Regulation framework
Legal framework and reports required by regulatory conditions
Regulatory conditions and postal services legislation
The regulatory conditions applying to postal operators are found below. We’ve also provided links to the Postal Services Act 2011 and EU Directive 97/67/EC. These are the main pieces of legislation that govern the postal market. A link to the previous Postal Services Act (PSA 200) is also included.
Regulatory conditions (effective as of 1 October 2011)
RM Licence (effective up to 30 September 2011)
Royal Mail Costing Manual
In accordance with condition 15, paragraph 10 of our licence, Royal Mail is required to publish a copy of its costing manual (PDF 919KB).
Long Run Marginal Cost (LRIC)
The regulatory framework may change in 2012. The estimation of long run marginal costs (LRIC) was raised by the Independent Review (2008). The discussion document below seeks to raise awareness of the development of LRIC estimates for the postal sector. It does not speculate on what might be the regulatory framework from 2012 as that will be taken forward by Postcomm in Spring 2011, but LRIC estimates might inform or be part of that framework. Hence our document seeks to take the subject of LRIC forward and has been discussed with Postcomm.
In the document, we explain what LRIC is and the reasoning behind its development by Royal Mail. We also provided an overview of the main components that are involved in Top Down LRIC model estimation and highlight some areas of consideration that are specific to the postal sector.
Royal Mail LRIC discussion document (PDF 110KB)
Compliance Officer’s reports
Under Condition 13 of our licence, we’re required to appoint a Compliance Officer, and to publish a report on the Compliance Officer's activities during the most recent financial year. The report below sets out the Compliance Officer’s activities for the year 2010 / 2011.
Compliance Officer's report 2010 / 2011 (PDF 554KB)
One of the Compliance Officer's tasks is to investigate representations that Royal Mail Group may be contravening parts of the general authorisations or competition law, or that the procedures established are not being complied with or are defective. The following document describes how we would approach this sort of investigation.
Investigation procedure for alleged breaches (PDF 52KB)
Royal Mail application for the cessation of Sunday and Bank Holiday collections
The attached is the application that Royal Mail submitted to Postwatch in accordance with Condition 21, paragraph 3 of its licence to request the cessation of Sunday and Bank Holiday collections from 30 September 2007.
Sunday collections cessation (pdf 197kb)
PW statement of agreement Sunday Collections 20/07/07 (pdf 119kb)
Delivery exceptions
Royal Mail is required to publish an annual overview of the number of addresses excepted from a universal delivery service on its own website.
Exceptions by postcode area
Exceptions arrangement categories
Collection Exceptions
Royal Mail is required to publish on its own website, the list of access points subject to temporary suspension subject to Data Protection Act and Security considerations.
Short term exceptions (PDF 82KB)
Long term exceptions (PDF 209KB)
The above reports have been compiled by individual areas within Royal Mail Group Ltd, and provide a snapshot view for the immediate period of time leading up to each review. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information supplied in the reports, Royal Mail Group Ltd cannot accept liability for any errors or inaccuracies.
Condition 7 Exemption Applications
Postcomm issued a Direction exempting Sameday from Condition 7 on 30th January 2007, for International Bulk Mail and Branch Direct on 19th December 2007 and for Parts Express on the 20th June 2008.
Overview of Trials
Delivery to Neighbour Trial (PDF 210KB)
Delivery and Collection Specifications
As a requirement falling within Royal Mail's Universal Service Obligation, there is the need to publish details of the standards of service offered for both the collection and the delivery of mail. Please view our Current delivery and collection standards.pdf (36KB opens in a new window).
Condition 4 obligations
Under Condition 4 of our Licence, we are obliged to maintain an up to date written record of the Scheduled Services and their standardised measures (as defined in the Licence) along with each of the corresponding scheduled standards. View this statutory record.
Condition 7 Notifications
Under condition 7 of our licence, we are required to notify Postcomm of changes to our tariffs and general conditions for supplying postal services.
View those which relate to customer solutions. View statements related to contracts won following a competitive tendering process. Product and Service notifications since 1 March 2006 are listed below.
