Consultative Committee

As of 1st July 2022, private companies are welcome to apply for the membership of the Consultative Committee.

Postal stakeholders that are not public postal operators or regulators can add their voice to the UPU's deliberations through the Consultative Committee (CC). The Committee represents the interests of the wider postal sector and provides a framework for effective dialogue.

The Consultative Committee meeting was held in a hybrid mode on 11 May 2023 at 9.00 – 12.00 (CEST). The CC meeting agenda as well as the CC report are published on the UPU documents database.

Please see below the speech of the new CC member China Express Association during the CC meeting.

The Consultative Committee Management Committee meeting was held online only on 27 March 2023 at 13.30 – 15.00 (CEST). The CC MC meeting agenda as well as the CC MC report are published on the UPU documents database.

The Chair of the UPU Consultative Committee (CC), Mr Walter Trezek, is pleased to announce that the application of Toshiba to become a Gold member of the UPU CC has been approved.

Founded in 1875, Toshiba helps people to live safe and secure lives through its technologies and partnerships, continuously providing products, systems and services to public-sector customers responsible for maintaining infrastructure for essential utilities.

In 1967, Toshiba developed the world’s first optical character recognition system to read handwriting for letter-sorting machines. Since then, it has implemented and improved this technology, adapting it for parcel-sorting machines and customs inspection systems for postal organizations around the globe.

At Toshiba, we strive to ensure the safety and security of society and the well-being of the public through our products and services.

For more information, please contact the CC Secretariat by e-mail at cc@upu.int 

Please find below the list of upcoming events in the African region. If you wish to have further information or are interested to attend please contact the CC Secretariat.

If you would like to become a Consultative Committee member, please complete the application form using one of the following options:

• Download the default PDF application form, print, fill in manually, scan and send it back to cc@upu.int
• Download the interactive PDF application form (recommended), fill in, sign digitally and send it back by clicking the "SEND BY E-MAIL" button. Please note that it is required to use ADOBE Acrobat Reader, if you chose this option.

Should you have any questions, please contact us by e-mail: cc@upu.int

As of 1 July 2022, the CC will comprise non-governmental organizations (including organizations representing customers, delivery service providers, postal employees or postal employers); philanthropic entities; standardization, financial and development organizations; suppliers of goods and services to the postal services sector; transportation entities and other private sector entities; and like organizations of individuals and companies which have an interest in supporting the mission and objectives of the Union. 

Any requests for membership of the CC, as submitted by the entities or high-level figures referred to in article 120 of the UPU General Regulations, shall be accompanied by the prior written authorization or recommendation of the corresponding Union member country, in accordance with article 120.2.

All Union member countries will receive a circular letter informing them of the decisions of the CA and the new membership application procedure for the Consultative Committee as of 1 July 2022. 

The CC secretariat will process the written authorization or recommendation of the corresponding Union member country upon receipt of the duly completed and signed membership request form. 

In other words, a CC applicant is responsible for contacting the competent authority (ministry or postal regulator) of the Union member country in which the applicant is established, to seek validation/accreditation from the said authority in the form of signature of section 2 (Authorization) of the CC membership request form.

In addition to validating/accrediting the CC membership application, the competent authority (ministry or postal regulator) of the Union member country will also ascertain:

• In the case of a non-governmental organization, that the entity is established (and registered, if so required) in the Union member country;
• In the case of a company, that the entity is registered in the Union member country, in accordance with the laws and regulations of that country, as an entity operating in the postal market.

There are two types of membership of the Consultative Committee, with their own particular benefits and fees:

• Non-governmental organizations wishing to apply for membership of the CC (specific membership benefits as presented in the scale of fees defined by the CC)
• Individual companies wishing to apply for membership of the CC (specific membership benefits as presented in the scale of fees defined by the CC) in one of the following three categories:

1. Gold member
2. Silver member
3. Bronze member

Please note that according to the Consultative Committee Rules of Procedure, art. 11, Financing of the Committee, members are obligated to pay annual membership fees. The annual membership fee to be paid by the “Gold member” is 20.000CHF, by “Silver member” is 15.000CHF and by “Bronze member” is 10.000CHF within one calendar year. The annual fee for NGOs is 5.000CHF.

The new members who join the UPU CC in the course of the year will receive an invoice for membership fee-2022 with the amount to be paid only for the months left before the end of the year 2022 on a pro rata basis.

Six thematic chapters have been established to complement the new structure of the Consultative Committee, as of 1 July 2022:

• Policy and regulations: liaison with CA C 2 and the POC C 1 Standards Board;
• Freight and transport: liaison with the POC C 1 Transport Group (and subgroups for different transport modes);
• Customs and product security: liaison with the POC C 1 Customs Group and Postal Security Group;
• Addressing and direct marketing: liaison with the POC C 1 Addressing Group and POC C 3 Direct Marketing Advisory Board; liaison with the POC C 3 World Association for the Development of Philately;
• UPU E-commerce: liaison with CA C 3, POC C 2 and POC C 3; 
• UPU Postal financial services: liaison with POC C 4.

The work of the CC will be conducted according to these thematic chapters, which reflect the membership structure of the CC. Each thematic chapter will be represented by a rapporteur. The rapporteur will be elected and appointed by the CC to (i) represent the thematic chapter, (ii) present any opinions developed by the CC and provide input to the relevant CA and POC commit­tees and working groups, (iii) report to the CC and its members, and (iv) propose appropriate responses to and positions on work proposals and working drafts. Sub-themes and sub-rapporteurs may be created in the future.

The committee plays a key role in developing a more global vision of the issues affecting the sector. This role enhances the UPU's value to the industry and its effectiveness.

The Consultative Committee (CC) meets once a year at the UPU headquarters in Berne at the same time as the Postal Operations Council (POC) meetings.

The next CC General Assembly scheduled to take place during POC/CA S3 on 11 May 2023. 

If you have any questions, please contact the CC Secretariat at alexander.thern-svanberg@upu.int.

One of the aims of the UPU Consultative Committee is to facilitate the exchange of knowledge and expertise. The links below present the latest research, industry papers, innovation insights and other materials produced by the CC members or relevant to the CC work.