The Postal Services (Universal Postal Service) (Amendment) Order 2025
This Order amends the 2012 Postal Services (Universal Postal Service) Order to update definitions, reflecting the UK's departure from the European Union.
It also modifies delivery and collection service requirements, specifying separate standards for priority and standard letters, while outlining revised routing time calculations.
These changes aim to improve service standards and are made after a user needs review and a public consultation process.
Arguments For
Improved clarity and efficiency: The amendments clarify definitions and processes related to postal services, leading to a more streamlined and efficient system. This is supported by the need to update the legislation to reflect post-Brexit realities.
Enhanced service standards: The changes to delivery and collection times aim to improve the overall service provided to users. This aligns with the objective outlined in section 31 of the Postal Services Act 2011 - to ensure a universal postal service that meets reasonable user needs.
Alignment with post-Brexit realities: The removal of references to the European Union updates the Order to reflect the changes resulting from the UK's departure from the EU; this ensures legal consistency and avoids potential ambiguities.
Legal Basis: The Order is made under the powers conferred by section 30(1) of the Postal Services Act 2011, following a review of user needs and a public consultation process as mandated by the Communications Act 2003.
Arguments Against
Potential administrative burden: Implementing the changes may create a temporary administrative burden for postal service providers, requiring adjustments to systems and processes. The scale of this burden depends upon the efficiency of adapting existing systems.
Unintended consequences: The changes to delivery and collection standards could have unintended consequences, such as affecting the viability of certain delivery methods or service providers. A thorough impact assessment would have mitigated this concern.
Cost implications: The amendments could have cost implications for postal service providers, impacting either their profitability or potentially leading to higher prices for consumers. This needs to be compared against the expected societal and economic benefits
Alternative approaches: Although the order was developed with due process, it is possible that alternative ways exist to achieve similar improvements in the postal service without certain amendments. This is dependent on whether the alternative addresses the same concerns.
The Office of Communications (“OFCOM”), in exercise of the powers conferred by section 30(1) of the Postal Services Act 2011¹, make the following Order.
Before making this Order, OFCOM have carried out a review of user needs in accordance with section 30(3) of the Postal Services Act 2011, given notice of their proposal to make an Order in accordance with section 403(4)(a) of the Communications Act 2003² (“the 2003 Act”)³, published notice of their proposal in accordance with section 403(4)(b) of the 2003 Act and considered the representations made to them before the time specified in that notice in accordance with section 403(4)(c) of the 2003 Act.
OFCOM, using powers granted by the Postal Services Act 2011, created this Order.
Beforehand, they reviewed user needs and followed proper notice and consultation procedures as required by the Postal Services Act 2011 and the Communications Act 2003.
This Order may be cited as the Postal Services (Universal Postal Service) (Amendment) Order 2025 and shall come into force on [date] 2025.
This Order's official title is the Postal Services (Universal Postal Service) (Amendment) Order 2025, and it becomes effective on a specified date in 2025.
The Postal Services (Universal Postal Service) Order 2012⁴ is amended as set out in the following articles.
This Order amends the Postal Services (Universal Postal Service) Order 2012, as detailed in the following sections.
In article 2 (Interpretation)—
(a) in the definition of “domestic” after “addresses”, insert “and collection points”;
(b) in sub-paragraph (a) of the definition of “EU office of exchange”, omit “other than the United Kingdom”;
(c) in sub-paragraph (b) of the definition of “EU office of exchange”, omit “other than the United Kingdom”;
(d) after the definition of “insured item”, insert—
““letter” means—
(a) any communication in written form on any kind of physical medium to be conveyed to the person or address indicated on the item itself or on its wrapping (excluding any book, catalogue, newspaper or periodical), and
(b) includes a postal packet containing any communication within paragraph (a) of this definition;”;
(e) after the definition of “partially sighted”, insert—
““postal packet” means a letter, parcel, packet or other article transmissible by post;”;
(f) after the definition of “post office” insert—
““priority and other letters” means letters conveyed by post under a service specified in Schedules 1 to 3 to this Order, except letters sent under a service specified in paragraph 3 of Schedule 1 to this Order;”; and
(g) after the definition of “single piece service” insert—
““standard letters” means letters conveyed by post under the service specified in paragraph 3 of Schedule 1 to this Order;”.
Article 3 makes several changes to definitions within Article 2 of the 2012 Order.
It updates the definition of 'domestic' to include collection points, removes references to the UK being outside the EU from the 'EU office of exchange' definition, and adds definitions for 'letter', 'postal packet', 'priority and other letters', and 'standard letters'.
These changes provide precision and clarity.
