The Authority wishes to publish two opinions concerning changes to the universal service catalogue proposed by La Poste, to take effect on 1 January 2014. These changes relate to domestic and international postal services.

Paris, 10 October 2013

The Authority wishes to publish two opinions concerning changes to the universal service catalogue proposed by La Poste, to take effect on 1 January 2014. These changes relate to domestic and international postal services.

On 31 July, pursuant to article R. 1-1-10 of the Postal and Electronic Communications Code, two proposed changes to the catalogue of universal services, effective 1 January 2014, were sent simultaneously by La Poste to the minister responsible for postal services and to ARCEP.

The first proposed change relates to the domestic mail services offered, with (i) the inclusion in the catalogue of the on-line letter (a service consisting of the delivery to mailboxes of paper copies of mail sent to La Poste in electronic format); (ii) reference to the indicative transmission time for acknowledgements of receipt (J + 2) for all products to which they are attached (registered letters, Colissimo); and (iii) the addition of an acknowledgement of receipt option for insured items.

The second proposed change concerns international mail services, with the abolition of the international economy mail service for business users. This service comprises the international economy business letter (for correspondence) and the international economy business package (for goods).

On 10 September, ARCEP issued opinions Nos. 2013-1150 and 2013-1151 in favour of these proposed changes, apart from the timescale envisaged for abolishing the international economy mail service for business users. The Authority considers that La Poste needs to give these users sufficient notice by postponing the abolition of the service until 1 January 2015.

After taking note of opinion No. 2013-1151, La Poste stated that it would follow ARCEP's advice by continuing in 2014 to offer the international economy mail service for business users within the universal service at the same rate, and would not abolish this service until 1 January 2015, after fully informing its customers about the change.