Postiseadus (PostiS)

§ 1. Scope of application and purpose of Act

(1) This Act provides for:

1) the requirements for postal services;

2) the requirements for postal service providers;

3) the organisation of state supervision;

4) liability for violation of this Act.

(2) The purpose of this Act is to ensure:

1) provision of the universal postal service;

2) provision of high quality postal service;

3) protection of the rights of users of postal services.

(2¹) An undertaking pays a regulatory enforcement fee on the grounds and in accordance with the rules provided by the Competition Act.

(3) The provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act apply to administrative proceedings prescribed in this Act, taking account of the specifications provided for in this Act.

(4) The provisions of the Register of Economic Activities Act apply to entries in the register of economic activities (hereinafter register) provided for in this Act, taking account of the specifications provided for in this Act.

(5) This Act and legislation established on the basis thereof apply to the cross-border postal services of a universal postal service provider in the case of forwarding of postal items in the territory of Estonia in so far as this is not in conflict with the Acts of the Universal Postal Union binding on the Republic of Estonia.

(6) Chapter 3 of this Act applies to postal services for the provision of which a licence is required.

§ 2. Postal service

(1) Postal service means the forwarding of addressed postal items as an economic activity.

(2) Forwarding means a process which includes the clearance, sorting, transport and delivery of postal items to the addressee.

(3) A postal item is deemed to be addressed where, in addition to the name of the addressee, it is supplied with:

1) a postal address or

2) an indication referring to a postal address or

3) the location of the access point together with the contact details required to send the addressee a notification of the arrival of a postal item, or

4) an accompanying document referring to the postal address.

(4) In the case of domestic postal services, the addressee and the sender of a postal item are located in Estonia.

(5) In the case of cross-border postal services, the addressee or the sender of a postal item is located outside Estonia.

(6) Postal service does not mean the delivery of written communications and other items in the person's own name or for the purpose of the person's own economic activities.

§ 3. Addressee and sender of postal item and user of postal services

(1) The addressee of a postal item (hereinafter addressee) is a person to whom or whose postal address a postal item has to be delivered according to the will of the sender.

(2) The sender of a postal item (hereinafter sender) is a person who is responsible for the content of the postal item and according to whose will and in whose name the postal item is deposited with the postal service provider for forwarding.

(3) The addressee and the sender are the users of postal services.

§ 4. Types of postal items and postal services

(1) The following are postal items:

1) items of correspondence;

2) postal parcels;

3) periodicals.

(2) An item of correspondence means an object or objects which is or are addressed and properly packaged and deposited with a postal service provider for forwarding within the meaning of the Universal Postal Convention.

(3) A postal parcel means an object or objects which is or are addressed and properly packaged and deposited with a postal service provider for forwarding.

(4) A periodical means an addressed publication ordered from the sender and deposited with a postal service provider by the sender for forwarding periodically, with a frequency of at least once a quarter.

(5) The following are postal services:

1) the forwarding of ordinary items;

2) the forwarding of registered items;

3¹) the forwarding of bulk items;

4) the forwarding of express mail items (hereinafter express mail);

5) the forwarding of direct mail items (hereinafter direct mail);

6) the forwarding of periodicals;

7) other postal services.

(6) The following items of correspondence and postal parcels shall be forwarded as ordinary items:

1) items of correspondence and postal parcels issued to the addressee or a representative of the addressee without signature;

2) items of correspondence and postal parcels the value of which has not been declared to the postal service provider;

3) items of correspondence and postal parcels in the case of the loss of or damage to which the postal service provider is not required to pay compensation.

(7) The following items of correspondence and postal parcels shall be forwarded as registered items:

1) items of correspondence and postal parcels issued to the addressee or a representative of the addressee against signature or on the basis of other characteristics allowing identification of the addressee;

2) items of correspondence and postal parcels the value of which has not been declared to the postal service provider;

3) items of correspondence and postal parcels in the case of the loss of or damage to which the postal service provider is required to pay the sender compensation prescribed by the standard conditions for the provision of postal services.

(8¹) Items of correspondence forwarded as ordinary and registered items which are deposited with the postal service provider by the sender at the same time for forwarding to at least 100 addressees are forwarded as bulk items.

(9) Items of correspondence and postal parcels are forwarded as express mail items, provided that these comply with at least four of the following conditions:

1) items of correspondence and postal parcels forwarded pursuant to an individual arrangement and special user requirements;

2) items of correspondence and postal parcels forwarded by courier with the aim of expeditious and reliable delivery;

3) items of correspondence and postal parcels collected from the residence or location of the sender;

4) items of correspondence and postal parcels issued to the addressee or a representative of the addressee against signature or on the basis of other characteristics allowing identification of the addressee;

5) items of correspondence and postal parcels in respect of which a proof of delivery in an agreed manner is sent to the sender of the postal item;

6) items of correspondence and postal parcels in the case of which delivery on a specified date is guaranteed;

7) items of correspondence and postal parcels in the case of which the sender has the possibility to obtain information concerning the location of the postal item at any time during the journey of the item, to intervene in the delivery of the postal item and also to re-organise the forwarding of the item as necessary.

(10) The following items of correspondence shall be forwarded as direct mail:

1) items of correspondence and postal parcels issued to the addressee or a representative of the addressee without signature;

2) items of correspondence consisting of marketing or public material;

3) items of correspondence forwarded to at least 100 addressees at the same time;

4) items of correspondence comprising an identical message and having the same weight and measurements as the other items forwarded at the same time, except for the addressee’s name, postal address and identifying number as well as other modifications which do not alter the nature of the message;

5) items of correspondence the wrapping of which bears an indication “ reklaam ” [advertising], “ reklaam posti teel ” [advertising by post] or “ otsepost ” [direct mail].

(11) The following is not deemed to be direct mail:

1) the forwarding of invoices;

2) the forwarding of postal items which meet the conditions provided for in clauses 1–5 of subsection 10 of this section together with a postal item which fails to meet the specified conditions;

3) the forwarding of non-addressed items.

(12) If direct mail fails to meet at least one of the conditions provided for in clauses 1–4 of subsection 10 of this section, it is deemed to be an ordinary item.

(13) The requirements for the forwarding of registered items in the framework of the universal postal service are established by a regulation of the minister in charge of the policy sector.

§ 5. Universal postal services and universal postal service provider

(1) Universal postal services mean the continued and high quality provision of postal services provided for in subsection 2 of this section at an affordable price throughout the whole territory of the Republic of Estonia on the bases and pursuant to the procedure provided by legislation.

(2) Universal postal services include the following postal services:

1) the domestic and international forwarding of items of correspondence described in the Universal Postal Convention and its Regulations as ordinary and registered items;

2) the forwarding of international postal parcels weighing up to 20 kilograms as registered items.

(2¹) Universal postal services include the following additional services:

1) insurance for items of correspondence and postal parcels;

2) tracking of items of correspondence and postal parcels.

(3) Universal postal services do not include the forwarding of postal items as bulk items.

(4) A universal postal service provider is a person to whom a licence for the provision of universal postal services has been issued.

(5) A provider of the universal postal service shall be the provider of services of general interest within the meaning of the General Part of the Economic Activities Code Act.

§ 6. Designation of universal postal service provider

(1) A universal postal service provider shall be designated as a result of a public competition organised by the Estonian Competition Authority.

(2) If a public competition fails, the Estonian Competition Authority shall impose the obligation to provide universal postal services for up to five years on a postal service provider who, at the time of the competition specified in subsection 1 of this section, held a licence for the provision of universal postal services.

