June 24, 2025 Approval of Amendments to the Terms and Conditions for International Mail

　The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) received an application from Japan Post Co., Ltd. for approving changes to its postal terms and conditions, in accordance with Article 68, Paragraph 1 of the Postal Act (Act No. 165 of 1947). The MIC then consulted the matter with the Information and Communications and Posts Administrative Council, chaired by AIDA Hitoshi, professor emeritus at the University of Tokyo. The MIC has received a report from the Council stating that approval should be granted as consulted.
Based on the Council's opinion, the MIC has granted approval regarding the application today.

Approving amendments to the terms and conditions for international mail in response to the revision of the Universal Postal Convention

(1) Background and content of application
(a) With the growth of e-commerce, the global handling of small packets has increased, heightening the need to eliminate face-to-face signature requirements. In response to this trend, the UPU 4th Extraordinary Congress held in October 2023 adopted an amendment to the Universal Postal Convention. Under this amendment, registration service for letter-post items containing goods will be abolished. In response, the handling of registration service for small packets and for items for the blind containing goods will be discontinued.
(b) In response to the above amendment to the Universal Postal Convention, the handling of valuable articles other than money by registered small packets—currently allowed in registered small packets or insured parcels—will also be discontinued.
(c) In response to the above amendment to the Universal Postal Convention, the handling of radioactive materials and infectious substances—currently allowed in registered small packets to a limited number of countries—will also be discontinued.
(d) The minimum size of the roll form items handled as letter-post or parcel-post items as stipulated by the Regulations to the Universal Postal Convention has been changed. In response, the change will be reflected in the Terms and Conditions for International Mail.
(e) Under the Universal Postal Convention, destination countries are not obliged to respond to inquiries for tracked items (such as international e-packet light). Accordingly, it will be possible to exclude countries that do not respond to inquiries from the list of countries eligible to submit inquiries.

(2) Scheduled implementation date

January 1, 2026