Revamped Postal Service Regulations Address Brexit Changes and Prioritize Deliveries

In a fresh move to address postal service needs post-Brexit, the Office of Communications (OFCOM) has introduced the Postal Services (Universal Postal Service) (Amendment) (No. 2) Order 2025. This new legislation, effective from July 28, 2025, corrects a previous oversight and revokes the earlier amendment from the same year.

Key Changes and Updates

1. Brexit Adjustments: The Order updates definitions within the postal regulations to align with the UK's exit from the European Union. Terms that previously differentiated between the UK and EU are now streamlined.

2. Definitions Expanded: New definitions clarify terms like "letter" and "postal packet," ensuring alignment with modern service needs and international postal standards.

3. Working Days Redefined: A significant change is the redefinition of "working days." For priority mail, weekends and public holidays are excluded, while standard mail excludes Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays. This aims to enhance predictability and efficiency in mail routing.

4. Delivery and Collection Overhaul:

   • Priority Mail: There will be daily deliveries from Monday to Saturday, meeting the requirements of the Postal Services Act 2011.
   • Standard Mail: Deliveries will occur from Monday to Friday, reflecting a focus on workweek service.
   • Collections: Similarly, collections will match this schedule, ensuring consistency in service.

5. Service Descriptions Updated: Articles 7 and 8 modify service descriptions in accordance with the UK's new status outside the EU, ensuring legislative clarity and operational consistency.

OFCOM's Comprehensive Review

OFCOM has conducted a thorough review of the postal market to ensure these changes meet user needs across the UK. Detailed assessments and a regulatory impact analysis are available on OFCOM's website, offering transparency into how these amendments will influence business costs and operational logistics.

This legislative update reflects OFCOM's commitment to adapting postal services to contemporary needs and regulatory environments, highlighting the continued evolution of postal services in a post-Brexit Britain. For further details, stakeholders and the public can access full documentation and impact assessments via OFCOM's official channels.