(3) The Estonian Competition Authority shall issue a licence for the provision of universal postal services to a person or persons who wins or win the public competition or on who the obligation to provide universal postal services is imposed pursuant to subsection 2 of this section.

(4) Upon designation of a universal postal service provider pursuant to the provisions of subsections 1 and 2 of this section, the need to ensure the provision of universal postal services in the short term and in the long term in a cost-effective manner which does not endanger competition and at an affordable price shall be taken into account.

(5) The conditions for organising a public competition specified in subsection 1 of this section shall be established by a regulation of the minister in charge of the policy sector.

§ 6¹. Affordable price charged from users for universal postal services

(1) The conditions for organising public competitions specified in subsection 5 of § 6 of this Act shall set out an affordable price for the services provided for in subsection 2 of § 5 of this Act.

(2) The affordable price specified in subsection 1 of this section shall be determined for each service forming part of the universal postal services by a regulation of the minister in charge of the policy sector on the proposal of the Estonian Competition Authority throughout the territory of the state.

§ 6². Specifications for designation of universal postal service provider

(1) The conditions for organising public competitions specified in subsection 5 of § 6 of this Act shall include the obligation of the tenderer to submit at least the following information:

1) the incremental costs of and revenue involved in the provision of the universal postal service;

2) ordinary business expenses incurred without the universal postal service obligation and charges from users for provision of the services provided for in subsection 2 of § 5 of this Act.

(2) Upon determining the costs specified in clause 1 of subsection 1 of this section:

1) only the costs necessary for performance of the universal postal service obligation shall be taken into account;

2) the costs which the postal service provider would incur also without the universal postal service obligation (ordinary business expenses), and costs which have been incurred before the beginning of the calendar year of submission of the tender shall not be taken into account.

§ 7. Postal network

(1) Postal network means a set of equipment and facilities used by a postal service provider for the forwarding of postal items. A postal network is divided into a clearance network and a distribution network.

(2) Clearance network means a set of equipment and facilities which a postal service provider uses for the collection of postal items from access points.

(3) Distribution network means a set of equipment and facilities which a postal service provider uses for the delivery of postal items to addressees.

(4) An access point means a place of business and other facilities used for the provision of postal services. The location of an access point need not be permanent.

(4¹) A mobile access point is a means of providing postal services that operates according to a fixed schedule.

(4²) An automated access point is an automated means of providing postal services at a permanent location.

(4³) An on-demand access point is a means through which postal services are provided at the place of residence or location of a user of postal services.

(5) A post office means a permanent place of business where the provision of all postal services specified in the licence is ensured.

(6) A letterbox means a facility for the collection of postal items which is permanently fixed and located in the clearance network of the postal service provider.

(7) The requirements for access points used for the provision of universal postal services and their location shall be established by a regulation of the minister in charge of the policy sector.

§ 8. Requirements for post box and location of post box

(1) A post box is a facility for the delivery of postal items which is in the possession of the addressee.

(2) A post box and its location must ensure the preservation of postal items.

(4) Postal service providers shall be ensured access to post boxes.

(7) A universal postal service provider shall be informed of the location of a post box or changes in its location pursuant to the procedure provided for in the standard conditions of the provider.

(8) Upon failure to comply with the requirements for post boxes and their location provided in this section and in legislation established on the basis of subsection 9 of this section, a postal service provider has the right to refuse to forward postal items to the addressee due to being undeliverable as provided in § 30 of this Act.

(9) The requirements for post boxes and their location are established by a regulation of the minister in charge of the policy sector.

§ 9. Postal payment means

(1) Postal payment means are postage stamps and franking machine impressions or other impressions entered on a postal item in proof of payment for the forwarding of the postal item.

(2) A postage stamp attached to a postal item proves payment for postal services. The word “Eesti” [Estonia] and the nominal value of the postage stamp which is expressed in Arabic numerals, letters, words, symbols or other identifying characteristics and which corresponds to the currency used in the Republic of Estonia are printed on a postage stamp.

(3) A postage stamp may be used only in proof of payment for universal postal services.

(4) A universal postal service provider has the exclusive right to organise the putting into circulation and revocation of postage stamps.

(5) A universal postal service provider shall put into circulation and revoke postage stamps on the basis of law, the Universal Postal Convention and internationally recognised customary practices.

(6) The procedure for putting of postage stamps into circulation and revocation thereof shall be established by a regulation of the minister in charge of the policy sector.

§ 10. Licence requirement

(1) A licence is required for the provision of the following postal services:

1) the universal postal service;

2) the forwarding of items of correspondence as ordinary items, registered items, insured items or bulk items;

3) the forwarding of postal parcels as ordinary items, registered items, insured items or bulk items.

(2) A licence for the provision of universal postal services shall be issued to only one person.

(3) A licence for the provision of the postal services specified in clause 2 or 3 of subsection 1 of this section allows both domestic and cross-border provision of the relevant postal services, unless the undertaking has applied for the licence only for the provision of domestic postal services.

(4) A licence is not required for the forwarding of periodicals, for direct mail or express mail.

(5) Licences are issued for a period of five years.

§ 11. Application for licence

(1) Applications for licences shall be adjudicated by the Estonian Competition Authority.

(2) In addition to the information provided for in the General Part of the Economic Activities Code Act, an application for a licence shall contain the following information and documents:

1) if the undertaking applies only for the domestic provision of the postal services specified in clause 2 or 3 of subsection 1 of § 10 of this Act, a corresponding notation;

2) documents certifying the existence of a postal network necessary for the provision of the services or the right of use of such network during the period of validity of the licence;

3) a proposal regarding the secondary conditions of the licence provided for in subsection 1 of § 14 of this Act;

4) the standard conditions for the provision of postal services (hereinafter standard conditions).

§ 12. Subject of review of licence

(1) A licence shall be issued to an undertaking (hereinafter applicant) which complies with the following requirements:

1) the applicant and the activity specified in the application comply with the requirements provided for in this Act or legislation established on the basis thereof;

2) there is no information in the criminal records database concerning a punishment for criminal official misconduct or economic criminal offence by the applicant and the person who has the right to manage the applicant;

3) the standard conditions specified by the applicant are in accordance with legislation and comply with the objectives provided for in this Act;

4) the applicant has a postal network necessary for the provision of the service or the right of use of such network.

(2) If an applicant has a licence only for the domestic provision of the postal services specified in clauses 2 or 3 of subsection 1 of § 10 of this Act, the requirements relating to cross-border provision of the relevant postal services shall not apply to the applicant.

§ 14. Secondary conditions of licence

(1) The following secondary conditions shall be added to a licence:

1) the date of commencement of activities;

2) the geographical area where the holder of the licence provides services and, if necessary, the geographical area where another postal service provider provides services in the name of the holder of the licence;

3) the number of access points, information regarding their location and the minimum business hours of post offices;

4) other conditions arising from the rights or obligations provided for in this Act or legislation established on the basis thereof.

(3) Upon provision of domestic postal services, the geographical area specified in clause 2 of subsection 1 of this section may be:

1) the Republic of Estonia;

2) region A which includes the following seven counties: Harju county, Hiiu county, Järva county, Lääne county, Pärnu county, Rapla county and Saare county, or

3) region B which includes the following eight counties: Ida-Viru county, Jõgeva county, Lääne-Viru county, Põlva county, Tartu county, Valga county, Viljandi county and Võru county.

