused increases may be carried over from previous years and be applied in addition to the increases in paragraph 3. No more than 10 percentage points of unused increases may be carried over from one year to the next. 4 Where the total letter-post flows between countries in group B, and from those countries to countries in group A, are less than 25 tonnes per year in 2026 and 15 tonnes per year from 2027, the rates for small packet (E) letter-post items shall be determined as follows: 4.1 In 2026, in accordance with paragraph 1.2. 4.2 From 2027, the self-declared rates in 1.4 shall apply unless the revenue of the self-declared rates at 0.273 kilogrammes is higher than the revenue calculated at the same weight on the basis of the rates specified below, in which case the following rates shall apply: 4.2.1 for the year 2027, 1.322 SDR per item and 2.972 SDR per kilogramme; 4.2.2 for the year 2028, 1.381 SDR per item and 3.106 SDR per kilogramme; 4.2.3 for the year 2029, 1.443 SDR per item and 3.246 SDR per kilogramme; 4.2.4 for the year 2030, 1.508 SDR per item and 3.392 SDR per kilogramme. 5 For rates in effect in 2026, the ratio between the self-declared item rate and kilogramme rate shall not change by more than five percentage points upwards or downwards compared with the ratio of the previous year. For rates in effect in 2027, there are no constraints in terms of the aforementioned ratio. For rates in effect in 2028 and subsequent years, the ratio between the self-declared item rate and kilogramme rate shall not change by more than 20 percentage points upwards or downwards compared with the ratio of the previous year. 5.1 The application of paragraph 5 shall not result in a negative ratio between the item rate and kilogramme rate. 5.2 Further specifications shall be provided in the Regulations. 6 For designated operators that have elected to self-declare their rates for small packet (E) letter-post items in a prior calendar year and that do not communicate different self-declared rates for the subsequent year, the existing self-declared rates shall continue to apply unless they do not satisfy the conditions laid out in this article. The designated operator may collect the minimum rates provided in paragraph 2. 6.1 For designated operators that have elected not to self-declare their rates for small packet (E) letter-post items in a prior calendar year and that do not communicate self-declared rates for the subsequent year, the remuneration rates for small packet (E) letter-post items shall be based on the lesser of the revenues at 0.273 kilogrammes between the ceiling rates in 1.6 and the maximum increase in 3 by applying the same ratio between the item rate and kilogramme rate of the previous year. 6.2 For designated operators that do not provide the priority single-piece tariffs of equivalent domestic services in paragraph 1.6 by 1 May of the year preceding the year in which the rates take effect, the priority single-piece tariffs used for the calculation for the previous year for the designated operator concerned shall apply. If the designated operator concerned has not notified the International Bureau of the relevant priority single-piece tariffs in any prior year, the minimum rates provided in 2 shall apply. 6.2.1 If, by 1 May of the year preceding the year in which the rates take effect, the priority single-piece tariffs have been reduced compared to the notification of these tariffs of a prior year, then the International Bureau shall be informed by the designated operator concerned of any reduction in the domestic charge referred to in this article. 7‎ A designated operator of a ‎member country that received total annual inbound letter-post volumes in 2018 in excess of 75,000 tonnes ‎‎(as per the relevant official information provided to the International Bureau or any other officially available ‎information assessed by the International Bureau) may self-declare rates for small packet (E) ‎letter-post items, other than for the letter-post flows from countries in group B that do not exceed 25 tonnes per year in 2026 and 15 tonnes from 2027, or from countries in group C that do not exceed 75 tonnes, for the calendar year in which the rates apply. The said ‎designated operator shall also have the right not to apply the revenue increase limits set out in ‎paragraph 2 3 for mail flows to, from and between its country and any other country. 7.1 Where a designated operator of a member country invokes paragraph 7, all other corresponding designated operators (including those from groups B and C whose outbound flows are referred to in para�graph 7) may do likewise and self-declare rates for small packet (E) letter-post items with respect to the aforementioned designated operator without being subject to the maximum revenue increase limits set out in paragraph 3. 7.2 With respect to any such corresponding designated operators that elect to apply self-declared rates under paragraph 7.1 (including those from groups B and C whose outbound flows are referred to in paragraph 7), the same conditions for the self-declaration of rates of the designated operator that invoked paragraph 7 shall reciprocally apply. Paragraphs 8.1 and 8.2 of this article shall also apply to all such corresponding designated operators. 