The Universal Postal Union (UPU) recognizes that the safety and security of the postal sector as part of the global supply chain is critical to worldwide commerce and communication. The UPU has established the Postal Security Group (PSG) to develop and implement security standards and best practices among designated operators (DOs)
Postal Security Group
Guided by the motto “Postal security makes business sense”, the PSG, made up of security experts, is charged with the development of global and regional security strategies to assist the world’s Posts in their security missions.
Through training initiatives, consultation missions and prevention programmes, the PSG strives to protect the employees, customers and assets of Posts, and to safeguard mails from fraud, theft and misuse.
All meeting documents relating to this area are available to members (with UPU accounts) at the UPU Documentation Centre.
Mission statement
To establish worldwide postal security, encourage and promote the creation of postal security services in all UPU member countries, and establish contact and collaborate with international organizations.
PSG priorities
- Prevention of injuries caused by dangerous goods carried in the mail
- Prevention of loss or theft of mail entrusted to Posts
- Prevention of revenue and asset losses by Posts
- Preservation of customer confidence in Posts
Security training initiatives
PSG security programmes and crime prevention training are the mainstay in the development of worldwide postal security units. The UPU organizes these courses on a regional basis. Training covers:
- Basic postal security and investigations;
- Emergency planning and risk assessment;
- Airport security coordination and quality-of-service and security reviews;
- Countering drug trafficking and money laundering through the post;
- Procedures for accepting and controlling the induction of dangerous goods; and
- International postal revenue protection.
Introduction
The Universal Postal Union (UPU) recognizes the impact that individual leadership can have in promoting security programmes worldwide, often requiring time and resources from member countries. The Director General (DG) of the UPU International Bureau and the Chair of the Postal Security Group (PSG) wish to formally acknowledge the efforts, experience and exceptional initiative of leaders in this sector who spearhead security initiatives for the postal community.
Inaugurated in 2021, the Chair’s Postal Security Award will open each July and the winner will be presented with a certificate during a scheduled PSG meeting.
Criteria for nomination (pdf)
Application form (word)
The Postal Security Group (PSG) aims to enhance the security of all operations within the postal sector. Working with other UPU stakeholders, the PSG has defined a minimum set of security requirements applicable to all facets of the sector.
Measurable security standards for the postal sector help protect postal employees and assets, protect postal items, secure the modes of transport used to carry mail, and protect the overall supply chain.
Physical and procedural security standards
The physical and procedural security standards developed under the PSG apply to critical facilities in the postal network:
S58
General security measures: minimum physical and process security requirements for critical facilities within the postal network
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S59
Office of exchange and international airmail security: minimum requirements for secure operations in the transport of international mail
In 2010, the discovery of explosive materials in courier air cargo prompted international support for postal security standards. These standards align with the guidelines of other cargo transport agencies to protect commerce in the international supply chain.
Methodology
UPU security certification is intended to provide a means of assisting member countries in identifying opportunities to improve security, measure the compliance of designated operators (DOs) with UPU security standards S58 and S59, and establish a process to further UPU security strategy objectives to educate staff, raise awareness and increase the security of all postal sector operations.
Certification procedure
Before the certification procedure can begin, the DO applying for certification must identify security focal points and submit their names to security@upu.int. The identified focal points (PDF letter, Word annex) will be given access to the Compliance Platform, where they can begin the self-assessment.
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Certification self-assessment
A certification procedure can be launched only upon submission of a completed self-assessment for each critical facility for which a DO is seeking to achieve certification. All required documentation must be current, complete and available for review.
The self-assessment is intended to assess whether the organizational system the DO has put in place meets the mandatory minimum security requirements.
The assigned DO focal point should request a review directly from the International Bureau through the Compliance Platform. This request should include the following: a self-assessment report for the critical facility seeking certification, confirmation that all associated documentation is available for review, and photographic evidence of the critical security measures in place within the relevant facility.
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Required documentation
The list of required documentation lists all documents needed to complete the certification process.
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Equivalent certification
In some cases, a DO is obliged to comply with the security requirements of its national legislative or regulatory civil aviation authorities, or of external organizations such as the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), International Air Transport Association (IATA) and World Customs Organization (WCO). The UPU recognizes that these third-party standards (e.g. ICAO’s Regulated Agent and the WCO’s Authorized Economic Operator) may be more rigorous than those set out in S58 and S59, which are considered to be basic standards attainable by all DOs.
If a DO complies with these higher-level security standards and can show that they are equivalent to or exceed standards S58 and S59, it may be accredited with an equivalency recognition of S58 and S59 certification, provided that all security measures have been fully implemented. This helps stakeholders cooperate and coordinate efforts to develop and maintain a secure supply chain.
For a DO to be recognized as equivalently certified, the appropriate focal point must complete and submit to the PSG the equivalency assessment workbook through the Compliance Platform. The related required documentation as detailed above, as well as written justification of the DO’s adherence to the security requirements of its national legislative or regulatory civil aviation authorities or of external organizations such as ICAO and the WCO, must be uploaded on the platform before a review can be requested.
Certified critical facilities
The Universal Postal Union (UPU) publishes a list of certified critical facilities and their associated designated operators (DOs). The list shows (pdf) the year of certification, the level achieved and the start and end dates of the certification validity.