(4) The geographical area of provision of universal postal services is the Republic of Estonia.

(6) Upon establishment of the secondary conditions of a licence, the following shall be taken into account:

1) the proposal of the applicant;

2) public interest;

3) the need to protect the rights of the users of the postal service;

4) the rights and obligations provided for in this Act and legislation established on the basis thereof.

§ 15. Amendment of standard conditions and secondary conditions of licence

(1) The Estonian Competition Authority may amend the secondary conditions of a valid licence and establish new secondary conditions for the performance of obligations arising from legislation and on the basis of a reasoned application of the holder of the licence.

(2) The Estonian Competition Authority shall decide on amendment of the secondary conditions of a licence within thirty days after the receipt of the corresponding application of the holder of the licence or entry into force of amendments to legislation.

(3) The Estonian Competition Authority shall decide on the grant of or refusal to grant an approval for amendments to standard conditions within thirty days after the receipt of the corresponding application of the holder of the licence.

(4) The Estonian Competition Authority shall refuse to approve amendments to standard conditions or secondary conditions of a licence if the requested standard conditions or secondary conditions are in conflict with the requirements of legislation or the objectives of this Act.

(5) The Estonian Competition Authority shall deliver the decision on the grant of or refusal to grant an approval for amendments to standard conditions and the decision on the amendment of or refusal to amend the secondary conditions of a licence to the holder of the licence within five working days as of the date on which the decision is made.

(6) The Estonian Competition Authority shall, on its own initiative, deliver the decision on the amendment of the secondary conditions of a licence or on the establishment of new secondary conditions to the holder of the licence at least sixty days before the amendments to the secondary conditions of the licence or the new secondary conditions enter into force.

(7) An amendment to the standard conditions shall enter into force at the time chosen by the applicant but not earlier than thirty days after the date on which the Estonian Competition Authority makes the decision.

§ 18. Time of organisation of public competition

Upon expiry of a licence for the provision of universal postal services, the Estonian Competition Authority organises a public competition specified in § 6 of this Act in such a manner that the winner would be determined at least 180 days before the expiry of the period of validity of the specified licence.

§ 19. Suspension of licence

(1) If the holder of a licence is unable to comply with the secondary conditions of the licence or perform the obligations prescribed in this Act, the holder of the licence shall immediately notify the Estonian Competition Authority thereof in writing. The notification shall list the obligations which the holder of the licence is unable to perform, specify the reasons for failure to perform the obligations and the term for suspension of the licence.

§ 20. Specifications of revocation of licence

(1) In addition to the bases provided for in the General Part of the Economic Activities Code Act, the Estonian Competition Authority may revoke a licence in the following cases:

1) the holder of the licence has failed to commence the activities specified in the licence by the date prescribed by the licence or terminates such activities within the period of validity of the licence;

2) the holder of the licence is declared bankrupt.

(2) An application for a new licence shall be submitted to the Estonian Competition Authority not later than sixty days before the expiry of the period of validity of the licence.

§ 21. Notification obligation

(1) Submission of a notice of economic activities not later than ten days before commencement of the activities is obligatory in the case of postal services for the provision of which a licence is not required.

(2) In addition to the information provided for in the General Part of the Economic Activities Code Act, the notice shall set out the geographical area of provision of the postal services.

§ 22. Postal service providers and provision of postal services

(1) A postal service provider is an undertaking which provides one or several postal services. Only the transport of postal items does not mean the provision of postal services.

(2) A postal service provider is required to provide postal services specified in the licence to anyone who has declared a wish to receive the service under equal conditions.

(3) The provision of postal services may be suspended or terminated during the period of validity of the licence only under the conditions provided for in §§ 19 and 20 of this Act on the basis of the corresponding decision of the Estonian Competition Authority or due to force majeure.

(4) The provision of postal services shall comply with the requirements provided for in this Act, legislation established on the basis thereof, a contract entered into for the provision of postal services and a licence.

§ 23. Contracting

(1) A postal service provider need not perform the obligations arising from a contract for the provision of postal services personally.

(2) The provisions of subsection 1 of this section do not release the postal service provider who receives a postal item from a sender for forwarding from the obligation to comply with the requirements provided for in this Act, legislation established on the basis thereof and a contract and a licence for the provision of postal services.

§ 24. Use of postal network of another postal service provider

(1) The use of a postal network of another postal service provider for the purposes of provision of postal services is permitted only upon existence of a corresponding written contract (hereinafter contract for the use of a postal network). The conditions and charges for the use of a postal network shall be accessible to everyone free of charge on the website of the postal service provider and in all the post offices of the postal service provider.

(2) Access to the postal network of another postal service provider shall be available under the same conditions and with the same quality under or with which the other postal service provider offers access to its parent company or subsidiaries, customers or business partners.

(3) A postal service provider may, inter alia, apply for access to the following components and facilities of the postal network:

1) the postcode system;

2) post office boxes;

3) the re-direction service;

4) the return to sender service;

5) the distribution network.

(4) A postal service provider is required, at the request of another postal service provider, to negotiate the use of a postal network in good faith if this is necessary for the provision of postal services.

(5) Postal service providers have the right to agree on the technical and commercial conditions for the use of a postal network, taking account of the provisions of this section.

(6) All essential conditions shall be agreed on in a contract for the use of a postal network, including:

1) the extent of use of the postal network;

2) the procedure for the deposit of postal items;

3) the charge for the use of the postal network and the procedure for the settlement of accounts;

4) the conditions for the delivery of postal items to addressees;

5) the conditions for the retention and return of postal items which have not been forwarded due to being undeliverable.

(7) The charge for the use of a postal network of another postal service provider shall be cost-oriented and may include a reasonable profit.

(8) A postal service provider using the postal network of another postal service provider shall communicate a contract for the use of the postal network together with an application for amendment of the secondary conditions of the licence to the Estonian Competition Authority within three working days after entry into the contract.

(9) A postal service provider may refuse to enter into a contract for the use of a postal network if creation of the conditions for access is unreasonably burdensome or damages the integrity of its postal network or other objective bases provided for in subsection 2 of § 18 of the Competition Act exist.

(10) Disputes related to access to a postal network shall be resolved by the Estonian Competition Authority in accordance with this Act and the Competition Act.

§ 25. Refusal to provide postal services

(1) A postal service provider shall refuse to forward a postal item if it becomes evident that the postal item contains:

3) tear gas or nerve gas cylinders;

4) explosive or highly flammable substances;

5) toxic substances or radioactive substances;

6) biological infectious materials;

7) narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances;

8) acids;

9) highly perishable foodstuffs;

10) live animals, with the exception of silkworms, bees and leeches;

11) poisonous plants;

12) articles which, by their nature or their packing, may expose the addressee of the postal item and postal workers to danger, or damage other postal items;

13) obscene or immoral printed papers and articles;

14) money;

15) articles the importation of which is prohibited or restricted by the legislation in the country of destination;

16) articles the prohibition or restriction on the importation or exportation of which is provided for in other legislation.

(2) A postal service provider may specify the list specified in subsection 1 of this section in the standard conditions of the postal service provider pursuant to the Universal Postal Convention.

(3) In the case of possible physical danger arising from a postal item to persons or things, a postal service provider shall immediately inform the emergency centre thereof.

§ 26. Postal charges

(1) Postal service providers have the right to establish charges in different amounts payable by users of postal services depending on the weight, measurements, time of delivery and manner of handling of the postal item.