March 2006
Extension to 1700 Latest Acceptance Times
Special Delivery Latest Access Times
Revised mailmedia Calculator
DVD Mailer
Mails Verification On Site
Special Delivery Service Level Agreements Mar06
Credit Policy
Airsure & International Signed for
Special Delivery Saturday Guarantees
Business Mail Secure
Cleanmail Advance
April 2006
International Reply Coupons
May 2006
PiP documentation
Mailmedia restructuring
European Printed Papers Tariffs
Big Book Weightbands
June 2006
Presstream 250K price change
Updated SD Terms and Conditions
Safeplace Trial
July 2006
Business Mail Secure specification change
Additional countries for Airsure
August 2006
Big Book Booking and Cancellation Periods
October 2006
Removal of mailmedia unused variants
December 2006
Early Collect conversion to product status
Pre-Sorted Delivery conversion to product status
Early Extraction conversion to product status
Launch of Postal Voting as a product
The introduction of a Minimum Order Value (MOV)
Launch of Standard Tariff Automated Large Letters
Tariff 2007
Read the details of April 2007's tariff
Changes to the unbagged specification
Payment holidays
Launch of Cleanmail Advance
February 2007
Launch of Sleeved Yorks option for International Mailings
March 2007
Paperwork required with each PPI collection
Chorus Amendments
Launch of RM TrackedTM
Launch of Safeplace Delivery Option
Redirections online
April 2007
Packetpost Returns Price changes
Launch of Royal Mail Heavyweight
Mailsort Database 2007
Mixed Weights from multiple sites
Changes to Mech Spec
Details of Beneficial Changes to Mech Spec
Withdrawal of Standard Service Speed from International Bulk Mail
May 2007
Further Changes to Mech Spec and 90(95)% DPS Accuracy (pdf 74kb) Special Delivery Group Rates Mailsort 1 120 in Trays Mailsort 1 700 and Mailsort 2 700 - Ability to present in trays
June 2007
Additional Airsure Destinations
July 2007
International Destination Sort Tariff Change
General Terms and Conditions Changes
September 2007
Additional Airsure Countries
October 2007
Royal Mail Heavyweight weekly limits Special Delivery 9am exceptions
November 2007
Mailsort 3 120 and Mailsort 3 700 - Ability to present in trays
Free Mail Service to Forces Personnel
December 2007
Tariff 2008
Tariff 2008 detail
Cleanmail Advance & OBA
January 2008
Extension of cost related VRDs to Cleanmail Advance (meter)
Modifications to Pre-Sorted Delivery Ts & Cs
February 2008
Special Delivery Group Rates
Accreditation Relaxation
This change was never fully implemented and accreditation checks remain in place
Minimum envelope size for the Unbagged Specification
March 2008
Enhanced Later Posting Times (LPTs)
Term Contracts & Mailsort 120
Enhanced LPTs for Packetsort Plus 2C & RM Tracked
April 2008
Acceptance of non-cylindrical 'long' packets
May 2008
Migration of customers of Response Services Barcode
June 2008
Address Block specification and Permitted Punctuation
July 2008
Presstream and ADS; Presstream Premium Mail Centre expansion; No compensation option for RM Tracked
Surcharge for enhanced 1st class LPTs
August 2008
Revised Term Contract Switching Plan Guidelines
September 2008
Relaxation of CBC specification for MS120, MS700 & MM Plus
RM Tracked prices and longer notice period following sampling. Extension of ADS to MS3 1400
Local Collect fee waiver during December 2008
November 2008
FK17-21 SD by 9am exception
December 2008
Mailmedia PPI correction
Tariff 2009 including MOV
Tariff 2009 Detail
Launch of Sustainable Mail
Royal Mail Tracked product extensions
Withdrawal of ASTLL from meters
Special Delivery Contract April 2009 pricing
Special Delivery Group Rate April 2009 pricing
January 2009
Sustainable Mail Specification and RM Tracked Term Contract Detail
Changes to the Sustainable Mail pricing structure
A correction to the Sustainable Mail pricing structure
March 2009
Launch of Sustainable mailmedia (currently on hold)
Sustainable mailmedia rate card
RM Tracked price review process
April 2009
Amendment to RM Heavyweight & Big Book specification
May 2009
Amended Terms & Conditions for Timed Delivery
July 2009
Mailsort 3 and Sustainable Mail 3 price change
August 2009
Presstream Premium entry level reduction
Royal Mail Tracked alignments
Please note that this notification letter is replaced by the notification letter in March 2010 which details some changes being re-notified to enable a unified June 2010 deployment.
