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Registered courier services

Registered courier services

In the market for assigned (postal) services there is a prohibition of transportation applicable to postal services offered outside a concession.

An exception to this transportation ban is included in article 12 of the National Ordinance regulating Post 1998, (Official Gazette 1997, no. 319), particularly applicable to providers of courier services.

The regulation of courier services is based on the following 3 main aspects:

  • A mandatory registration at the BT&P
  • The application of a minimum rate as set by the minister
  • The prevention of couriers providing services exclusively assigned to Cpost International N.V.

Solely in the following cases may couriers offer postal services:

  • Letters must weigh less than 2,000 grams and be delivered faster than by the postal company
  • Letters must be traceable at all times
  • Letters are transported by a registered courier against a rate higher than the minimum rate

For the provision of courier services in accordance with these conditions, the courier shall be under obligation to register with the BT&P. There is a registration procedure in force to that effect. Read more on this in the Application form courier registration.

Compliance with obligations

The supervisory tasks of BT&P aimed at courier services, are geared to compliance with the conditions and prescriptions as laid down in:

Performing supervisory tasks is also made possible through the obligation of the courier regarding the submission of all required information to government officials appointed by the minister of Traffic, Transportation and Environmental Planning, which officials are charged with supervision on the compliance and additionally, the annual fee to be paid for offering postal services as determined by the minister.