Canada
Start date: 18 March 2020
End date: ongoing
The designated operator of Canada, Canada Post, asks us to inform that it continues to experience significant disruption to its activities owing to the exceptional precautionary measures implemented to protect the health and safety of its employees and Canadians, as well as persistent challenges relating to the availability of transport links.
Canada is experiencing a second wave of COVID-19 and all provinces therefore remain in a state of emergency. The force majeure situation previously declared for all international letter-post, parcel-post and EMS items will remain in effect up to 31 December 2020 and until further notice.
Canada Post provides regular updates on the challenges that it faces owing to COVID-19, including record growth in parcel volumes exceeding operational capacity, the implementation of new safety measures, and changes to delivery procedures. These updates can be found on the COVID-19 updates page of the Canada Post website at the following link.
It has not been possible to ensure on-time delivery since 18 March 2020, and this guarantee remains suspended until further notice. Please refer to the current service delivery alerts listed on the Canada Post website at the following link.
El Salvador
Start date: 17 March 2020
End date: 15 December 2020
The designated operator of El Salvador, Correos de El Salvador, wishes to inform that its international inbound mail services are operating normally as of 15 December 2020.
In addition, outbound services have resumed to all countries for which it is currently possible, as reported by each country, and provided that routeing is possible.
It should be noted, however, that delays are to be expected in the processing and delivery of letter post, owing to the sanitary measures that are currently part of the “new normal”. Correos de El Salvador is, however, taking all possible measures for the execution of normal services.
Greece
Start date: 4 November 2020
End date: ongoing
The designated operator of Greece, Hellenic Post (ELTA), would like to inform that the Greek Government has extended the general lockdown in place throughout Greece in response to the COVID-19 pandemic until the end of January 2021.
Although Hellenic Post will endeavour to minimize the effects of this extended lockdown, there will nevertheless continue to be a direct impact on the collection and delivery of domestic and international mail.
Israel
Start date: 16 March 2020
End date: ongoing
The designated operator of Israel, Israel Postal Company, would like to inform that, owing to the increasing number of people affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government of Israel and the country’s health authorities have declared a general lockdown for the whole country. This has come into effect on 27 December 2020, and last until 11 January 2021.
This lockdown may be extended by another two weeks after reassessment of the situation by the relevant authorities. Israel Postal Company will update member countries and designated operators accordingly.
During the lockdown, movements of people outside their homes will be restricted throughout the country, as will commercial activities, entailing the closure of shops and some other businesses.
Postal services will continue to function with restrictions, including closure of delivery points in shops, application of quarantine in high-risk areas, reduced working hours in post offices, and reduction of the workforce to minimize contacts between people. Items normally requiring the addressee’s signature upon delivery will continue to be handed over without signature.
These measures will affect the processing and delivery of all types of services, including outbound and inbound letter post, parcel post and EMS, with an impact on quality of service.
Italy – weather issues
Start date: 27 December 2020
End date: 28 December 2020
Poste Italiane wishes to inform that, owing to bad weather conditions in Northern Italy, the ITLINA office of exchange (MILANO P. BORROMEO C.S.I.) suffered an electrical blackout on Sunday, 27 December 2020, resulting in the suspension of outbound operations. Dispatch closure activities resumed the following morning.
In addition, following structural damage to ITMILA (MILANO ROSERIO DOGANA), the exchange office dedicated to customs clearance, delays in the acceptance of the mail from non-European Union countries are to be expected (customs processing times having already grown longer during this peak traffic period).
Finally, heavy traffic on roads to and from airports is also affecting vehicles carrying international mail.
Mongolia
Start date: 27 January 2020
End date: ongoing
The designated operator of Mongolia, Mongol Post, informs that the government has introduced further lockdown measures from 23 December 2020 to 6 January 2021.
The Altanbulag northern border crossing is closed for two months from 16 November 2020 to 15 January 2021. This closure affects road transportation from and to Mongolia.
Ulaanbaatar city is fully locked down, with movements in and out of the city restricted. However, as a key service, Mongol Post is able to continue its activities.
International air traffic is limited to charter and cargo flights only, with operations mainly confined to a few flights from Ulaanbaatar to Seoul.
Mongol Post is accepting all types of mail to a reduced number of destinations, including Japan, Korea (Rep.) and the United States of America, and EMS items for Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong (China), the Netherlands, the Russian Federation and the United Kingdom through Seoul in open transit.
It is also able to accept and deliver all types of inbound mail received via Seoul, but there may be some delays due to sanitization processes at the exchange office.
Panama
Start date: 4 January 2021
End date: 14 January 2021
The designated operator of Panama (Rep.), Correos de Panamá, informs the national government has issued Executive Decree No. 1686 of 28 December 2020, setting out sanitary measures to restrict movement in the provinces of Panamá and Panamá Oeste owing to an increase in the number of COVID-19 infections.
