Artikel 33

1. General provisions
1.1 In 2026, parcels exchanged between two designated operators shall be subject to inward land rates calculated by combining the base rate per parcel and base rate per kilogramme laid down in the Regulations. 1.1.1 In 2026, the global minimum base rate shall correspond to 4.25 SDR for a parcel of 5 kilogrammes. The global minimum base rate results from the application of the following formula: 2.85 SDR per parcel plus 0.28 SDR per kilogramme. Each designated operator shall collect at least this global minimum base rate.
1.1.2 Designated operators may increase their per-parcel and per-kilogramme base rates by up to 40%, on the basis of the service features provided, in accordance with provisions laid down in the Regulations.
1.1.3 The rates mentioned in 1.1, 1.1.1 and 1.1.2 shall be payable by the designated operator of the country of origin, unless the Regulations provide for exceptions to this principle.
1.1.4 The inward land rates shall be uniform for the whole of the territory of each country.
1.1.1 In 2026, the global minimum base rate shall correspond to 4.25 SDR for a parcel of 5 kilogrammes. The global minimum base rate results from the application of the following formula: 2.85 SDR per parcel plus 0.28 SDR per kilogramme. Each designated operator shall collect at least this global minimum base rate.
1.1.2 Designated operators may increase their per-parcel and per-kilogramme base rates by up to 40%, on the basis of the service features provided, in accordance with provisions laid down in the Regulations.
1.1.3 The rates mentioned in 1.1, 1.1.1 and 1.1.2 shall be payable by the designated operator of the country of origin, unless the Regulations provide for exceptions to this principle.
1.1.4 The inward land rates shall be uniform for the whole of the territory of each country.
1.2 Beginning with rates in effect for the year 2027 onwards, each designated operator shall provide the International Bureau with its domestic rates for equivalent services in order to determine the ceiling rates for parcels. 1.2.1 The country-specific ceiling rates shall be determined by a linear regression of 7 points corresponding to 100% of the priority single-piece tariffs of equivalent domestic services for 250-gramme, 500-gramme, 1-kilogramme, 2-kilogramme, 5-kilogramme, 10-kilogramme and 20 kilogramme parcel-post items with tracking, exclusive of any taxes.
1.2.2 The domestic single-piece charge for items equivalent to parcels offered by the designated operator in its domestic service shall be those in effect on 1 May of the year preceding the year for which the parcel remuneration rates would be applicable and shall correspond to the specified maximum size and shape dimensions of parcel-post items.
1.2.3 Where zonal rates apply in the equivalent domestic service, the mid-point rate as specified in the Regulations shall be used, and domestic tariffs for non-contiguous zones shall be excluded for determination of the mid-point rate. Alternatively, the determination of the zonal tariff to be used may be based on the actual weighted average distance of inbound parcels (for the most recent calendar year).
1.2.4 Where priority single-piece tariffs in the domestic service are exclusively determined on the basis of their size or dimensions and not their weight, those tariffs shall be used to determine the values in 1.2.1 in accordance with the conditions specified in the Regulations.
1.2.5 A designated operator of a country in group C may elect not to provide its domestic rates in accordance with the provisions applicable in paragraph 4.
1.2.6 For designated operators that do not provide the priority single-piece tariffs of equivalent domestic services in paragraph 1.2 by 1 May of the year preceding the year in which the rates take effect, the priority single-piece tariffs used for the previous year for the designated operator concerned shall apply. If the designated operator concerned has not notified the International Bureau of the relevant priority single-piece tariffs in any prior year, then the minimum rates provided in paragraph 5 shall apply. 1.2.6.1 If, by 1 May of the year preceding the year in which the rates take effect, the priority single-piece tariffs have been reduced compared to the notification of these tariffs of a prior year, the International Bureau shall be informed by the designated operator concerned of any reduction in the domestic charge referred to in this article.
1.2.6.1 If, by 1 May of the year preceding the year in which the rates take effect, the priority single-piece tariffs have been reduced compared to the notification of these tariffs of a prior year, the International Bureau shall be informed by the designated operator concerned of any reduction in the domestic charge referred to in this article.
1.2.1 The country-specific ceiling rates shall be determined by a linear regression of 7 points corresponding to 100% of the priority single-piece tariffs of equivalent domestic services for 250-gramme, 500-gramme, 1-kilogramme, 2-kilogramme, 5-kilogramme, 10-kilogramme and 20 kilogramme parcel-post items with tracking, exclusive of any taxes.
1.2.2 The domestic single-piece charge for items equivalent to parcels offered by the designated operator in its domestic service shall be those in effect on 1 May of the year preceding the year for which the parcel remuneration rates would be applicable and shall correspond to the specified maximum size and shape dimensions of parcel-post items.
