International Incident Bulletin
Last updated: 22nd of May 2023
Welcome to our international incident bulletin; a roundup of any issues that may be impacting our parcel and letter services to and from countries around the world. We keep this information as up to date as possible, with information supplied to Royal Mail by the various foreign national postal authorities.
Service Update
Export
Delivery of International items to some destinations may take slightly longer than usual. In addition to the Tracking information available through the Royal Mail website, senders and recipients may be able to access additional tracking information on the destination posts webpages.
Customers sending items requiring a customs declaration (such as goods or gifts) internationally should purchase postage online, through shipping solutions or over the counter at Post Office branches rather than using Postage Stamps or Meters.
Import
Import operations continue to perform a full service with some minor delays.
We would like to apologise to impacted customers for the disruption.
Import Control System 2 (ICS2)
ICS2 is a regulatory change required by the EU, focused on continuing to improve the security of parcels shipped internationally. It allows customs authorities to identify items which may require control earlier in the supply chain and take the appropriate action. Sending countries must provide the required parcel/customs information. This means that any item that requires a customs declaration (including gifts, samples, goods and other categories) must have the relevant customs documentation attached and associated Electronic Data must also be supplied. You can use an approved Royal Mail or Third-Party Shipping Solution where this is captured so you can continue exporting with the required compliant electronic data. From the 1st July 2023 any items containing goods that do not have mandatory data fields completed will be at risk of being delayed, returned, or even destroyed. Please see here for more information.
Recently Updated
- Turkey
- New Zealand
- Belgium
- Italy
- Malawi
- Peru
- Norway
- Italy
- The Democratic Republic of Congo
Start date: 9 August 2021
Latest update: 23 August 2021
End date: Ongoing
Incident: No available route
Original Incident
There is currently no route to Afghanistan as carriers have cancelled flights since Monday 16th August 2021.
Start date: 6 February 2018
Latest update: 17 April 2023
End date: Ongoing
Incident: Runway repair work
Please Note: Mail to the Falkland Islands is unaffected.
Latest Update
We have been notified that air transportation to Ascension Island & St Helena is greatly reduced. Unfortunately, given the location of the countries, there is no viable alternative. Customers can continue to send mail but there will be significant delays in the delivery of all products. Please note that mail to the Falkland Island is not affected. The situation is likely to be ongoing until Airport/runway rebuilding work is complete.
Start date: 12 March 2020
Latest Update: 4 November 2022
End date: Ongoing
Incident: Airline capacity
Latest Update
The movement of items into Australia continues to be subject to airfreight supply and performance difficulties which is resulting in the delivery standards currently being outside the current advertised delivery specification. Royal Mail continue to work to find alternate capacity and on work on short term performance improvement activities.
Start date: 11 April 2022
Latest Update: 11 April 2022
End date: Ongoing
Incident: Service availability
Latest Update
We are still despatching postal items to Belarus. We are continually monitoring the situation and will provide an update if there are any changes to our service moving forward.
Start date: 31 March 2023
Latest Update: 11 April 2023
End date: Ongoing
Incident: Severe Snow
Canada Post have advised that mail delivery operations have been affected in multiple regions of Ontario and Quebec due to snow and freezing rain. Power outages have affected cargo handover processes at the airport which will affect mail processing and as such delays may be experienced.
A yellow alert has been posted on the Canada Post website and further updates will be provided when available
Start date: 26 April 2023
Latest Update: 19 May 2023
End date: Ongoing
Incident: Flooding
The Democratic Republic of Congo Postal Service have informed that floods occured on the 4th May 2023 in Kalehe in the East of the country which has resulted in infrastructure damages. Delays are to expected throughout this period
Start date: 16 September 2021
Latest Update: 1 September 2022
End date: Ongoing
Incident: Customs delays
Latest Update
Our service to Ireland is operating as normal. However, items that require the payment of import taxes by the recipient may take longer to be delivered as payment is required before items are released from Irish customs.
Please note: Delivered Duties Unpaid items sent to Ireland are handled as follows:
•Where a mobile number and /or email is provided, the recipient will receive a text and / or email and a letter with the amount of tax to pay plus An Post’s processing fee.
•Where just the address has been provided, the recipient will receive a letter.
In both situations the recipient will receive instructions on how to pay and will have 16 working days to make the payment before the item is returned. The pay by date is included in the customer notification.All items are held in the Dublin Mail Centre Campus before being released, once payment is received. If payment is not received by the payment due date or the customer rejects the item then it is returned to sender.
IOSS HS Code Restrictions
The Irish Custom authority have notified us that they have relaxed their import controls on certain goods and HS codes. Customers sending items to Ireland via IOSS are advised to check the latest restricted HS Tariff codes implemented by Irish Customs. To access the list of restricted HS Tariff codes, please visit our Ireland Page.
Start date: 10 May 2023
Latest Update: 19 May 2023
End date: Ongoing
Incident: Flooding
Poste Italiane have informed that a climatic event affecting the Emilia Romagna and Marche regions will effect collection and delivery. There are no collections or deliveries in Forli currently and issues in the following regions are being reported - Ancona, Bologna, Cesena, Ravenna, Faenza, Modena and Pesaro Urbino. Further updates on this issue can be found on the Poste Italiane website
Start date: 2 July 2021
Latest Update: 15 December 2021
End date: Ongoing
Incident: Infrequent Service
Latest Update
Connecting flights to Kiribati have been available again since the 15th of December. However, please note this service is infrequent and therefore customers should expect items to take between 2-3 months to reach their final destination.
No service since July 2014.