(1¹) Postal service providers have the right to establish charges in different amounts payable by users of postal services depending on the quantity of postal items deposited with the postal service provider. A postal service provider may apply a discount in an objectively justified, uniform and equal manner regarding all persons who comply with the conditions for the discount and the discount shall not be connected with the obligation to use other postal services. The rate of the discount must be cost-oriented and justifiable by cost saving resulting from the deposit of large quantities.

(2) A postal service provider has the right to establish a charge for another postal service provider who uses the postal network of the postal service provider for the provision of postal services on the basis of the geographical area of delivery of a postal item or the population density of the area.

(3) A postal service provider may apply a discount for postal charges if the cost of forwarding the postal item is smaller than the cost of provision of the basic service.

(4) Postal charges and the principles of discounts shall be accessible to everyone free of charge on the website of the postal service provider and in all the post offices of the postal service provider.

(5) The discount offered by a postal service provider and the conditions relating thereto shall be transparent and in compliance with the principle of equal treatment.

§ 27. Standard conditions

(1) The standard conditions apply upon provision of postal services to a user of postal services unless a different agreement has been entered into with the user.

(2) The standard conditions shall set out:

1) the type or types of the postal service;

2) the description of the postal service;

3) the requirements for postal items (measurements and weight of postal items, description of their permitted content, packaging of postal items, mandatory parts of postal address);

4) the quality requirements for postal services (manner, time and frequency of delivery of postal items) and circumstances which the service provider regards as force majeure and, where necessary, the exceptions established pursuant to subsection 1¹ of § 37 of this Act;

5) the list of items the forwarding of which is prohibited;

6) the procedure for payment for postal services and the procedure for and manner of giving notification of changes in the charges;

7) the conditions for the forwarding, reorganisation of forwarding, returning and issue of postal items and postal item retention periods;

8) the procedure for processing and use of personal data;

9) the procedure for giving notification of the location of a post box or changes in its location in the case of provision of universal postal services;

10) the procedure for filing of complaints to postal service providers and for the settlement of such complaints, including proceedings for the establishment of the person liable in cases where more than one undertaking is involved;

11) compensation for loss of and damage to postal items;

12) a reference to the possibility specified in this Act to file a complaint with the Estonian Competition Authority or a court;

13) other conditions necessary for the provision of postal services.

(3) The minimum and maximum measurements and weight of postal items provided for in the standard conditions of a universal postal service provider shall be in compliance with the measurements and weight specified in the Acts of the Universal Postal Union binding on the Republic of Estonia.

(4) The standard conditions shall be accessible to everyone free of charge on the website of the postal service provider and in all the post offices of the postal service provider.

§ 28. Marking of postal items

(1) A postal service provider shall mark a postal item or the accompanying document of the postal item which refers to the postal address such that it ensures identification of the business name of the postal service provider and the place and date of deposit of the postal item for forwarding.

(2) In addition to the provisions of subsection 1 of this section, items of correspondence forwarded as ordinary items with agreed time of delivery in the framework of provision of the universal postal service pursuant to subsection 1¹ of § 37 of this Act bear a specific marking.

(3) The provisions of subsections 1 and 2 of this section do not apply to periodicals.

§ 29. Delivery of postal items

(1) A postal item is deemed to be delivered in the case the postal item has been issued to the addressee through an access point or a post box.

(2) Items of correspondence and periodicals forwarded as ordinary items shall be delivered to the addressee through the post box unless there is a different agreement.

§ 30. Undeliverable postal items

(1) For the purpose of this Act, a postal item is undeliverable where:

1) the postal item cannot be delivered to the addressee due to the absence, inaccuracy or illegibility of the postal address or due to another similar reason;

2) the addressee of the postal item fails to collect the postal item from an access point during the period designated by the postal service provider or refuses to accept the postal item;

3) the delivery charge has not been paid for the postal item or less than the charge rate established by the postal service provider has been paid and the addressee refuses to pay the missing portion;

4) the postal item cannot be forwarded to the addressee due to the absence of a post box, lack of access to the post box or failure to comply with the requirements for post boxes established on the basis of subsection 9 of § 8 of this Act.

(2) In the case specified in clause 1 of subsection 1 of this section, a postal service provider shall make reasonable efforts to identify the postal address of the addressee of a postal item.

(3) If a postal item is undeliverable, the postal item shall be returned to the sender. A postal service provider has the right to demand a reasonable charge for the return from the sender.

(4) If information regarding the sender of a postal item cannot be identified from the postal item or the sender refuses to accept the postal item returned to the sender, the postal service provider has the right to open the postal item pursuant to the provisions of § 32 of this Act.

(5) If, upon opening of a postal item, information regarding the sender of a postal item is not evident or the sender refuses to accept the postal item returned to the sender, the postal service provider shall retain the postal item pursuant to the provisions of § 31 of this Act.

(6) If a postal item accepted for forwarding from another postal service provider is returned to a postal service provider, the postal service provider is required to inform the other postal service provider thereof and organise the delivery of the postal item to the other postal service provider. A charge may be demanded for the return of a postal item.

§ 31. Retention, sale and destruction of postal items not forwarded due to being undeliverable

(1) The provisions of Chapter 6 of the Law of Obligations Act apply to the retention and sale of postal items, taking account of the specifications provided for in this section.

(2) A postal service provider is required to retain a postal item not forwarded due to being undeliverable for six months as of the first occurrence of being undeliverable.

(3) A postal service provider may immediately destruct a postal item which has not been forwarded due to being undeliverable and the content of which is rapidly perishable or contains printed matter for advertising or marketing purposes.

(4) Where the addressee or the sender has not claimed a postal item within the period specified in subsection 2 of this section, the postal service provider organises the sale, donation or destruction of the item.

(5) A written notice and objects of small value contained in a postal item are destructed upon expiry of the term specified in subsection 2 of this section. Other contents of the postal item are sold or donated on the condition that this does not breach the inviolability of private life of the sender or addressee of the postal item.

§ 32. Opening of postal items

(1) A postal service provider has the right to open a closed postal item in order to:

1) protect the content of a damaged postal item or document its condition;

2) identify the sender of the postal item if the postal item is undeliverable;

3) enable the customs control of the postal item.

(2) At the request of the addressee, registered items are opened upon delivery in the presence of the postal service provider.

(3) A postal service provider has the right to demand that the sender open a registered item upon acceptance thereof.

(4) An opened postal item shall be marked and a report shall be prepared regarding the opening pursuant to the procedure established by the postal service provider.

(5) It is prohibited to examine the contents of an opened postal item to a wider extent than required in connection with the reason for the opening of the postal item. The persons present at the opening of a postal item are required to maintain postal secrecy concerning information which becomes known to them upon the opening of the postal item.

§ 33. Postal secrecy

(1) Postal secrecy means confidentiality of all information pertaining to the contents of a postal item and concerning the postal traffic of a specific person.

(2) Postal service providers, employees of a postal service provider and persons who have been granted the right to manage a postal service provider shall maintain postal secrecy during and after the provision of the postal service.

(3) The persons specified in subsection 2 of this section are prohibited from collecting information concerning the content of postal items or specific circumstances of postal traffic to a wider extent than required for the provision of postal services. It is prohibited to use such information for purposes other than the provision of postal services.

(4) Exceptions to the obligation to maintain postal secrecy provided for in subsections 2 and 3 of this section may be made only in the cases and pursuant to the procedure provided by law.