In article 3 (Routing times), substitute paragraph (2A) for—
“(2A)“Working day” means, for—
(a) priority and other letters and other postal packets, any day which is not—
(i) a Sunday, or
(ii) a public holiday in the place of collection or the place of delivery of the postal packet concerned; and
(b) standard letters, any day which is not—
(i) a Saturday,
(ii) a Sunday, or
(iii) a public holiday in the place of collection or the place of delivery of the letter concerned.”
Article 4 revises the definition of 'working day' in Article 3 regarding routing times.
It now distinguishes between priority/other postal packets (excluding Sundays and public holidays) and standard letters (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays) for calculating delivery time.
In article 6 (Delivery services)—
(a) in paragraph 1 after “Saturday of”, insert “priority and other”;
(b) after paragraph 1, insert—
“(1A)Delivery on any day from Monday to Friday of standard letters—
(a) to the home or premises of every individual or other person in the United Kingdom, and
(b) to delivery points approved by OFCOM for the purposes of this paragraph;”; and
(c) in paragraph 3 after “(1)”, insert “(1A)”.
Article 5 amends Article 6 on delivery services.
It clarifies that the Saturday delivery requirement applies to priority and other letters.
It establishes a Monday-Friday delivery standard for standard letters, offering delivery to homes and OFCOM-approved points.
In article 7 (Collection services)—
(a) in paragraph 1(a) after “points for”, insert “priority and other”; and
(b) in paragraph 1(b) after “points for”, insert “standard letters and”.
Article 6 modifies Article 7 concerning collection services.
It makes explicit that the Monday through Saturday collection requirement applies to priority and other letters.
It also indicates that Monday through Friday collection is necessary for standard letters and other postal packets.
In paragraph 6 of Schedule 1, omit “other than the United Kingdom”.
Article 7 removes the phrase “other than the United Kingdom” from paragraph 6 of Schedule 1, updating the information's relevance post-Brexit.
In paragraph 6A(1) of Schedule 1, omit “other than the United Kingdom”.
Article 8 removes the phrase “other than the United Kingdom” from paragraph 6A(1) of Schedule 1, for consistency with the changes made in Article 7.
Natalie Black Group Director for Networks & Communications, Office of Communications For and by authority of the Office of Communications 10th July 2025
This is the signature and authentication section of the Order, indicating approval and the date of signing.
EXPLANATORY NOTE (This note is not part of the Order) This Order amends the Postal Services (Universal Postal Service) Order 2012 (S.I. 2012/936) (the “principal Order”), as amended by The Postal Services (Universal Postal Service) (Amendment) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/3108).
OFCOM’s assessment of the extent to which the market for the provision of postal services in the United Kingdom is meeting the reasonable needs of the users of those services, carried out under section 30(3) of the Postal Services Act 2011, is available to the public from OFCOM’s website at http://www.ofcom.org.uk or from the OFCOM library at Riverside House, 2A Southwark Bridge Road, London SE1 9HA (Tel: 020 7981 3000).
Article 3 of this Order updates certain definitions to reflect the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union. It also adds new definitions which are relevant to calculating routing times under article 3 of the principal Order and to the delivery and collection obligations in articles 6 and 7 respectively of the principal Order.
Article 4 of this Order amends the definition of “working day” for the purpose of calculating routing times under article 3 of the principal Order. For priority and other letters and other postal packets, “working day” excludes Sundays and public holidays in the place of collection or delivery of the relevant postal packet. For standard letters, “working day” excludes Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays in the place of collection or delivery of the relevant letter.
Article 5 amends the delivery service in article 6 of the principal Order so that there is to be at least one delivery of priority and other letters every Monday to Saturday, in accordance with requirement 1 of section 31 of the Postal Services Act 2011. Standard letters are to be delivered on any day from Monday to Friday.
Article 6 amends the collection service in article 7 of the principal Order so that there is to be at least one collection of priority and other letters every Monday to Saturday, in accordance with requirement 2 of section 31 of the Postal Services Act 2011. There is also to be at least one collection of standard letters and other postal packets every Monday to Friday.
Articles 7 and 8 amend the description of the services in paragraphs 6 and 6A of Schedule 1 to the principal Order to reflect the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union.
A regulatory impact assessment of the effect that this Order will have on the costs to business is available to the public from OFCOM’s website at http://www.ofcom.org.uk or from the OFCOM library at Riverside House, 2A Southwark Bridge Road, London SE1 9HA (Tel: 020 7981 3000).
The explanatory note provides background information on the Order, including the rationale behind the amendments, the consultation process and the availability of supporting documents from OFCOM's website and library.
It offers a summary of each article's purpose.
The note emphasizes that it is not legally binding.