7.3 From 2027, where a designated operator applies self-declared rates in line with paragraphs 7.1 and 1.4, the ratio between the rates per item and per kilogramme shall be the same, with a possible deviation of 0.1 percentage points. 8 Revision of cost-to-tariff ratio 8.1 If a competent authority with oversight for the designated operator which exercises the aforementioned option in paragraph 7 determines that, in order to cover all costs for handling and delivery of small packet (E) letter-post items, the designated operator�s self-declared rate must be based on a cost-to-tariff ratio that exceeds 70% of the domestic single-piece charge, then the cost-to-tariff ratio for that designated operator may exceed 70%, subject to a limitation that the cost-to-tariff ratio to be used shall not exceed one percentage point above the higher of 70% or the cost-to-tariff ratio used in the calculation of the self-declared rates currently in effect, not to exceed 80%, and provided that the designated operator in question furnishes all such supporting information with its notification to the International Bureau under paragraph 1.4, including the validation, in writing, of this information by the aforementioned authority. If any such designated operator increases its cost-to-tariff ratio based on such a determination of a competent authority, then it shall notify the International Bureau of that ratio by 1 May of the year preceding the year in which the ratio shall apply. Further specifications related to the costs and revenues to be used for the calculation of the specific cost-to-tariff ratio shall be provided in the Regulations. 8.2 If a competent authority with oversight for a designated operator classified in group C determines that, in order to cover all costs for handling and delivery of small packet (E) letter-post items, the designated operator�s ceiling rates must be based on a cost-to-tariff ratio that exceeds 70% of the domestic single-piece charge, then the cost-to-tariff ratio for that designated operator may exceed 70% provided that the designated operator in question furnishes all such supporting information with its notification to the International Bureau under paragraph 1, including the validation, in writing, of this information by the aforementioned authority. If any such designated operator increases its cost-to-tariff ratio based on such a determination of a competent authority, then it shall notify the International Bureau of that ratio by 1 May of the year preceding the year in which the ratio shall apply. Further specifications related to the costs and revenues to be used for the calculation of the specific cost-to-tariff ratio shall be provided in the Regulations. ‎‎‎9 If a designated operator exercises the option to self-declare rates in accordance with ‎paragraph 7, the said designated operator ‎should consider making available to sending designated operators of Union member countries, on a non-‎discriminatory basis, proportionately adjusted charges for volume and distance, to the extent practicable ‎and available in the receiving designated operator�s published domestic service for similar services under a bilateral agreement, within the framework of the rules of the national regulatory ‎authority.‎ 10 Any additional conditions and procedures for the self-declaration of rates applicable to small packet (E) letter-post items shall be laid down in the Regulations. 11 No reservations may be made to this article. Article XVI (Article 30 amended) Terminal dues. Provisions to determine the remuneration rates of document (P and G format) letter-post items 1 The per-item and per-kilogramme remuneration rates for small (P) and large (G) letter-post items containing documents shall be calculated on the basis of 70% of the charges for a 20-gramme small (P) letter-post item and for a 175-gramme large (G) letter-post item, exclu�sive of VAT or other taxes. 2 The Postal Operations Council shall define the conditions for the calculation of the rates as well as the necessary operational, statistical and accounting procedures for the exchange of format-separated mails. 3 The rates in a given year shall not lead to an increase of more than 13% in the terminal dues revenue for a letter-post item in the P/G format of 42.3 grammes. 4 The rates applied for small (P) and for large (G) letter-post items may not be higher than: 4.1 for the year 2026, 0.473 SDR per item and 3.692 SDR per kilogramme; 4.2 for the year 2027, 0.508 SDR per item and 3.969 SDR per kilogramme; 4.3 for the year 2028, 0.546 SDR per item and 4.267 SDR per kilogramme; 4.4 for the year 2029, 0.587 SDR per item and 4.587 SDR per kilogramme; 4.5 for the year 2030, 0.631 SDR per item and 4.931 SDR per kilogramme. 5 The rates applied for small (P) and for large (G) letter-post items may not be lower than: 5.1 for the year 2026, 0.345 SDR per item and 2.690 SDR per kilogramme; 5.2 for the year 2027, 0.361 SDR per item and 2.811 SDR per kilogramme; 5.3 for the year 2028, 0.377 SDR per item and 2.937 SDR per kilogramme; 5.4 for the year 2029, 0.394 SDR per item and 3.069 SDR per kilogramme.; 5.5 for the year 2030, 0.412 SDR per item and 3.207 SDR per kilogramme. 