§ 34. Use of personal data

(1) A postal service provider has the right to process:

1) general data of the sender, the addressee and, where necessary, of their legal or authorised representative for the purpose of identification;

2) general data of the sender and the addressee for the purpose of provision of postal services and maintenance of an address register used for the provision of postal services;

3) general data of the recipient of a pension or a social benefit and, where necessary, of their legal or authorised representative, as well as the type and amount of the benefit for the purpose of provision of the service specified in clause 1 of subsection 1 of § 36 of this Act;

4) the name of the payer and the recipient, their bank account numbers, the content of the invoice, and the details of the payment order and cash transfer for the purpose of provision of the service specified in clause 2 of subsection 1 of § 36 of this Act.

(2) The provisions of subsection 1 of this section do not give the right to collect, process and use information related to the content of postal items.

(3) A postal service provider may, with the consent of a person and pursuant to the procedure provided by legislation, process and use data collected in order to advertise its own services, advise customers or conduct market research the personal. The procedure for the processing and use of personal data shall be provided for in the standard conditions of the postal service provider.

(4) A postal service provider shall not use personal data upon provision of services to third persons, except pursuant to the procedure provided by legislation.

(5) A postal service provider may disclose personal data to a third person only in the cases and pursuant to the procedure provided by law.

(6) The controller of the address register is the postal service provider.

§ 35. Cross-border postal service

(1) A universal postal service provider is required to provide cross-border postal services pursuant to the Acts of the Universal Postal Union binding on the Republic of Estonia.

(2) In the agreements on terminal dues entered into with a universal service provider of a Member State of the European Union, the following principles shall be respected:

1) terminal dues shall be fixed in relation to the costs of processing and delivering incoming postal items;

2) levels of terminal dues shall be related to the quality of the postal service achieved;

3) terminal dues shall be transparent and non-discriminatory.

(3) For the purposes of this Act, terminal dues mean the remuneration of the universal postal service provider by the foreign postal service provider which accepted a postal item for forwarding for the delivery of the postal item within the territory of Estonia or the charge paid to the accepting postal service provider by the universal postal service provider for the delivery of the postal item in the country of destination.

§ 36. Financial services

(1) A universal postal service provider has through its postal network throughout the whole territory of Estonia:

1) the obligation to pay pensions and benefits;

2) the right to provide cash transfer services.

(2) The provisions of the Law of Obligations Act concerning payment orders and the provisions of other relevant legislation apply to the provision of the services provided in subsection 1 of this section.

§ 36¹. Forwarding of periodicals and procedural documents

(1) A universal postal service provider has the obligation to forward periodicals and serve procedural documents through its postal network throughout the whole territory of Estonia.

(2) The delivery of periodicals to the addressee must be ensured five days a week once a day.

(3) A universal postal service provider and a provider of the service of forwarding of items of correspondence are required to forward any parcel subject to service in judicial or administrative proceedings regardless of its weight.

(4) The provisions of this Act and the provisions of the standard conditions of the postal service provider regarding the delivery of postal items apply to the forwarding of procedural documents only to the extent in which this is not contrary to the provisions of procedural law regarding the delivery of procedural documents.

(5) The specific conditions of and the procedure for forwarding of periodicals are established by a regulation of the minister in charge of the policy sector.

§ 37. Quality of universal postal service

(1) A universal postal service provider ensures the collection of postal items and the delivery of postal items to the addressees on at least five days a week and once a day throughout the whole territory of Estonia.

(1¹) The quality requirements for universal postal services and the permitted exceptions are established by a regulation of the minister in charge of the policy sector.

§ 38. Quality inspection

(1) A universal postal service provider shall ensure that a person independent of the service provider inspects compliance of the universal postal service with the quality requirements.

(2) Once a year, a universal postal service provider is required to prepare and make available to the public a report concerning the results of the inspection provided for in subsection 1 of this section. The report shall contain information on the number of complaints filed regarding the universal postal service and the settlement of such complaints.

§ 39¹. Justified charge for provision of universal postal service

(1) The justified charge for the provision of universal postal services (hereinafter justified charge) for the purposes of this Act is the charge collected for the provision of universal postal services specified in subsections 2 and 2¹ of § 5 of this Act, which is established by the minister in charge of the policy sector on the basis of subsection 5 of § 39³.

(2) The justified charge is based on the costs of providing universal postal services, it is transparent, non-discriminatory and the same throughout the territory of the country, ensures the availability of universal postal services to all users and is sufficient to consistently ensure:

1) investments made in order to fulfil operational and development obligations;

2) a justified return on the capital invested by the undertaking;

3) covering of the costs of meeting quality requirements;

4) covering of the necessary variable and operational costs.

§ 39². Basis for calculation of justified charge

(1) The costs to be included in the justified charge must be justified, based on cost-effectiveness and enable the universal postal service provider to fulfil the obligations provided by legislation.

(2) The following costs are not included in the justified charge:

1) the costs of doubtful debts;

2) the costs of fringe benefits;

3) financial costs;

4) costs of sponsorship, gifts and donations;

5) income tax expense;

6) costs not related to the provision of universal postal services;

7) fines and default interests imposed on the undertaking in accordance with legislation, and other financial obligations arising from the failure of the undertaking to fulfil its obligations.

(3) The justification for operational costs is assessed using the following methods:

1) monitoring changes in costs over time and comparing them with changes in the minimum wage;

2) an analysis of the justification for cost components, including expert assessments.

(4) The Estonian Competition Authority prepares and publishes on its website uniform methods, based on the weighted average cost of capital, for the calculation of the justified charge and for assessing costs and justified return and uses these as the basis when approving the amount of the justified charge for universal postal services. The methods applied by the Competition Authority must take into account the provisions of this section and of § 39¹ of this Act.

§ 39³. Approval and establishment of amount of justified charge

(1) A universal postal service provider submits an application to the Estonian Competition Authority for approval of the amount of the justified charge together with the reasons and calculations.

(2) The Estonian Competition Authority approves the amount of the justified charge or refuses to approve the amount for a justified reason within 30 calendar days after receipt of the application specified in subsection 1 of this section. When processing an application that is particularly complex or requires extensive work, the Competition Authority may extend the time limit for approval to 60 calendar days. Upon extension of the time limit, the Competition Authority announces without delay the likely timing for approval and the reason for the failure to comply with the prescribed time limit.

(3) Where a universal postal service provider fails to submit the required information or documents together with the application, or where the application contains other deficiencies, the Competition Authority sets a time limit for the applicant to eliminate the deficiencies at the earliest opportunity. The time limit specified in subsection 2 of this section is suspended until the information necessary for the Estonian Competition Authority to approve the amount of the justified charge has been submitted.

(4) The Estonian Competition Authority notifies the universal postal service provider and the minister in charge of the policy sector of the approval of the amount of the justified charge within five working days.

(5) The amount of the justified charge for the provision of universal postal services is established by a regulation of the minister in charge of the policy sector.

(6) The amount of the justified charge specified in subsection 5 of this section is established within 30 calendar days after the receipt of the notification concerning the approval of the amount of the justified charge in accordance with subsection 4.

(7) Where the minister in charge of the policy sector does not establish the amount of the justified charge approved by the Estonian Competition Authority, the minister establishes the amount of the justified charge, taking into account the increase in the minimum wage established on the basis of subsection 5 of § 29 of the Employment Contracts Act.