1.2.3 Where zonal rates apply in the equivalent domestic service, the mid-point rate as specified in the Regulations shall be used, and domestic tariffs for non-contiguous zones shall be excluded for determination of the mid-point rate. Alternatively, the determination of the zonal tariff to be used may be based on the actual weighted average distance of inbound parcels (for the most recent calendar year).
1.2.4 Where priority single-piece tariffs in the domestic service are exclusively determined on the basis of their size or dimensions and not their weight, those tariffs shall be used to determine the values in 1.2.1 in accordance with the conditions specified in the Regulations.
1.2.5 A designated operator of a country in group C may elect not to provide its domestic rates in accordance with the provisions applicable in paragraph 4.
1.2.6 For designated operators that do not provide the priority single-piece tariffs of equivalent domestic services in paragraph 1.2 by 1 May of the year preceding the year in which the rates take effect, the priority single-piece tariffs used for the previous year for the designated operator concerned shall apply. If the designated operator concerned has not notified the International Bureau of the relevant priority single-piece tariffs in any prior year, then the minimum rates provided in paragraph 5 shall apply. 1.2.6.1 If, by 1 May of the year preceding the year in which the rates take effect, the priority single-piece tariffs have been reduced compared to the notification of these tariffs of a prior year, the International Bureau shall be informed by the designated operator concerned of any reduction in the domestic charge referred to in this article.
1.2.6.1 If, by 1 May of the year preceding the year in which the rates take effect, the priority single-piece tariffs have been reduced compared to the notification of these tariffs of a prior year, the International Bureau shall be informed by the designated operator concerned of any reduction in the domestic charge referred to in this article.
1.3 Additionally, designated operators may notify the International Bureau by 1 May of the year preceding the year in which the remuneration rates would apply of a self-declared rate per item and a self-declared rate per kilogramme, expressed in local currency or SDR, that shall apply to parcels in the following calendar year. The International Bureau shall annually convert the self-declared rates provided in local currency into values expressed in SDR. To calculate the rates in SDR, the International Bureau shall use the average monthly exchange rate of the five-month period ending on the last day of the month of February of the year preceding the year for which the self-declared rates would be applicable. The resultant rates shall be notified by means of an International Bureau circular no later than 1 July of the year preceding the year in which the self-declared rates would apply.
2. At the average parcel weight of 4.652 kilogrammes, the self-declared rates shall not be higher than the annual maximum revenue determined as follows:
2.1 2027: 25% of the revenue calculated at the weight of 4.652 kilogrammes on the basis of the ceiling rates in 1.2 and 75% of the revenue calculated at the weight of 4.652 kilogrammes on the basis of the inward land rates in effect in 2026;
2.2 2028: 50% of the revenue calculated at the weight of 4.652 kilogrammes on the basis of the ceiling rates in 1.2 and 50% of the revenue calculated at the weight of 4.652 kilogrammes on the basis of the inward land rates in effect in 2026;
2.3 2029: 75% of the revenue calculated at the weight of 4.652 kilogrammes on the basis of the ceiling rates in 1.2 and 25% of the revenue calculated at the weight of 4.652 kilogrammes on the basis of the inward land rates in effect in 2026;
2.4 2030: 100% of the revenue calculated at the weight of 4.652 kilogrammes on the basis of the ceiling rates in 1.2;
2.5 In 2.1 to 2.4 above, the inward land rates are the per-parcel and per-kilogramme base rates in 1.1 of the year 2026 further increased by 40% and reduced by 1.200 SDR per parcel. The deduction of 1.200 SDR shall not be made for those designated operators whose domestic service tariffs notified under 1.2.1 are inclusive of proof of delivery.
3. Maximum annual increases and decreases
3.1 Where the maximum annual revenue in 2 is higher than the revenue of the previous year increased by 20%, then the revenue of the previous year increased by 20% shall substitute the maximum revenue in 2.
3.2 Where the maximum annual revenue in 2 is less than the revenue of the previous year decreased by 10%, then the revenue of the previous year decreased by 10% shall substitute the maximum revenue in 2.
3.3 For the rates in effect in 2027, the revenue of the previous year shall be the revenue calculated at the weight of 4.652 kilogrammes on the basis of the per-parcel and per-kilogramme base rates in 1.1 of the year 2026 further increased by 40% and reduced by 1.200 SDR per parcel. 3.3.1 The deduction of 1.200 SDR in paragraph 3.3 shall not be made for those designated operators whose domestic service tariffs notified under 1.2.1 are inclusive of proof of delivery.
3.3.1 The deduction of 1.200 SDR in paragraph 3.3 shall not be made for those designated operators whose domestic service tariffs notified under 1.2.1 are inclusive of proof of delivery.
3.4 For the rates in effect from 2028, the revenue of the previous year shall be the revenue calculated at the weight of 4.652 kilogrammes on the basis of the self-declared per-item and per-kilogramme rates.