6 No reservations may be made to this article. Article XVII (Article 31 deleted) Terminal dues. Provisions applicable to mail flows to, from and between designated operators of countries in the transitional system (Deleted.) Article XVIII (Article 32 amended) Quality of Service Fund 1 Terminal dues payable by all countries and territories to the countries classified as least developed countries in group C for terminal dues and Quality of Service Fund (QSF) purposes, except for M bags, IBRS items and bulk mail items, shall be increased by 20% of the rates provided for in article 28, 29 or 30 for payment into the QSF for improving the quality of service in those countries. There shall be no such payment from one group C country to another group C country. 2 Terminal dues, except for M bags, IBRS items and bulk mail items, payable by countries classified as group A countries to the countries classified as group C countries, other than the least developed countries referred to in paragraph 1 of this article, shall be increased by 10% of the rates countries. 3 Terminal dues, except for M bags, IBRS items and bulk mail items, payable by countries classified as group B countries (excluding those which joined the target system as from 2016) to the countries classified as group C countries, other than the least developed countries referred to in paragraph 1 of this article, shall be increased by 10% of the rates provided for in article 28, 29 or 30, for payment into the QSF for improving the quality of service in those countries. 4 Terminal dues, except in respect of M bags, IBRS items and bulk mail items, payable by countries classified as group B countries which joined the target system as from 2016 to the countries classified as group C countries, other than the least developed countries referred to in paragraph 1 of this article, shall be increased by 5% of the rates provided for in article 28, 29 or 30, for payment into the QSF for improving the quality of service in those countries. 5 An increase of 1%, calculated on the basis of terminal dues payable by countries classified as group A and B countries to the countries classified as group B countries which joined the target system as from 2016, except in respect of M bags, IBRS items and bulk mail items, shall be paid into a common fund to be established for improving the quality of service in countries classified in groups B and C and managed in accordance with the relevant procedures set by the Postal Operations Council. 6 An increase of 0.5%, calculated on the basis of terminal dues payable by countries classified as group A and B countries to the countries classified as group B countries which joined the target system as from 2016, except in respect of M bags, IBRS items and bulk mail items, shall be paid into a special account to be established as part of the common fund referred to in paragraph 5, specifically for improving the quality of service in group C countries classified by the United Nations as least developed countries and managed in accordance with the relevant procedures set by the Postal Operations Council. 7 Subject to the relevant procedures set by the Postal Operations Council, any unused amounts contributed under paragraphs 1, 2, 3 and 4 of this article and accumulated over the four preceding QSF reference years (with 2018 as the earliest reference year) shall also be transferred to the common fund referred to in paragraph 5 of this article. For the purposes of this paragraph, only funds that have not been used in QSF-approved quality of service projects within two years following receipt of the last payment of contributed amounts for any given four-year period as defined above shall be transferred to the aforementioned common fund. 8 The combined terminal dues payable into the QSF for improving the quality of service of countries in group C shall be subject to a minimum of 20,000 SDR per annum for each beneficiary country. The additional funds needed for reaching this minimum amount shall be invoiced, in proportion to the volumes exchanged, to the countries in groups A and B. 9 The Postal Operations Council shall adopt or update procedures for financing QSF projects. Article XIX (Article 33 amended) Provisions to determine the remuneration rates of parcels 1 General provisions 1.1 In 2026, parcels exchanged between two designated operators shall be subject to inward land rates calculated by combining the base rate per parcel and base rate per kilogramme laid down in the Regulations. 1.1.1 In 2026, the global minimum base rate shall correspond to 4.25 SDR for a parcel of 5 kilogrammes. The global minimum base rate results from the application of the following formula: 2.85 SDR per parcel plus 0.28 SDR per kilogramme. Each designated operator shall collect at least this global minimum base rate. 1.1.2 Designated operators may increase their per-parcel and per-kilogramme base rates by up to 40%, on the basis of the service features provided, in accordance with provisions laid down in the Regulations. 