(8) The universal postal service provider publishes the amount of the justified charge without delay on its website and at post offices after the publication of the regulation specified in subsection 5 of this section in the Riigi Teataja.

(9) The regulation specified in subsection 5 of this section establishing the amount of the justified charge enters into force 30 calendar days after its publication in the Riigi Teataja, unless the regulation prescribes a later date of entry into force.

§ 40. Revenue and cost accounting separation

(1) A universal postal service provider shall keep separate revenue and cost accounting:

1) regarding postal services belonging to the set of the universal postal service;

2) regarding each service for the provision of which common resources with postal services belonging to the set of the universal postal service are used.

(2) A universal postal service provider shall apply activity based cost accounting.

(3) The revenue and cost accounting of a universal postal service provider shall be based on the process of provision of universal postal service and clearly specify the resources, activities and services necessary therefor.

(4) The universal postal service shall be provided in compliance with the principle of cost-effectiveness.

(5) The revenue and cost accounting of a universal postal service provider shall comply with the following principles:

1) causal relationship – costs must be related to the activities or services which cause the costs;

2) objectiveness – the allocation of costs must be based on objective bases and shall not bring about unjustified profit or loss for the universal postal service provider.

(6) The requirements for the revenue and cost accounting of a universal postal service provider shall be established by a regulation of the minister in charge of the policy sector.

(7) The compliance of revenue and cost accounting with the requirements provided for in this Act and legislation established on the basis thereof shall be assessed by an independent auditor.

(8) A universal postal service provider shall submit a balance sheet and a profit and loss account for each area of activity in the notes to its annual report.

(9) A universal postal service provider shall append to its annual report an explanation of the principles for allocation of costs among the undertakings belonging to the same group. Any amendments to the specified principles and the reasons therefor shall be set out in the annual report.

(10) The Government of the Republic has the right to establish, by a regulation, additional duly substantiated requirements for a universal postal service provider regarding its accounts and the disclosure of reports with a view to ensuring transparent reporting on the revenue and cost of activities related to the provision of the universal postal service and on transactions between undertakings belonging to the same group.

§ 41¹. Costs related to performance of universal postal service obligation

(1) A universal postal service provider may submit to the Estonian Competition Authority an application for compensation for the unreasonably burdensome costs related to the performance of the universal postal service obligation. The application shall be submitted not later than on the tenth day of the month following the accounting quarter.

(2) Upon assessment of the costs related to the performance of the universal postal service obligation, the Estonian Competition Authority shall verify whether the specified costs are justified.

(3) If, as a result of the assessment specified in subsection 2 of this section, the Estonian Competition Authority finds that performance of the universal postal service obligation is unreasonably burdensome for a universal postal service provider, taking account of the revenue arising from performance of the specified obligation and any market benefit, the Estonian Competition Authority shall decide to compensate for the costs related to the universal postal service obligation to the extent provided for in subsection 4 of this section.

(4) The costs specified in subsection 3 of this section shall be compensated to a universal postal service provider only to the extent to which the price charged from users specified in § 6¹ of this Act does not enable covering of the costs related to performance of the universal postal service obligation or ensure a reasonable profit.

(5) In order to assess the costs specified in this section, the Estonian Competition Authority shall develop uniform methods based on the weighted average capital cost. The relevant methods shall be published on the website of the Estonian Competition Authority.

(6) The procedure for compensation for the costs specified in this section shall be established by a regulation of the minister in charge of the policy sector.

§ 41². Source of financing of universal postal service, universal postal service charge and rate of universal postal service charge

(1) The costs specified in § 41¹ of this Act shall be compensated for out of the universal postal service charges paid by postal service providers with the obligation to pay the universal postal service charge (hereinafter financing obligation).

(2) Universal postal service charge is a payment made by a postal service provider with the financing obligation in order to compensate for the costs specified in § 411 of this Act. The amount of the charge shall be determined on the basis of the principles of transparency, non-discrimination and proportionality.

(3) A postal service provider with the financing obligation is required to pay the universal postal service charge in the amount of 0–5 per cent of the turnover of postal services specified in the licence during the previous accounting quarter or on the basis of the volume of postal services specified in the licence during the previous accounting quarter as follows:

1) the forwarding of items of correspondence as ordinary items, including forwarding as bulk items, 0–0.19 euros per unit;

2) the forwarding of items of correspondence as registered items, including forwarding as bulk items, 0–1.59 euros per unit;

3) the forwarding of postal parcels as ordinary items and registered items, including forwarding as bulk items, 0–1.15 euros per unit.

(4) The rate of the charge specified in subsection 3 of this section shall be established by a regulation of the Government of the Republic on the proposal of the minister in charge of the policy sector.

(5) The minister in charge of the policy sector shall submit the proposal specified in subsection 4 of this section on the basis of the proposal of the Estonian Competition Authority.

(6) The Estonian Competition Authority shall submit the proposal specified in subsection 5 of this section on the basis of the following:

1) the volume, turnover and number of providers of licensed postal services;

2) the possible amount of the costs specified in § 41¹ of this Act;

3) the amount of the unused universal postal service charge provided for in subsection 5 of § 41⁴ of this Act.

§ 41³. Postal service provider with financing obligation

(1) A postal service provider who has been granted a licence for the provision of postal services specified in clauses 2 and 3 of subsection 1 of § 10 of this Act has the financing obligation.

(2) In accounting, a postal service provider with the financing obligation shall keep separate revenue and cost accounting regarding the provision of services specified in the licence.

(3) In the case of a person specified in subsection 1 of this section, the financing obligation shall terminate as of revocation or expiry of the licence.

(4) If the financing obligation arises or terminates before the fifteenth day of the calendar month, the financing obligation is deemed to have arisen or terminated as of the beginning of the calendar month.

(5) If the financing obligation arises or terminates after the fifteenth day of the calendar month, the financing obligation is deemed to have arisen or terminated as of the following calendar month.

(6) A postal service provider with the financing obligation shall submit to the Estonian Competition Authority a written declaration which includes information on the revenue and cost accounting not later than on the tenth day of the month following the accounting quarter.

(7) Upon failure to perform the obligation to submit the declaration provided for in this section, the Estonian Competition Authority may designate a new term for the submission of the declaration and issue a warning stating that a non-compliance levy may be imposed for failure to perform the obligation. The upper limit for a non-compliance levy is the upper limit provided for in subsection 4 of § 91 of the Taxation Act. Non-compliance levies shall be imposed and collected pursuant to the provisions of the Taxation Act.

(8) The requirements for the declaration of information on the revenue and cost accounting specified in subsection 2 of this section shall be established by a regulation of the minister in charge of the policy sector. The requirements shall set out:

1) the procedure for submission of the declaration;

2) information submitted in the declaration and the format of the declaration;

3) the procedure for the use of the declared information.

§ 41⁴. Payment, receipt and use of universal postal service charge

(1) Universal postal service charge shall be paid not later than on the twenty-fifth day of the month following the accounting quarter.

(2) For universal postal service charge to be paid, the Estonian Competition Authority shall send a corresponding notice not later than seven days before the due date for payment of the universal postal service charge to the postal service provider with the financing obligation. The Estonian Competition Authority shall compensate for the costs related to the universal postal service obligation to the universal postal service provider to the extent provided for in subsection 4 of § 41¹ of this Act not later than on the thirtieth day of the month following the accounting quarter.

