The 28th Universal Postal Congress in Dubai adopted an Integrated Remuneration System for 2026 to 2030: letter-post pay is based on item content rather than bulk weight, small packets move to a per-item method by 2027, and parcel rates can increasingly be self-declared from domestic tariffs and linked to delivery performance. Congress also added a delivered-duty-paid (DDP) service to the product plan and raised mandatory item scans from six to twelve. The UPU says it prepared DDP solutions for EU countries ahead of the EU's July 2026 change.
Key dates
- Done1 Jul 2026
EU low-value duty applies; UPU says it prepared DDP solutions for EU destinations ahead of it Universal Postal Union
- 1 Jan 2027
Small packets move to per-item remuneration (year only; month not stated) Universal Postal Union
Every date of this rule, with what it means for a parcel and what to prepare. If a date moves, your calendar moves with it.
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Who it hits
What to prepare
- Re-cost postal small-packet products per item rather than per kilo for 2027
- Check partner posts' readiness for twelve scan events and DDP
- Compare postal DDP with commercial channels on EU and US lanes
Our reading
Sources
- UPU leaves Dubai with bold new outlook · Universal Postal Union · 2025-12-16
- Readying the network for a regulatory overhaul: three trends shaping the postal landscape · Universal Postal Union · 2026-09-28
- Decisions of the 2025 Dubai Congress · Universal Postal Union
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Information, not legal advice. Dates come from official texts or quality legal and trade press, and slip often: always check the current text before acting. Back to the full radar.