February 21, 2023 Approval for Amendments to International Postal Contract and Postal Service Management Regulations

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) submitted an inquiry to the Information and Communications and Posts Administrative Council (chaired by KAWAHAMA Noboru (professor, School of Law, Kyoto University). The inquiry concerns an application from Japan Post Co., Ltd. regarding approval for the amendments to the International Postal Contract under the provisions of Article 68, Paragraph 1 of the Postal Act (Act No. 165 of 1947) and approval for the amendments to the postal service management regulations under the provisions of Article 70, Paragraph 1 of the same Act. MIC has now received a report from the Council stating that it is appropriate to grant approval.
In response to the report, MIC approved this application today.

1. Amendments to International Postal Contract on the imposition on senders of obligatory submission of electronic advance data

1. Background to the application

The Universal Postal Union (UPU) has encouraged its member countries to facilitate the transmission of electronic advance data (EAD) on international postal items, that should be sent from countries of origin to countries of destination and transit , in order to facilitate smooth provision of international postal services through optimization of customs clearance for international mail.
Under such circumstances, Japan Post also has encouraged senders of international postal items to submit EAD. In order to further strengthen this initiative, Japan Post intends to make it obligatory from March 1, 2024 for senders of international postal items to submit EAD, which will be transmitted worldwide (to all the countries of destination and transit). By doing so, Japan Post aims to achieve further smooth provision of international postal services, and therefore intends to make the necessary amendments to the International Postal Contract for this purpose.

2. Details of amendments

Amendments to provisions arising from the imposition of obligatory submission of electronic advance data (EAD) by senders (Article 8-2 of the International Postal Contract (Treatment of electronic advance data))

3. Purpose

March 1, 2024 (A one-year notice period will be set for users)

2. Amendments to International Postal Contract and Postal Service Management Regulations arising from the termination of services relating to aerogrammes and international postcards

1. Background to the application

As part of its international postal services, Japan Post has sold aerogrammes since March 1949 and international postcards since April 1988. However, due to overall slowdown in letter use along with the recent spread of e-mail and other online services, sales of aerogrammes and international postcards have been stagnant for many years.
In light of this situation, Japan Post has decided to terminate services relating to aerogrammes and international postcards as of October 1, 2023, and therefore intends to make the necessary amendments to the International Postal Contract and the Postal Service Management Regulations.

2. Details of amendments

Deletion and revision of provisions arising from the termination of services relating to aerogrammes and international postcards (Article 19 (Aerogrammes) and Article 20 (International postcards) of the International Postal Contract, and Article 4 (Issue of postage stamps, etc.) of the postal service management regulations)

3. Planned date of implementation

October 1, 2023

3. Amendments to International Postal Contract arising from the revision of the Regulations to the Universal Postal Convention

1. Background to the application

Japan Post intends to amend the International Postal Contract in response to the revisions of the Regulations to the Universal Postal Convention, that will change the position where customs declarations (there are two forms: CN22 and CN23) for international postal items should be attached and the conditions for their attachment .

2. Details of amendments

Amendments to provisions arising from changes to the position where customs declarations (CN22 and CN23) for international postal items should be attached and the conditions for their attachment (Article 17 (General conditions of use) of the International Postal Contract, etc.)

3. Planned date of implementation

June 1, 2023 (date on which revised Regulations to the Universal Postal Convention enter into force)

4. Amendments to International Postal Contract to ensure the stable framework of provisions relating to the exchange value of international reply coupons

1. Background to the application

According to the Regulations to the Universal Postal Convention, the exchange value of international reply coupons is set in Japan at the rate for postage to the most expensive region under the lowest weight class for airmail letters, that allows for postage to all regions under this class. This rate currently stands at 130 yen.
Rather than directly indicating the monetary amount of this exchange value in the International Postal Contract, Japan Post has decided to refer to descriptions in the table of charges to ensure the stable framework of the provisions in respect of possible future amendments to postal rates defined in the table of charges, therefore intends to amend the International Postal Contract.

2. Details of amendments

Amendments to provisions for referring to descriptions in the table of charges to clarify the exchange value of international reply coupons (Article 120 (International reply coupons) of the International Mail Terms and Conditions, etc.)

3. Planned date of implementation

October 1, 2023 (the same date as the termination of services relating to aerogrammes and international postcards, which are currently defined among the items to be exchanged for international reply coupons)

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