(3) A notice specified in subsection 2 of this section is an administrative act which shall contain at least the following information:

1) the given name, surname and position of the official who prepared the notice;

2) the date of preparation of the notice;

3) the name and address of the postal service provider with the financing obligation;

4) the amount of the universal postal service charge subject to payment;

5) the legal and factual basis for the notice, including the bases for calculation of the amount of the universal postal service charge subject to payment;

6) the due date for payment of the universal postal service charge;

7) a warning concerning the commencement of compulsory enforcement in case of failure to pay the universal postal service charge by the due date.

(4) If a postal service provider with the financing obligation fails to pay the universal postal service charge by the due date specified in subsection 1 of this section, the Estonian Competition Authority has the right to submit a notice specified in subsection 2 of this section for compulsory enforcement pursuant to the procedure provided for in the Code of Enforcement Procedure.

(5) If the universal postal service charges paid during a calendar year exceed the costs compensated during the calendar year to the universal postal service provider pursuant to § 41¹ of this Act, the universal postal service charges paid but not used during the calendar year are deemed as prepayments for future charges.

(6) The paid universal postal service charges shall not be refunded upon termination of the financing obligation.

(7) Universal postal service charge is paid into the state budget.

(8) The procedure for the payment of universal postal service charge into the state budget and for the use of the charge shall be established by a regulation of the minister in charge of the policy sector.

§ 42. Notification

(1) The Ministry of Regional Affairs and Agriculture shall notify the European Commission of the following:

1) the name, personal identification or registry code and address of the seat of the universal postal service provider;

1¹) measures which are taken to ensure the provision of the universal postal service;

2) ways of ensuring that users of postal services and postal service providers are notified of the conditions of access to, standard conditions and charges of the universal postal service;

3) the quality requirements for universal postal services established by a regulation of the minister in charge of the policy sector, and the permitted exceptions.

(2) If the European Commission so requests, the Ministry of Regional Affairs and Agriculture and the Estonian Competition Authority are required to provide sufficient and relevant information to the European Commission which the European Commission needs to perform its functions arising from Directive 97/67/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on common rules for the development of the internal market of Community postal services and the improvement of quality of service (OJ L 15, 21.01.1998, p. 14–25) and Directive 2008/6/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 97/67/EC with regard to the full accomplishment of the internal market of Community postal services (OJ L 52, 27.02.2008, p. 3–20).

(3) The Ministry of Regional Affairs and Agriculture and the Estonian Competition Authority may provide information regarding postal service providers to the supervisory authorities of other Member States of the European Union, of states which are Contracting Parties to the European Economic Area Agreement and of Candidate Countries to the European Union.

(4) If information provided by the Ministry of Regional Affairs and Agriculture or the Estonian Competition Authority to the European Commission includes information obtained from a postal service provider, the possessor of the information shall inform the postal service provider of forwarding such information to the European Commission.

(5) If the Ministry of Regional Affairs and Agriculture or the Estonian Competition Authority finds that disclosure to the supervisory authorities of other Member States of the European Union, of states which are Contracting Parties to the European Economic Area Agreement and of Candidate Countries to the European Union of information submitted to the European Commission is not justified, the Ministry of Regional Affairs and Agriculture or the Estonian Competition Authority shall inform the European Commission at the time of submission of such information to the European Commission that the Ministry of Regional Affairs and Agriculture or the Estonian Competition Authority does not wish the information to be communicated to the specified supervisory authorities and present the reasons for wishing the non-disclosure of the information.

(6) If the Ministry of Regional Affairs and Agriculture or the Estonian Competition Authority has provided information to one supervisory authority of a Member State of the European Union, of a state which is a Contracting Party to the European Economic Area Agreement or of a Candidate Country to the European Union, the Ministry or the Authority is required to provide, upon a reasoned request, the same information to other specified supervisory authorities.

§ 43. State supervision

(1) State supervision over compliance with the requirements provided for in this Act and legislation established on the basis thereof shall be exercised by the Estonian Competition Authority (hereinafter law enforcement authority).

(2) The law enforcement authority has the right to inspect the revenue and cost accounting of postal service providers with the financing obligation, which is related to the provision of services specified in the licence.

(3) The law enforcement authority has the right to verify the correctness of payment of the universal postal service charge and make payments from the state budget to a universal postal service provider to compensate for the unreasonably burdensome costs relating to the performance of the universal postal service obligation.

§ 43¹. Specific state supervision measures

In order to exercise state supervision provided for in this Act, the law enforcement authority may apply the specific state supervision measures provided for in § 30 of the Law Enforcement Act on the basis of and pursuant to the procedure provided for in the Law Enforcement Act.

§ 44. Non-compliance levy rate

Upon failure to comply with a precept, the maximum rate of the non-compliance levy imposed pursuant to the procedure provided in the Substitutional Performance and Non-Compliance Levies Act is 9600 euros.

§ 45. Obligation to provide information

(1) The Director General of the Estonian Competition Authority and an official authorised thereby have the right to request from postal service providers and other persons information necessary for the performance of the duties and functions imposed on the Estonian Competition Authority. Information concerning postal traffic and financial and non-financial data characterising economic activity may be requested from postal service providers. The documents of postal service providers concerning the provision of postal services and the work equipment of postal service providers may be inspected during the business hours of the postal service providers.

(2) The Estonian Competition Authority shall prepare a request for information or documents in writing and shall specify the term for submission of the information or documents, which shall not be less than ten days.

(4) Officials of the Estonian Competition Authority are required to maintain postal or business secrets which have become known to them in the course of performing their duties and have the right to use such information only for the performance of their duties.

§ 46. Settlement of complaints

(1) Every person may file a complaint with the Estonian Competition Authority concerning the activities of a postal service provider which are contrary to legislation or the secondary conditions of the licence of the postal service provider.

(2) The Director General of the Estonian Competition Authority or a person authorised thereby shall review a complaint specified in subsection 1 of this section and make a decision thereon within sixty days as of the receipt of the complaint.

(3) The Director General of the Estonian Competition Authority and a person authorised thereby have the right to request additional information from a person who has or may have information necessary to make the decision specified in subsection 2 of this section and to conduct expert assessments or organise the conduct of expert assessments by third parties. The term specified in subsection 2 of this section shall be suspended as of the submission of a corresponding request by the Director General of the Estonian Competition Authority or a person authorised thereby until the submission of requested additional information or receipt of the results of an expert assessment, but not for longer than 120 days.

(4) The Estonian Competition Authority shall deliver the decision on a complaint specified in subsection 1 of this section to the person who files the complaint and to the person with regard to whose activities the complaint is filed within five working days as of making the decision.

§ 47. Reporting

(1) The Estonian Competition Authority shall, during the second quarter of each year, submit a written report concerning the developments and problems in the field of postal services and on the activities of the Estonian Competition Authority in this field during the previous calendar year to the Ministry of Regional Affairs and Agriculture.

(2) The report specified in subsection 1 of this section shall include:

1) an overview of the economic activities in the field of postal services together with a description of the changes which took place during the year and an analysis of the situation;

2) an overview of the quality of the postal services in the field of postal services and an analysis of the situation;

3) an analysis of the activities of the Estonian Competition Authority, problems which have arisen in the activities and proposals for planning future activities;

4) an opinion regarding the compliance of the revenue and cost accounting of a universal postal service provider with the requirements of this Act and legislation established on the basis thereof;

5) an overview of the use of universal postal service charges, an estimation of the rate of the universal postal service charge and the affordable charge payable for universal postal services for the next calendar year.