1.1.3 The rates mentioned in 1.1, 1.1.1 and 1.1.2 shall be payable by the designated operator of the country of origin, unless the Regulations provide for exceptions to this principle. 1.1.4 The inward land rates shall be uniform for the whole of the territory of each country. 1.2 Beginning with rates in effect for the year 2027 onwards, each designated operator shall provide the International Bureau with its domestic rates for equivalent services in order to determine the ceiling rates for parcels. 1.2.1 The country-specific ceiling rates shall be determined by a linear regression of 7 points corresponding to 100% of the priority single-piece tariffs of equivalent domestic services for 250-gramme, 500-gramme, 1-kilogramme, 2-kilogramme, 5-kilogramme, 10-kilogramme and 20 kilogramme parcel-post items with tracking, exclusive of any taxes. 1.2.2 The domestic single-piece charge for items equivalent to parcels offered by the designated operator in its domestic service shall be those in effect on 1 May of the year preceding the year for which the parcel remuneration rates would be applicable and shall correspond to the specified maximum size and shape dimensions of parcel-post items. 1.2.3 Where zonal rates apply in the equivalent domestic service, the mid-point rate as specified in the Regulations shall be used, and domestic tariffs for non-contiguous zones shall be excluded for determination of the mid-point rate. Alternatively, the determination of the zonal tariff to be used may be based on the actual weighted average distance of inbound parcels (for the most recent calendar year). 1.2.4 Where priority single-piece tariffs in the domestic service are exclusively determined on the basis of their size or dimensions and not their weight, those tariffs shall be used to determine the values in 1.2.1 in accordance with the conditions specified in the Regulations. 1.2.5 A designated operator from group C may elect not to provide its domestic rates in accordance with the provisions applicable in paragraph 4. 1.2.6 For designated operators that do not provide the priority single-piece tariffs of equivalent domestic services in paragraph 1.2 by 1 May of the year preceding the year in which the rates take effect, the priority single-piece tariffs used for the previous year for the designated operator concerned shall apply. If the designated operator concerned has not notified the International Bureau of the relevant priority single-piece tariffs in any prior year, then the minimum rates provided in paragraph 5 shall apply. 1.2.6.1 If, by 1 May of the year preceding the year in which the rates take effect, the priority single-piece tariffs have been reduced compared to the notification of these tariffs of a prior year, the International Bureau shall be informed by the designated operator concerned of any reduction in the domestic charge referred to in this article. 1.3 Additionally, designated operators may notify the International Bureau by 1 May of the year preceding the year in which the remuneration rates would apply of a self-declared rate per item and a self-declared rate per kilogramme, expressed in local currency or SDR, that shall apply to parcels in the following calendar year. The International Bureau shall annually convert the self-declared rates provided in local currency into values expressed in SDR. To calculate the rates in SDR, the International Bureau shall use the average monthly exchange rate of the five-month period ending on the last day of the month of February of the year preceding the year for which the self-declared rates would be applicable. The resultant rates shall be notified by means of an International Bureau circular no later than 1 July of the year preceding the year in which the self-declared rates would apply. 2 At the average parcel weight of 4.652 kilogrammes, the self-declared rates shall not be higher than the annual maximum revenue determined as follows: 2.1 2027: 25% of the revenue calculated at the weight of 4.652 kilogrammes on the basis of the ceiling rates in 1.2 and 75% of the revenue calculated at the weight of 4.652 kilogrammes on the basis of the inward land rates in effect in 2026; 2.2 2028: 50% of the revenue calculated at the weight of 4.652 kilogrammes on the basis of the ceiling rates in 1.2 and 50% of the revenue calculated at the weight of 4.652 kilogrammes on the basis of the inward land rates in effect in 2026; 2.3 2029: 75% of the revenue calculated at the weight of 4.652 kilogrammes on the basis of the ceiling rates in 1.2 and 25% of the revenue calculated at the weight of 4.652 kilogrammes on the basis of the inward land rates in effect in 2026; 2.4 2030: 100% of the revenue calculated at the weight of 4.652 kilogrammes on the basis of the ceiling rates in 1.2; 2.5 In 2.1 to 2.4 above, the inward land rates are the per-parcel and per-kilogramme base rates in 1.1 of the year 2026 further increased by 40% and reduced by 1.200 SDR per parcel. The deduction of 1.200 SDR shall not be made for those designated operators whose domestic service tariffs notified under 1.2.1 are inclusive of proof of delivery. 3 Maximum annual increases and decreases 3.1 Where the maximum annual revenue in 2 is higher than the revenue of the previous year increased by 20%, then the revenue of the previous year increased by 20% shall substitute the maximum rev�enue in 2. 