In view of these measures and other quarantine requirements, which will apply from 4 to 14 January 2021, post offices in these two provinces will remain closed and no inbound or outbound mail will be accepted. The following post offices will be affected:
Panamá Oeste, Code 8: 1001 (El Valle), 1003 (Arraiján), 1005 (Vista Alegre), 1007 (Capira), 1011 (Chame), 1013 (Bejuco), 1015 (La Chorrera), 1017 (San Carlos);
Panamá Este, Code 17: 0807 (Chepo), 0816 (Zona 5-Las Américas-Calidonia), 0818 (Zona 6- Bethania), 0819 (Zona 6a.-El Dorado), 0823 (Zona 7-Plaza Concordia), 0830 (Zona 9- San Francisco), 0832 (World Trade Center), 0833 (Plaza Panamá), 0834 (Zona 9a.-Carrasquilla), 0835 (Zona 10-Parque Lefevre), 0838 (Zona 12- Los Pueblos), 0843 (Balboa, Ancón), 0844 (Paraíso), 0847 (Chilibre), 0850 (Zona 15- Las Cumbres), 0857 (Zona 14- El Machetazo 24 de Dic.), 0860 (Villa Lucre).
Delivery delays are to be expected with regard to inbound mail arriving at Panama’s offices of exchange between the aforementioned dates and destined for the post offices of Panamá and Panamá Oeste.
It should be noted that all other post offices, mail processing centres (domestic and international) and the air transhipment office at the airport are operating with reduced working hours.
The administrative offices will be closed from 4 to 14 January 2021. However, communication via e-mail will be maintained as necessary and with a reduced workforce.
Correos de Panamá also reiterates that it is able to receive inbound mail.
However, in view of reduced capacity and the limited number of outbound destinations served by airlines, transit services (open and closed transit) for all categories of mail items remain suspended.
Correos de Panamá is unable to guarantee service standards for inbound and outbound mail, and the situation of force majeure already invoked with respect to quality of service and the quality link to remuneration for all categories of mail items continues to apply until further notice.
Portugal
Start date: 23 March 2020
End date: ongoing
The designated postal operator of Portugal, CTT Correios de Portugal, would like to inform that, in order to combat the resurgence of the COVID-19 pandemic, on 17 December 2020 the Portuguese Government announced a new lockdown, which will last at least until 7 January 2021.
During the lockdown, CTT Correios de Portugal will continue to provide postal services, but will operate with a reduced workforce and subject to the new restrictions and safety guidelines. The processing and delivery of all types of inbound and outbound mail (letter-post, parcel-post and EMS items) will continue to be affected, and CTT Correios de Portugal is unable to guarantee compliance with the agreed standards. Therefore, the force majeure situation declared previously remains in place until further notice.
Saudi Arabia – new regulations for the transmission of electronic advance data
Start date: 1 January 2021
Saudi Post Corporation wishes to inform that, in accordance with the relevant provisions and as required by the customs and border security authorities of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, electronic advance data (EAD) is required from 1 January 2021 for all inbound international postal items containing goods addressed to Saudi Arabia.
Any international postal items containing goods that arrive without EAD may be subject to customs clearance delays or be deemed inadmissible by Customs under articles 19-101 and 19-201 of the Convention Regulations, which may result in the return of the items to the sender.
Saudi Post Corporation further reiterates that the dataset provided must be correct and accurate, as this information provides the basis for acceptance, release and clearance of the items by customs authorities.
Compliance in this area will ensure the efficient processing and delivery of international postal items in keeping with customer expectations.
Serbia
Start date: 16 March 2020
End date: ongoing
The designated operator of Serbia, Public Enterprise Post of Serbia, asks us to inform that, following the lifting of the state of emergency in Serbia, the sorting and delivery of inbound international postal items has been normalized. However, owing to the lack of transport routes and restrictions in air traffic, outbound postal traffic has not yet been established with all countries.
The list of destination for which Public Enterprise Post of Serbia performs the receipt of postal items is regularly updated and is available to customers on the Post’s corporate website at https://posta.rs/index-
South Africa
Start date: 10 December 2020
End date: ongoing
The designated operator of South Africa, South African Post Office (SAPO), asks us to inform that the lockdown relating to the COVID-19 pandemic has been adjusted to level 3 countrywide until 15 January 2021. This is to curb the spread of the virus as South Africa has entered into the second wave. To this end, certain business sectors and some public facilities have been closed and international trade limited.
SAPO will continue to dispatch mail to countries if the relevant air carrier is operating. It will also continue to receive mail from countries that send mail to SAPO for delivery in South Africa.
However, it will not be possible to meet delivery standards; this applies to all mail classes.
SAPO is therefore once again operating under force majeure conditions until 15 January 2021.
Thailand
Start date: 25 December 2020
End date: ongoing
Thailand Post would like to inform that, in response to the recent increase in the number of COVID-19 cases, the Thai Government has declared special measures, placing areas in one of four categories depending on the level of severity. Samut Sakhon province has been locked down and declared a maximum control zone.
Accessibility to affected areas is limited, and delays are to be expected in handling and delivery processes for all types of international postal services (letter post, parcel post and EMS), especially in Samut Sakhon (delivery office codes 74XXX). Signature upon delivery may also be suspended. Thailand Post is therefore unable to guarantee quality standards for any category of inbound and outbound mail until further notice.
Vietnam
Start date: 16 March 2020
End date: 22 December 2020
The designated operator of Viet Nam, VNPost, asks us to inform that the COVID-19 situation in Viet Nam has now improved sufficiently for postal services to again be provided as normal.
Therefore, the delivery of all inbound letter-post, parcel-post and EMS items will strictly follow the standards declared in the respective compendia.