(3) The Estonian Competition Authority shall publish the report specified in subsection 1 of this section on its website with the exception of information prescribed for internal use.

§ 48

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§ 51. Exclusive right of universal postal service provider

(1) A universal postal service provider has the exclusive right to forward domestic letters of up to 50 grams until 31 March 2009.

(2) The exclusive right does not extend to:

1) the forwarding of periodicals;

2) direct mail;

3) domestic letters weighing up to 50 grams the charge for the forwarding of which is equal to or higher than 2.5 times the charge established for the lowest weight category of letters by the universal postal service provider.

§ 52. Termination of activities of state register of postal service providers

(1) The activities of the state register of postal service providers shall be terminated on 1 October 2006.

(2) Information regarding the universal postal service provider entered in the state register of postal service providers shall be entered in the register of economic activities by 1 October 2006.

(3) Non-actual data stored in the state register of postal service providers shall be transferred to the state archives by 1 December 2006 under the conditions and pursuant to the procedure established by law.

(4) Legislation regulating the activities of the state register of postal service providers shall remain in force until the date provided for in subsection 1 of this section.

§ 53. Transitional provisions

(1) A licence issued for the provision of the universal postal service before the entry into force of this Act is valid until the date specified in the licence. A universal postal service provider is required to submit the standard conditions and the proposal regarding the conditions of the licence provided for in clause 4 of subsection 2 of § 11 of this Act to the Estonian Competition Authority not later than by 1 October 2006.

(2) Licences or the corresponding parts of such licences issued to the universal postal service provider for the provision of postal services before the entry into force of this Act are valid until the entry into force of the conditions and standard conditions of the licences for the provision of the universal postal service, provided that the conditions and standard conditions are submitted pursuant to subsection 1 of this section.

(3) A universal postal service provider is required to bring its revenue and cost accounting into conformity with the provisions of this Act and legislation established on the basis thereof and submit the postal charges for the provision of the services belonging to the set of the universal postal service to the Estonian Competition Authority for approval by 1 October 2006.

(4) A person who, before the entry into force of this Act, has received the right to provide postal services on the basis of the corresponding decision of the Estonian Competition Authority shall bring its activities into conformity with the requirements of this Act by 1 October 2006.

(5) A person who, before the entry into force of this Act, has obtained the right to provide postal services on the basis of the corresponding decision of the Estonian Competition Authority, need not submit a notice of commencement of activities provided for in § 21 of this Act.

(6) A person who, before the entry into force of this Act, has been engaged in the forwarding of periodicals shall inform the Estonian Competition Authority of its activities pursuant to the procedure provided for in § 21 of this Act by 1 October 2006.

(7) A person who has received a licence before 1 January 2009 shall submit to the Estonian Competition Authority information regarding bringing its activities into conformity with the requirements provided for in subsection 3 of § 14, subsection 1 of § 24, clause 10 of subsection 2 of § 27 and subsection 2 of § 41³ of this Act not later than on 31 March 2009.

(8) The Estonian Competition Authority shall review the information specified in subsection 7 of this section and make a decision on the grant or refusal of permission for continuation of the activities of the person within thirty days after receipt of the specified information by the Authority, but not earlier than on 31 March 2009.

(9) Licences for the provision of postal services which are issued pursuant to clauses 2 and 3 of subsection 1 of § 10 of this Act after 1 January 2009 are valid as of 1 April 2009.

(10) A licence for the provision of universal postal services which is issued pursuant to this Act before 1 January 2009 is valid until designation of a universal postal service provider pursuant to the procedure provided for in § 6 of this Act but not longer than until 31 December 2009.

(11) The rate of the universal postal service charge provided for in subsection 3 of § 41² of this Act shall be established by the Government of the Republic by 1 April 2009.

(12) A postal service provider with the financing obligation shall submit the declaration provided for in subsection 6 of § 41³ of this Act regarding the first accounting quarter by 10 July 2009.

(13) Licences shall not be issued from 1 January 2009 until 31 December 2012 to postal service providers who, in another Member State of the European Union, have been granted the exclusive right to forward domestic letters of up to 50 grams, and also to companies controlled by the specified postal service providers.

§ 53¹. Transition to justified charge for universal postal service

(1) The Estonian Competition Authority prepares and publishes on its website the methods specified in subsection 4 of § 39² of this Act by 10 August 2026 at the latest.

(2) The application specified in subsection 1 of § 39³ of this Act for the approval of the amount of the justified charge is submitted to the Estonian Competition Authority for the first time on 10 September 2026 at the latest.

(3) The Estonian Competition Authority does not approve in the years 2026–2027 a change in the justified charge that exceeds half of the universal postal service charge in force in the year preceding the year of approval.

(4) Until the first establishment of the amount of the justified charge on the basis of subsection 5 of § 39³ of this Act, the affordable charge payable for the universal postal service established on the basis of subsection 2 of § 61 of the version of this Act in force prior to 1 January 2027 applies.

§ 53². Covering costs related to performance of universal postal service obligation incurred before 1 January 2027

(1) After 1 January 2027, universal postal service charge is paid and an application for compensation for the unreasonably burdensome costs related to the performance of the universal postal service obligation is submitted and processed in accordance with the version of this Act in force before 1 January 2027.

(2) Universal postal service charge is paid for the last time on 25 January 2027 at the latest.

(3) The paid universal postal service charges that are not used to compensate for the unreasonably burdensome costs related to the performance of the universal postal service obligation are refunded to the postal service provider who paid the universal postal service charges in the calendar year preceding the expiry of the obligation to pay such charges, in proportion to the payments made during that calendar year.

(4) An application for compensation for the unreasonably burdensome costs related to the performance of the universal postal service obligation specified in § 41¹ of the version of this Act in force prior to 1 January 2027 is submitted in accordance with subsection 1 of this section for the last time 30 June 2027 at the latest. The specified application may cover unreasonably burdensome costs related to the performance of the universal postal service obligation for more than one calendar year, but not costs incurred after the entry into force of the justified charge established pursuant to subsection 5 of § 39³ of this Act.

§ 53³. Transition to justified charge for forwarding of periodicals

(1) The Estonian Competition Authority prepares and publishes on its website the methods specified in subsection 4 of § 39² of this Act concerning the forwarding of periodicals by 1 January 2028 at the latest.

(2) The application specified in subsection 1 of § 39³ of this Act for the approval of the amount of the justified charge for the forwarding of periodicals is submitted to the Estonian Competition Authority for the first time on 1 June 2028 at the latest.

(3) Contracts for the forwarding of periodicals concluded with a universal postal service provider prior to 1 November 2028 must comply with the requirements provided in §§ 36¹ and 39¹–39³ of this Act by 1 November 2028. After 1 November 2028, a contractual term not in compliance with the specified provisions does not apply.

§ 53⁴. Ex post evaluation of regulation of provision of universal postal service

By 1 July 2031 at the latest, the Ministry of Regional Affairs and Agriculture analyses the functioning of the universal postal service, including the functioning of the regulation governing the forwarding of periodicals, taking into account developments in the postal market, changes in consumer behaviour, the availability of the service, the sustainability of funding, and the effectiveness of the organisation and funding of supervision, and, where necessary, submits proposals to the Government of the Republic to amend the regulation.

§ 54

–

§ 55

[Omitted from this text.]

§ 56. Entry into force of Act

(1) This Act enters into force on 1 July 2006.

(2) Clause 3 of subsection 2 of § 5 of this Act enters into force on 1 January 2007.