3.2 Where the maximum annual revenue in 2 is less than the revenue of the previous year decreased by 10%, then the revenue of the previous year decreased by 10% shall substitute the maximum revenue in 2. 3.3 For the rates in effect in 2027, the revenue of the previous year shall be the revenue calculated at the weight of 4.652 kilogrammes on the basis of the per-parcel and per-kilogramme base rates in 1.1 of the year 2026 further increased by 40% and reduced by 1.200 SDR per parcel. 3.3.1 The deduction of 1.200 SDR in paragraph 3.3 shall not be made for those designated operators whose domestic service tariffs notified under 1.2.1 are inclusive of proof of delivery. 3.4 For the rates in effect from 2028, the revenue of the previous year shall be the revenue calculated at the weight of 4.652 kilogrammes on the basis of the self-declared per-item and per-kilogramme rates. 4 Beginning with rates in effect from 2027, if the competent authority with oversight for the designated operator classified in group C determines that domestic tariffs in 1.2.1 are not set in relation to costs, the designated operator may substitute the maximum revenue in 2 and 3 above with the per-parcel and per-kilogramme base rates in 1.1 of the year 2026, further increased by 40% and subsequently reduced by 1.200 SDR per parcel. Beginning with rates in effect from 2028, the designated operator invoking the provision in 4 may apply an annual increase of 4.5% to these rates. 4.1 The determination by the competent authority in 4 shall be submitted, in writing, to the International Bureau by 1 May of the year preceding the year in which the rates take effect. 4.2 The designated operator invoking paragraph 4 shall self-declare a per-parcel and per-kilogramme rate in accordance with all other provisions in this article. The revenue calculated at the weight of 4.652 kilogrammes on the basis of these self-declared rates shall not exceed: 4.2.1 2027: 10.697 SDR; 4.2.2 2028: 11.177 SDR; 4.2.3 2029: 11.679 SDR; 4.2.4 2030: 12.204 SDR. 5 Where the maximum revenues calculated in accordance with paragraphs 2, 3 and 4 result in a revenue calculated for a parcel item at 4.652 kilogrammes that is lower than the revenue calculated for the same item at the same weight on the basis of the minimum global rates specified below, the self-declared rates shall not be higher than the following rates: 5.1 for the year 2027, 4.560 SDR per item and 0.448 SDR per kilogramme; 5.2 for the year 2028, 4.765 SDR per item and 0.468 SDR per kilogramme; 5.3 for the year 2029, 4.979 SDR per item and 0.489 SDR per kilogramme; 5.4 for the year 2030, 5.203 SDR per item and 0.511 SDR per kilogramme. 6 The determination of whether the self-declared rates exceed the maximum revenues in paragraphs 2, 3 and 4 shall be tested at the revenue using the average parcel weight of 4.652 kilogrammes. In instances where the notified self-declared rates exceed the maximum revenues in paragraphs 2, 3 and 4 the provisions in paragraph 7.1 shall apply; alternatively, the designated operator in question may choose to reduce its self-declared rates to a level that complies with the provisions of this article. 6.1 The self-declared rate per parcel in paragraph 6 shall not be less than the maximum performance-related incentive specified in the Regulations. This amount shall be deducted from the self-declared per-parcel rate published by means of an International Bureau circular no later than 1 July of the year preceding the year in which the self-declared rates would apply. 6.2 The designated operator can recover the amount in 6.1, in full or in part, by providing service features, in accordance with provisions laid down in the Regulations. 7 For designated operators that have elected to self-declare their rates for parcels in a prior calendar year and that do not communicate different self-declared rates for the subsequent year, the existing self-declared rates shall continue to apply unless they do not satisfy the conditions laid out in this article. The designated operator may apply the minimum rates provided in paragraph 5. 7.1 For designated operators that have elected not to self-declare their rates for parcels in a prior calendar year and that do not communicate self-declared rates for the subsequent year, the remuneration rates shall be based on maximum revenues in paragraphs 2 and 3 and apply the same ratio between the item rate and kilogramme rate of the previous year or determined in accordance with the provi�sions in paragraph 4, as appropriate. 8 Beginning with rates in effect for the year 2027 onwards, for parcels with proof of delivery, there shall be an additional payment of 1.200 SDR per item or the charge applicable for proof of delivery in the domestic service. This remuneration shall not be paid to those designated operators whose domestic service tariffs notified under 1.2.1 are inclusive of proof of delivery. 