The
Universal Postal Union (
UPU,
French:
Union postale universelle) is an
international organization that coordinates postal policies among member nations, and hence the worldwide
postal system. Each member country agrees to the same set of terms for conducting international postal duties. Universal Postal Union's headquarters are located in
Berne,
Switzerland.
Overview
Prior to the establishment of the UPU, a country had to conclude a separate postal treaty with each other country that it wished to carry international mail to or from. The
United States called for an international postal congress, which was held in 1863. This led
Heinrich von Stephan,
Royal Prussian and later German Minister for Posts, to found the Universal Postal Union, the third oldest international organization (after the
Rhine Commission and the
ITU). It was created in 1874, under the name "
General Postal Union", as a result of the
Treaty of Berne signed on 9 October 1874. In 1878, the name was changed to "Universal Postal Union".
The UPU established that
- there should be a more or less uniform flat rate to mail a letter anywhere in the world;
- postal authorities should give equal treatment to foreign and domestic mail; and
- each country should retain all monies it collected for international postage.
One of the most important results of the UPU treaty was that it ceased to be necessary, as it often had been previously, to affix the
stamps of any country through which one's letter or package would pass in transit; the UPU provides that stamps of member nations are accepted for the whole international route.
After the foundation of the
United Nations, the UPU became a specialized agency in the UN.
In 1969 the UPU introduced a new system of payment by which fees were payable between countries according to the difference in the total weight of mail between the respective countries. These fees were called terminal dues. The new system was fairer when traffic was heavier in one direction than the other. As this affected the cost of the delivery of periodicals, the UPU devised a new "threshold" system, which was implemented in 1991.
The system sets separate letter and periodical rates for countries which receive at least 150 tonnes of mail annually. For countries with less mail, the original flat rate has been maintained. The United States has negotiated a separate terminal dues formula with thirteen
European countries that includes a rate per piece plus a rate per kilogram, and has a similar arrangement with
Canada.
The UPU also operates the system of
International Reply Coupons and addresses concerns with
ETOEs.
Philatelic activities
The Universal Postal Union, in conjunction with the World Association for the Development of
Philately (
WADP), has developed the WADP Numbering System (WNS), launched on 1 January 2002. The web site (www.wnsstamps.ch/en/) has entries for some 160 countries and emitting postal entities, with over 25,000 registered stamps since 2002. Many of them have images, which generally remain copyrighted by the issuing country, but which the UPU and WADP permit to be downloaded.
UPU Standards
Standards are important prerequisites for effective postal operations and for interconnecting the global network. The UPU's Standards Board develops and maintains a growing number of
international standards to improve the exchange of postal-related information between postal operators and promotes the compatibility of UPU and international postal initiatives. It works closely with postal handling organisations, customers, suppliers and other partners, including various international organisations. The Standards Board ensures that coherent standards are developed in areas such as
Electronic Data Interchange (EDI), mail encoding, postal forms and meters.
UPU standards are drafted in accordance with the rules given in Part V of the and are published by the UPU International Bureau in accordance with Part VII of that publication.
UPU Congresses
Commemorative stamp of the 15th congress of the UPU held in
Vienna,
Austria in 1964.
Member countries
The
United Nations member states may all become member countries of the UPU. Of the 192 United Nations member states 188 are UPU member countries. The situation of the four UN members
Andorra,
Marshall Islands, the
Federated States of Micronesia and
Palau with regard to the UPU has not yet been settled. A non-member state of the United Nations may also become a UPU member if two-thirds of the UPU member countries approve its request.
Vatican City is a UPU member country and a non-member state observer of the United Nations (as the
Holy See).
The UPU has 191 member countries, including the Dutch territories of the
Netherlands Antilles and
Aruba as a single UPU member, and the
British overseas territories, which are not independent states. The newest member is
Montenegro, which joined on 26 July 2006.
The
Republic of China joined the UPU on 1 March 1914. After the
People's Republic of China was founded, the Republic of China continued to represent China in the UPU, until the UPU decided on 13 April 1972 to recognize the People's Republic of China as the only legitimate Chinese representative. This results in
International Reply Coupons not being available for Taiwan. Mail addressed to
Taiwan will still be delivered there, albeit routed through a third country.
UPU Monument (Weltpostdenkmal) in Berne
Various other non-recognized countries such as
Somaliland and the
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) need to have their mail routed through third countries as the UPU will not allow direct international deliveries (The TRNC's mail goes via
Turkey and Somaliland's mail via
Ethiopia). Another entity without direct UPU representation is the
Sahrawi Republic /
Western Sahara.
Palestine was granted special observer status to the UPU in 1999, and its status will likely be upgraded to full membership in the near future.
)
The members are listed below in alphabetical order, with the date of entering the UPU (multiple entry dates for some countries). Territories covered by a sovereign member country are included under that country.
__NOTOC__
A
*
UPU members
B
- - 1 July 1892; 26 January 1993
C
- * - China was represented by the government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) from 1914 to 1972.
- * - Since 13rd April 1972, UPU has shifted its recognition to the government of People's Republic of China.
- - 18 May 1920; 18 March 1993
D
*
*
E
- - 7 July 1922; 30 April 1992
F
French Overseas Departments
*
*
*
*
*
Territories coming within the UPU's jurisdiction by virtue of article 23 of the UPU Constitution
*
*
*
G
H
I
Japanese postal monument located in
Osaka, commemorating the 100th year anniversary in 1977 of its joining to UPU.
J
K
- - 1 January 1900; 6 June 1974
L
- - 1 October 1921; 17 June 1992
- - 12 May 1931; 15 May 1946
- - 1 January 1922; 10 January 1992
M
N
Netherlands Antilles and Aruba - 1 July 1875
*
*
*
*
*
O
P
Q
R
S
- - 1 July 1875; 24 December 1921; 18 June 2001
- - 18 May 1920; 18 March 1993
- - 24 December 1921; 27 August 1992
- - 1 January 1893; 22 August 1994
- - 1 May 1877; 20 April 1976
- - 12 May 1931; 15 May 1946
T
U
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
:Dependencies of St Helena
:*
*
Territories coming within the UPU's jurisdiction by virtue of article 23 of the UPU Constitution
*
*
*
*
*
V
Y
Z
UN member countries whose situation with regard to the UPU has not yet been settled
Former member countries of the UPU
In the course of history a number of member countries of the UPU saw their membership lapse, due to political changes. Where there was an immediate successor state, membership would normally devolve on that state. In other cases membership lapsed.
- - 1 January 1898 – 31 May 1902
[Dissolution of the Orange Free State and the South African Republic at the signing of the Treaty of Vereeniging. Membership did not lapse but was absorbed in the British South African membership.]
- - 1 January 1895 – 31 May 1902
References and sources
Notes
Sources
