New rules for sending post internationally

Friday 01 January 2021

Islanders have to give more information before sending parcels to international destinations as part of new rules being introduced from today.

The Universal Postal Union has announced that parcels being sent internationally will have to include ‘electronic pre-advice customs data,’ meaning information previously put on custom forms will now need to be filled in by senders in advance.

These regulatory changes will also apply to parcels sent to the United Kingdom from 1 April, although, until that point, islanders should continue to use the current custom forms for those parcels if sending to the UK.

Pictured: The rules apply to international post from today, and to UK post from 1 April 2021.

One of the most notable shifts from the way custom forms are filled in is that for every item in a parcel, senders will need to list the individual dimensions, weight, quantity, and value.

Jersey Post warned that any items sent internationally without the form could be subject to additional charges, delays, or even their items being destroyed.

However, for those sending mail or letters, these rules will not apply.

To accompany the changes, Jersey Post has published the following advice:

• Step 1: Visit www.jerseypost.com/onlinepostage.
• Step 2: Click ‘Get Started’ to register for a Jersey Post free account.
• Step 3: Once registered, follow the steps on the postage portal to calculate your postage ensuring you select the correct destination, format, dimensions, weight and value.
• Step 4: Print your postage label, attach it to your parcel and drop it off to any of our Island-wide post offices.

Equally, if islanders do not have access to a printer, they can use the label printing machines at the Broad Street Post Office, or get further advice on the new requirements at their local Post Office.

Niall McClure, Managing Director of Postal and Logistics said: “As a member of the Universal Postal Union, we are bound by the regulations imposed upon postal authorities and as such must abide by this recent change.

“Pre-advice data helps to automate and speed up manual processes by reading electronic pre-advice data opposed to manually checking parcels, and this enables a more efficient customers clearance process.”