Start date: 4 March 2023
Latest update:16 March 2023
Incident: Cyclone Freddy
Malawi Post have advised that Cyclone Freddy has hit the Southern Region with very strong winds, floods and landslides. Many businesses have closed and infrastructure has been severely affected. A situation of force majeure has been declared and delays are to be expected throughout this period
Start date: 13 January 2022
Latest Update: 16 December 2022
End date: Ongoing
Incident: Customs data/Industrial action
Incident one
Malta Post has provided an update that in order to avoid delays, it is important that complete and accurate electronic customs data is provided along with customs documents (CN22/23). Provision of the recipient’s mobile phone number (including country code) and/or recipient email address in electronic data is also recommended to assist in timely delivery of items. Items that do not fulfil these requirements will be manually processed by Malta Post which is likely to lead to delays. In some cases, items will be held until the recipient can be contacted in order to provide any missing information and/or in the case of certain products any supplementary documentation that may be required.
Incident two
Malta Post has informed that the industrial dispute with its delivery staff has come to an end. Postal services have therefore resumed as normal, effective from 1 December 2022.
Start date: 24 February 2022
Latest Update: 10 March 2022
End date: To be advised
Incident: Airspace availability
Original Incident
Due to the situation in neighbouring Ukraine, we have been advised that Moldovan airspace is closed. We are working with our postal and transportation partners to put in place alternative routes. We are still accepting items for Moldova but please be advised that there may be short delays to the delivery of your item.
Latest Update
An alternative transit route is in place for Moldova. However as this is a non-direct route, please be advised that there may be short delays to the delivery of your item.
Start date: 31 January 2023
Latest Update: 23 March 2023
End date: Ongoing
Incident: Torrential Rain / Cyclone
Incident one
NZ Post have informed us that torrential rain across the Auckland region has caused widespread flooding. The severe weather conditions in Auckland and surrounding regions are affecting the delivery and collection of all mail items and a state of emergency has been declared. Further weather-related disruption is expected in the coming days.
All international inbound/outbound mail handling and processing is affected as extreme flooding and road closures into and out of Auckland have impacted NZ Post’s ability to transport mail and complete deliveries in many areas. As a result, delays should be expected
Incident two
NZ Post have informed us that a national state of emergency was lifted on the 3rd March with a number of areas now in the recovery stage. Local states of emergency were lifted in the Hawkes Bay and Tairawhiti regions on the 14th March however infrastructure damage remains and this will impact NZ Post’s ability to transport mail and complete deliveries in some areas. As a result, delays may still be experienced
Start date: 11 April 2023
Latest update: 21 April 2023
End date: To be advised
Incident: National Strikes
Latest Update
Postnord have advised us that the national strike which began on the 17th April has now ended. Some delays may still be experienced during this period whilst any potential backlog is cleared
Start date: 7 December 2022
Latest Update: 3 April 2023
End date: 3 April 2023
Incident: State of emergency
Latest Update
Peruvian Post has informed that the civil unrest and protests have now ceased. Delays may still be experienced during the period of recovery and associated activities
Start date: 28 February 2022
Latest Update: 11 April 2022
End date: Ongoing
Incident: Service availability
Latest Update
We are still despatching postal items to Russia. We are continually monitoring the situation and will provide an update if there are any changes to our service moving forward.
Start date: 26 March 2020
Latest Update: 1 March 2022
End date: Ongoing
Incident: Coronavirus
Latest Update
Samoa Post has updated that there is currently only one flight per week to and from New Zealand on which Samoa Post can send and receive mail. All items are subject to a three-days quarantine before being processed and delivered. As result, Samoa Post has advised that delays are to be expected.
Start date: 11 March 2020
Latest Update: 3 March 2022
End date: Ongoing
Incident: Coronavirus
Latest Update
Singapore Post has updated that restrictions remain in place to limit spread of COVID-19. Signatures are not collected at delivery, items of letter box size will be deposited in letter box, and items larger than letter-box size, will be delivered to parcel locker stations (POP stations), post offices or collection points for collection by the addressee.
No service since October 1991.
No service since December 2012.
Start date: 30 January 2023
Latest update:9 February 2023
Incident: Earthquake
Latest Update
Turkish Post has informed that two large earthquakes have hit the Southern and South Eastern regions of the country on the 6th February and a state of emergency has been declared.
This will severely impact mail operations and delays are to be expected across all affected areas
Start date: 2 July 2021
Latest update:15 December 2021
End date: To be advised
Incident: Infrequent Service
Connecting flights to Tuvalu have been available again since the 15th of December. However, please note this service is infrequent and therefore customers should expect items to take between 2-3 months to reach their final destination.
Start date: 24 February 2022
Latest update:28 October 2022
End date: To be advised
Incident: Service availability
Latest Update
We continue to make regular mail despatch to Ukraine transiting via our Postal Partners. Ukraine Post has updated that the country’s infrastructure has suffered severe damage. The attacks on the power grid and local energy facilities are necessitating rolling power cuts lasting from one to four hours. In some cases, following a direct missile strike, power may be cut off for several days in certain areas. In areas without active hostilities, all Ukrposhta post offices will remain open. In places with up to 24 hours power outage, Ukrposhta employees will hand out postal items and pay out money orders and upload the delivery data into the system at a later stage, once power and Internet access are restored. Sorting facilities are equipped with electricity generators to ensure uninterrupted work and maintain normal customs and sorting procedures. However, operationally there may be delays. Therefore, delays should continue to be expected for items destined to Ukraine until further notice.
No mail service to Donets 83-87, Luhansk 91-94 Crimea 95-98 and Sevestapol 99 since 2014.
Start date: 13 February 2023
Latest Update: 9 March 2023
End date: Ongoing
Incident: Tropical Cyclone
Vanuatu Post have advised that a State of Emergency has been declared for the whole country in the wake of two cyclones which have struck the country. The state of emergency is expected to last for at least 6 months. Postal operations will continue throughout by delays should be expected
No service since March 2015.