8.1 Designated operators that apply the equivalent charge in the domestic service shall notify the International Bureau by no later than 1 May of the year preceding the year in which the rates take effect of that charge, exclusive of any taxes, in effect on that date. To calculate the rates in SDR, the International Bureau shall use the average monthly exchange rate of the five-month period ending on the last day of the month of February of the year preceding the year for which the payment would be applicable. The applicable amount shall be published, in SDR, in the same circular referred to in paragraph 1.3. 9 Where the domestic tariffs for a parcel weighing 4.652 kg with delivery to the non-contiguous zones were excluded from the calculation of the ceiling rates in 1.2, the destination designated operator may apply a supplementary rate to its self-declared rates for items delivered to these zones that shall correspond to or be lower than the difference between these values in accordance with the conditions set out in the Regulations. 10 Any designated operator which participates in the sea conveyance of parcels shall be authorized to claim sea rates. These rates shall be payable by the designated operator of the country of origin, unless the Regulations provide for exceptions to this principle. 10.1 For each sea conveyance used, the sea rate shall be laid down in the Regulations according to the distance step applicable. 10.2 Designated operators may increase by 50% at most the sea rate calculated in accordance with 10.1. On the other hand, they may reduce it as they wish. Article XX (Article 35 amended) Provisions specific to the settlement of accounts and payments for international postal exchanges 1 Settlements and payments in respect of operations carried out in accordance with the present Convention (including settlements and payments for the transport (forwarding) of postal items, settlements and payments for the treatment of postal items in the country of destination or transit and settlements and payments in compensation for any loss, theft or damage relating to postal items) shall be based on and made in accordance with the provisions of the Convention and other Acts of the Union, and shall not require the preparation of any documents by a designated operator except in cases provided for in the Acts of the Union. 2 In order to ensure the provision of the universal postal service, as set forth in article 3, and the integrity of the international postal network, designated operators shall make payments for operations carried out in accordance with the Acts of the Union. Following settlement, if a designated operator fails to pay another designated operator in a timely manner for undisputed debts stemming from such operations, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Acts of the Union, the creditor designated operator may suspend the provision of postal services as per the relevant procedures set forth in the Regulations (without prejudice to Council of Administration guidance on matters of fundamental policy and principles). Article XXI (Article 36 amended) Authority of the Postal Operations Council to fix charges and rates 1 The Postal Operations Council shall have the authority to fix the following rates, charges and other elements as outlined in paragraph 1.3, which are payable by designated operators in accordance with the conditions shown in the Regulations 1.1 transit charges for the handling and conveyance of letter mails through one or more intermediary countries; 1.2 basic rates and air conveyance dues for the carriage of mail by air; 1.3 performance-related incentive elements for parcels; 1.4 transit land rates for the handling and conveyance of parcels through an intermediary country; 1.5 sea rates for the conveyance of parcels by sea. 1.6 outward land rates for the provision of the merchandise return service for parcels. 2 Any revision made, in accordance with a methodology that ensures equitable remuneration for designated operators performing the services, must be based on reliable and representative economic and financial data. Any change decided upon shall enter into force at a date set by the Postal Operations Council. Article XXII Entry into force and duration of the Additional Protocol to the Universal Postal Convention This Additional Protocol shall come into force on 1 January 2027 (with the exception of articles IV, V, XII to XIX and XXI, as well as the amendments made to paragraphs 2.1, 2.4 and 3.3. of article VIII and paragraphs 4.2, 6.1.1.1 and 6.1.1bis of article IX, which shall come into force on 1 January 2026), and shall remain in force for an indefinite period. In witness whereof the plenipotentiaries of the governments of the member countries have drawn up this Additional Protocol, which shall have the same force and the same validity as if its provisions were inserted in the text of the Universal Postal Convention itself, and they have signed it in a single original which shall be deposited with the Director General of the International Bureau. A copy thereof shall be delivered to each member country by the International Bureau of the Universal Postal Union. Done at Dubai, 19 September 2025. 1 An exception shall be granted to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the country which invented the postage stamp.