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~ PostNL ~

NEW POSTAL

REGULATIONS:

SEPARATION OF GOODS AND

DOCUMENTS (AND WHAT

EVERYONE NEEDS TO KNOW)

Text: Fiona Passantino, PostNL // Photos: PostNL

The world is changing. We’re buying and selling more goods and services online, sending
and receiving items to and from faraway places, and digitising our processes. E-commerce is
growing, and international shipping is changing the face of how we do business.

ith more items travelling across borders, type. A few examples of goods include keychains, staplers,
security around the world is tightening. phone cases or t-shirts.
WCountries want more information about
what is coming through, including items entering There are some exceptions to this rule. Paper-based items that
via postal systems. This, and the drive to improve represent a commercial value, such as a gift voucher, a gift
operational efficiency, has sparked changes in card or concert tickets are seen as “goods”, even if these items
regulation from the Universal Postal Union (UPU), are printed on paper. Bank cards and credit cards can still be
which sets the guidelines for all postal services shipped as “documents”, even if these items are plastic, and
around the world. may be sent as letter mail.

These regulations for sending goods and documents may PostNL offers special shipping services for business
well affect you and your business. As the Dutch national customers, which will help them with customs solutions and
postal carrier for shipments at home and abroad, PostNL is competitive pricing.
the expert when it comes to ironing out all the complexities.
Here’s what you need to know. Change 2: Barcodes on all goods
Another aspect of this regulation is that all shipments
Change 1: Separation of goods and documents containing goods, even small ones, will need to have a
The first change relates to the separation of goods and shipping label with a barcode. These have to be shipped as
documents. This means that goods and documents will have a packet or parcel, regardless of their size or weight. These
to follow different processes. If you’re in the business of items can be sent with or without Track and Trace.
sending small objects to customers or suppliers abroad, such
as toys, chargers or t-shirts, these items will need to be sent as Change 3: Digital pre-alerting
a packet or parcel. Finally, more complete information will need to be shared
with customs officials about shipment contents using
A “document” is typically defined as a paper-based item while an online portal, in advance of the shipment’s arrival
a “good” is any physical object other than paper or a paper at the border. PostNL, for example, is required to share

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