September 2009
Local Collect fee waiver during December 2009
Enhancements to Royal Mail's automation specifications
October 2009
Local Collect Price changes
November 2009
Reduction in size of OCR envelopes
Royal Mail Sale on Mailsort 3
December 2009
Enhancements to RM's automation specification - Roulette Perforations
Amendment to Royal Mail Tracked Ts & Cs
Tariff 2010
Tariff 2010 Detail
Response Services Specification
Response Services User Guide
Bulk Mail Compensation Scheme
RM Tracked lower entry
Special Delivery Contract and Group rates
Response Services User Guide
January 2010
Special Delivery by 9am
On 8th January 2010 Royal Mail notified Postcomm that on 8th April 2010 a change to the terms and conditions for Royal Mail Special Delivery 9.00am would come into effect. Deployment of this initiative has been delayed. Royal Mail will advise of the new deployment date as and when one is set.
Special Delivery Next Day '1pm' exception
March 2010
Amendments to Royal Mail Tracked™ Terms & Conditions
April 2010
Amendments to the Royal Mail Specific Terms for International Services
June 2010
Big Book Heavyweight booking period Relaxation
Launch of Royal Mail Tracked Next Day
Royal Mail Tracked Product Enhancements
Launch of Mailsort 70 and Sustainable Mail 70
July 2010
Amendment to Special Delivery™ sold on Account Terms and Conditions
September 2010
Changes to presentation requirements for unbagged and unwrapped mailings
Changes to the inland letter post and inland parcel post schemes
Royal Mail has decided to postpone the merging of the Inland Schemes. All other changes will proceed as published.
Business Point credit facility (Post Office Ltd)
October 2010
VAT on Postal Services
Corrected Airsure prices
Service Enhancement and Price Change to International Signed For, International Signed For Packs & International Advice of Delivery
Amendment to Royal Mail Safeplace™ Terms and Conditions
Enhancements to Royal Mail’s automation specification for Cleanmail® Advance
November 2010
The Royal Mail Sale 2011
Full details of the Royal Mail Sale 2011 can be found at royalmail.com/rmsale
The Royal Mail First Time User Scheme
December 2010
Tariff 2011
Tariff April 2011 detail
February 2011
Launch of Retail’s Royal Mail Advertising Mail® product
Cleanmail® entry volume reduction, Mailsort® 3 on Saturday and 9th May price changes
March 2011
Royal Mail’s 2011 Tariff including Menu Based Offers (PDF 75 KB)
Mailsort 1400, Advertising Mail 1400 and Sustainable Mail 1400 posted in Trays (PDF 67 KB)
Change to Royal Mail Tracked® for customers posting over 300k items per year (PDF 64KB)
April 2011
VAT on Postal Services (PDF 74KB)
May 2011
Changes and clarifications to machineable letter product specifications (PDF 207KB)
June 2011
Presstream Large Letter format items in Trays (PDF 62KB)
August 2011
The Royal Mail First Time User Scheme and Media Agencies (PDF 68KB)
Changes to product specifications and accreditation process (PDF 194KB)
September 2011
RM Tracked HV Surcharges (PDF 62KB)
VAT changes re USO Scope (PDF 69KB)
Mailsort 700 DPS requirement (PDF 145KB)
October 2011
Changes to Royal Mail Terms and Conditions (PDF 61KB)
Delivery to Neighbour (PDF 34KB)
December 2011
VAT on Postal Services (PDF 81KB)
Minimum Order Value & Paper Posting Cheque Handling Fee (PDF 65KB)
Single Piece on Account (PDF 111KB)
February 2012
Delivery to Neighbour Extension (PDF 67KB)
