Royal Mail product changes - international bulk mail services
In April 2007, Royal Mail applied for a Direction from Postcomm for exemption from Condition 7 for its international contract (bulk mail) services. Specifically Royal Mail requested exemption from the three month pre-notification requirements set out in Condition 7(2) and (3) and therefore by implication the publication requirements of Condition 7(4). In addition, Royal Mail requested exemption from the publication requirements of contracts won through competitive tenders set out in Condition 7(5)(b).
Postcomm issued a consultation letter to stakeholders including other licensed postal operators, postal users, Postwatch, trade associations and other interested parties in the postal sector. The consultation letter set out that international contract (bulk mail) services appeared to be offered in a developed sector of the market and asked for respondents’ views on this issue. It also set out Postcomm’s minded-to position and welcomed stakeholder views on it.
After careful consideration of the responses to this consultation, Postcomm has issued a direction exempting Royal Mail’s international contract (bulk mail) services from the pre-notification and publication requirements of Condition 7(2), (3) and (4). In addition, Postcomm has exempted international contract (bulk mail) services from the publication requirements of Condition 7(5)(b) if the tender was for international bulk mail services only, or international bulk mail services combined with another service or services which Postcomm has directed in writing, as exempt from the publication requirements of Condition 7(5)(b).
The full text of the direction, including Postcomm’s reasoning for its decision, can be found on the link below.
Related documents:
- 19 December 2007 - direction
- Postal Services Act 2000, Sections 11 and 13. Licence granted to Royal Mail Group plc, Schedule 2, Part 3, Condition 7. Direction in relation to Royal Mail’s international contract (bulk mail) services (pdf, 43KB)
- 13 November 2007 - consultation responses
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Royal Mail (pdf, 73KB)
Mail Consolidators Association and Postwatch (pdf, 18KB) - 1August 2007 - consultation letter
- Request for an exemption from notification requirements for Royal Mail's international contract (bulk mail) services (pdf, 38KB)
- 1 August 2007 - news release
- Royal Mail's application for exemption from notification requirements for changes to international bulk mail products
- 17 April 2007 - Royal Mail's application
- Application for a Direction from Postcomm for exemption from Condition 7 for Royal Mail international Contract (Bulk Mail) Services (pdf, 84KB)
