ABSTRACT
We take ‘the post’ for granted. However, behind an item of mail dropping into the letter box lies a complex system of international agreements and regulations, for, as with the ITU, the arrangements for international post more or less determine national practices since it would make no sense for a state to operate a national system radically different from the international. Even such minor matters as the positioning of the address and the ‘stamp’ on a letter conform to international rules. The Universal Postal Union is the primary agency through which these rules are established.1 The Acts of the Union do not derogate from the legislation of UPU members on matters not expressly provided for by those Acts, but it has to be said that the Acts dealing with particular postal services are very detailed.2 Further, although states party to the Acts of the Union may enter into smaller ‘restricted unions’ and other special agreements, these are barred from providing a public postal service of a lower standard than that established by the UPU Acts.3
