The 2021 price changes reflect several influencing factors including declining mail volumes, losses on UK mail and the significant cost of flying mail off the island, as well as recent pressures on businesses locally. Additionally, a Universal Postal Union (UPU) regulation change, approved by the UK government, has meant that postal authorities globally are now able to charge much higher rates for the receipt and handling of inbound mail. This means there will be an average increase of 6% to the UK and 20% to international destinations.

The UPU is built up of 192 member countries of postal sector players. It helps ensure a universal network of up-to-date products and services. As a member of the UPU, Jersey Post is bound by the regulations imposed upon postal authorities and as such must abide by its regulations.

Regulatory changes introduced by the Universal Postal Union (UPU) include:

• Goods and Merchandise can only be sent as Parcel and Large Parcel mail formats to International destinations. Letter and Large Letter mail formats are only to be used for items of mail containing Letters, Cards and/or Documents. Whilst an item of mail containing Goods and/or Merchandise may fit into a letter format, it must be charged and sent as a parcel format due to the UPU regulatory changes. 
• Goods and/or Merchandise being sent to the UK can use any mail format, as long as the correct customs label is completed and attached.
• Parcel items containing goods or merchandise being sent to International destinations require electronic pre-advice customs information. This has been delayed for items being sent to the United Kingdom until Q1 of 2022. For more information, please click here. 

The UPU has responded to the huge increase in e-commerce transactions which has led to unsustainable volumes of goods being sent by letter post, principally from south-east Asia. The changes are designed to properly differentiate mail type by content and ensure proper remuneration to postal authorities for the delivery of letters and parcels. The change also facilitates efficient compliance with emerging security and customs requirements for electronic advanced data.