Transport by post of equipment containing lithium batteries (ECLB)
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) amended the 2013–2014 edition of the Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air to allow such transport from 1 January 2013.
In 2015, the UPU and ICAO signed a memorandum of understanding to expand cooperation between the two organizations. This included the creation of an ICAO–UPU Contact Committee, which held its inaugural meeting at UPU headquarters in Berne, Switzerland, in March 2018.
A list of all member countries and points of contact for dangerous goods is available via ICAO’s public website.ECLB mentorship programme
The UPU, in coordination with ICAO and the ICAO–UPU expert team on equipment containing lithium batteries (ECLB), has introduced an innovative mentorship programme to support ECLB certification in global postal operations. The ECLB mentorship programme information sheet describes the framework for supporting designated operators (DOs) in obtaining certification for the safe and compliant transport of ECLB in collaboration with their civil aviation authorities and the UPU. The ECLB mentorship engagement form enables organizations to register their interest in the ECLB mentorship programme and pursue certification. DOs can use the SWOT analysis guide to assess their readiness for the programme. DOs are encouraged to review the documents and the benefits of ECLB certification.
ECLB mentorship framework:
Step 1:
Initiate engagement with the civil aviation authority
Step 2:
Evaluate dangerous goods training and handling components
Step 3:
Decide whether ECLB certification is the right path
- Step 3 SWOT analysis guide (pdf)
- Sample SWOT analysis (pdf)
Step 4:
Engage fully in the ECLB mentorship programme
- Step 4 engagement form (word)
List of authorized designated operators
National aviation authorities and airlines need to know which DOs have been approved to make ECLB shipments. To support this, the UPU provides a list of DOs (pdf) that have been authorized to ship ECLB items, including the date of authorization and other related information.
DOs that have received authorization must inform the International Bureau by completing the dangerous goods aviation approval form (word) and returning it to security@upu.int.
Information on prohibited items can be found in the Customs section.
An "alarm incident" triggering an "alarm resolution procedure" can occur during the handling of dangerous goods or prohibited, inadmissible or wrongly admitted items. Alarm incidents may be discovered by air carriers, airport authorities or designated operators (DOs).
To report dangerous goods incidents or accidents, complete this form (xls) and send it to security@upu.int.
Reporting of detained mail at intermediate locations (xls)
19 February 2020
DOs, as well as air carriers and airport authorities on the IATA side, are asked to complete the document and e-mail it to security@upu.int. DOs with questions or needing assistance can contact the International Bureau at security@upu.int.
The training materials developed in collaboration with ICAO, IATA and civil aviation authorities serve as a foundation for dangerous goods training in Posts. Designated operators (DOs) should coordinate with their civil aviation authority to determine the required training levels.
As part of the “Keep me safe” campaign, created with IATA, ICAO and the WCO, resources such as flyers, guidelines and posters are available to help DOs promote compliance with international rules on dangerous goods and prohibited items.
The UPU illicit goods mitigation campaign portal provides DOs with resources and guidance to combat the trafficking of illicit goods through the international postal network, making the supply chain safer and more secure.
International Narcotics Control Board training materials
The International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) is an independent body that oversees United Nations (UN) drug control conventions. The INCB runs the GRIDS Programme to combat trafficking in dangerous substances such as synthetic opioids and fentanyl. Under a 2018 agreement between the UPU and the INCB, training materials on the handling and interdiction of fentanyl-related substances were developed with the WCO, the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) and other partners. These materials are part of the UPU-WCO-INCB joint security training programme. They are available in multiple languages on the ELITE platform and can be requested by e-mail at incb.grids@un.org.
Illicit drugs and contraband in the post
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Guidelines for the enactment of postal criminal laws
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Controlling the introduction of dangerous goods into postal networks
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Do not load (DNL) guidelines
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Mail safety guidelines
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Practical guidance for postal and express couriers on the prevention and interdiction of non-medical synthetic opioids and fentanyls
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Contingency planning: explosive devices in the post
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Guidelines for postal crime prevention
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Airport mail security manual
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Counterfeit and reused postage stamp manual
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Cash-in-transit document
The UPU offers a suite of road safety tools to support safety programmes in global postal operations. The UPU road safety guidance document follows the UPU Global Plan for Road Safety (November 2023). It provides a framework built around five key pillars, helping designated operators (DOs) to establish or strengthen a road safety programme. The UPU road safety assessment tool enables DOs to evaluate their safety practices, identify gaps and create improvement plans. Additionally, the animated road safety training course, which will soon be released on the UPU training platform, Trainpost, will offer interactive sections on defensive driving, hazard identification and emergency response, equipping drivers with essential skills to ensure safer roads worldwide. DOs should incorporate these tools into their road safety plans.
UPU Global Plan for Road Safety
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UPU road safety guidance document
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UPU road safety assessment tool
Road safety assessment instructions
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Road safety webinar
11 December 2024
An informative session introducing the UPU road safety guidance document, road safety assessment tool and road safety training and providing an overview of road safety best practices.
Presentations
Watch the webinar on YouTube
The PSG SharePoint provides member countries with updates and information on security in the postal supply chain.