4. Beginning with rates in effect from 2027, if the competent authority with oversight for the designated operator classified in group C determines that domestic tariffs in 1.2.1 are not set in relation to costs, the designated operator may substitute the maximum revenue in 2 and 3 above with the per-parcel and per-kilogramme base rates in 1.1 of the year 2026, further increased by 40% and subsequently reduced by 1.200 SDR per parcel. Beginning with rates in effect from 2028, the designated operator invoking the provision in 4 may apply an annual increase of 4.5% to these rates.
4.1 The determination by the competent authority in 4 shall be submitted, in writing, to the International Bureau by 1 May of the year preceding the year in which the rates take effect.
4.2 The designated operator invoking paragraph 4 shall self-declare a per-parcel and per-kilogramme rate in accordance with all other provisions in this article. The revenue calculated at the weight of 4.652 kilogrammes on the basis of these self-declared rates shall not exceed: 4.2.1 2027: 10.697 SDR;
4.2.2 2028: 11.177 SDR;
4.2.3 2029: 11.679 SDR;
4.2.4 2030: 12.204 SDR.
4.2.1 2027: 10.697 SDR;
4.2.2 2028: 11.177 SDR;
4.2.3 2029: 11.679 SDR;
4.2.4 2030: 12.204 SDR.
5. Where the maximum revenues calculated in accordance with paragraphs 2, 3 and 4 result in a revenue calculated for a parcel item at 4.652 kilogrammes that is lower than the revenue calculated for the same item at the same weight on the basis of the minimum global rates specified below, the self-declared rates shall not be higher than the following rates:
5.1 for the year 2027, 4.560 SDR per item and 0.448 SDR per kilogramme;
5.2 for the year 2028, 4.765 SDR per item and 0.468 SDR per kilogramme;
5.3 for the year 2029, 4.979 SDR per item and 0.489 SDR per kilogramme;
5.4 for the year 2030, 5.203 SDR per item and 0.511 SDR per kilogramme.
6. The determination of whether the self-declared rates exceed the maximum revenues in paragraphs 2, 3 and 4 shall be tested at the revenue using the average parcel weight of 4.652 kilogrammes. In instances where the notified self-declared rates exceed the maximum revenues in paragraphs 2, 3 and 4 the provisions in paragraph 7.1 shall apply; alternatively, the designated operator in question may choose to reduce its self-declared rates to a level that complies with the provisions of this article.
6.1 The self-declared rate per parcel in paragraph 6 shall not be less than the maximum performance-related incentive specified in the Regulations. This amount shall be deducted from the self-declared per-parcel rate published by means of an International Bureau circular no later than 1 July of the year preceding the year in which the self-declared rates would apply.
6.2 The designated operator can recover the amount in 6.1, in full or in part, by providing service features, in accordance with provisions laid down in the Regulations.
7. For designated operators that have elected to self-declare their rates for parcels in a prior calendar year and that do not communicate different self-declared rates for the subsequent year, the existing self-declared rates shall continue to apply unless they do not satisfy the conditions laid out in this article. The designated operator may apply the minimum rates provided in paragraph 5.
7.1 For designated operators that have elected not to self-declare their rates for parcels in a prior calendar year and that do not communicate self-declared rates for the subsequent year, the remuneration rates shall be based on maximum revenues in paragraphs 2 and 3 and apply the same ratio between the item rate and kilogramme rate of the previous year or determined in accordance with the provisions in paragraph 4, as appropriate.
8. Beginning with rates in effect for the year 2027 onwards, for parcels with proof of delivery, there shall be an additional payment of 1.200 SDR per item or the charge applicable for proof of delivery in the domestic service. This remuneration shall not be paid to those designated operators whose domestic service tariffs notified under 1.2.1 are inclusive of proof of delivery.
8.1 Designated operators that apply the equivalent charge in the domestic service shall notify the International Bureau by no later than 1 May of the year preceding the year in which the rates take effect of that charge, exclusive of any taxes, in effect on that date. To calculate the rates in SDR, the International Bureau shall use the average monthly exchange rate of the five-month period ending on the last day of the month of February of the year preceding the year for which the payment would be applicable. The applicable amount shall be published, in SDR, in the same circular referred to in paragraph 1.3.
9. Where the domestic tariffs for a parcel weighing 4.652 kilogrammes with delivery to the non-contiguous zones were excluded from the calculation of the ceiling rates in 1.2, the destination designated operator may apply a supplementary rate to its self-declared rates for items delivered to these zones that shall correspond to or be lower than the difference between these values in accordance with the conditions set out in the Regulations.
10. Any designated operator which participates in the sea conveyance of parcels shall be authorized to claim sea rates. These rates shall be payable by the designated operator of the country of origin, unless the Regulations provide for exceptions to this principle.
10.1 For each sea conveyance used, the sea rate shall be laid down in the Regulations according to the distance step applicable.
10.2 Designated operators may increase by 50% at most the sea rate calculated in accordance with 10.1. On the other hand, they may reduce it as they wish.