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MEPs approve new rules to regulate parcels firms

[ March 14, 2018   //   Chris ]

The European Parliament approved new draft rules to provide clearer price information for parcel delivery services on 13 March, part of the Commission’s Digital Single Market strategy. Operators will have to provide prices for their most used services which the Commission will publish on a dedicated website.

The new rules would also give empower national authorities the power to assess tariffs for cross-border services which are subject to universal service obligation but which seem unreasonably high.

Operators would also have to disclose turnover, the number of parcels handled, the number and status of employees, information on subcontractors and handling procedures to national authorities.

Operators with less than 50 employees and operating only in one country are exempted.

The new rules agreed now need to be endorsed by the Council of Ministers.

ParcelCompare’s head of consumer research, David Jinks said however that the broker had already such a service last year, comparing all available prices and services to any destination within the UK and the EU (and beyond), from all the leading courier and parcel services, going “above and beyond what the Commission is proposing” as its bulk-buying-based prices were alreadyy cheaper than those available on couriers’ own sites.

ParcelCompare did however welcomed the emphasis on providing information to consumers making cross-border purchases on prices, cross border delivery options and complaint handling policies.

It also believes the Commission’s call for operators to information about operators to national authorities would encourage transparency in the industry.

Tags: European Parliament