The World Customs Organization (WCO) and the Universal Postal Union (UPU) today agreed to continue to work closely to improve the processing of international mail and discourage the flow of counterfeit or pirated items through the mailstream.
The WCO's secretary general, Kunio Mikuriya, was at UPU headquarters for the first time since taking over his duties last year to meet with UPU officials, including the director general.
Both parties collaborate closely through a UPU/WCO contact committee. They agreed to work on a number of areas, but in particular the increased use of electronic data interchange (EDI) messages to improve mail handling and processing, capacity building and the prevention of counterfeit and pirated objects sent through the mail.
Progress
Lots has already been accomplished and more work will soon come to fruition.
In April, the UPU's Postal Operations Council is expected to approve EDI message standards developed through the UPU's Standards Board. These standards aim to improve the data Posts collect from customers about international mail and then transmit to Customs officials in destination countries.
At the same time, the WCO strongly supported the development of an electronic version of the Postal Export Guide. Starting in June, Posts will be able to consult the guide online. The guide contains information about items and dangerous materials prohibited from travelling in the mailstream according to countries' national legislations.
Targeting counterfeit items
On preventing counterfeit items in the mail flow, both organizations want to raise awareness of this issue and find ways Posts can support Customs' enforcement operations. Since January 1, counterfeit and pirated items are prohibited from being sent by post, according to the latest UPU Convention.
The WCO and the UPU will continue to hold joint workshops on key issues and may develop an online course on how to deal with counterfeit items sent through the mail.