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The Use of Charity Postage Stamps in the Postal Traffic for the Benefit of the Croatian Red Cross
NEWS
Pursuant to Article 43 of the Postal Services Act, the use of charity postage stamps in postal traffic and their application is voluntary so that the postal service provider may charge for the value of charity postage stamp only if the sender voluntarily gives his consent. The only exception to this rule is in case of Law on the Croatian Red Cross regulating the payment obligation of the postal service provider for the benefit of the CRC.
ZAGREB, April 18, 2016 – Due to frequent inquiries of the postal services end-users regarding the obligations of the postal service providers regarding the application and charging for the charity stamps in favour of the Croatian Red Cross (CRC) the Croatian Regulatory Authority for Network Industries (HAKOM) hereby wishes to provide the information for a better understanding related to the subject matter.
Postal Services Act (Official Gazette no. 144/12, 153/13 and 78/15, hereinafter: PSA ) under Article 6, paragraph 4 stipulates that the application of the Postal Services Act does not affect the obligation of the postal services provider to charge, apart from the postal service price, the sender for the amount prescribed under the special law. As the most common form of an additional payment along with the postal service price there is the amount for charity stamp which are used in the internal postal traffic. The issuing of charity stamps in the postal traffic is regulated under Article 43 of the PSA, and their application is voluntary, so the postal service provider may charge the charity stamps value only if the sender voluntarily agrees to it. . The only exception to this rule is in case of application of the special law, the Law on the Croatian Red Cross (Official Gazette no. 71/10, hereinafter LCRC) regulating the payment obligation for the amount of postal service providers for the benefit of the CRC.
Thus, the provisions under Article 33 of the LCRC, among other things, prescribe that each calendar year the CRC, in order to promote their activities, organizes humanitarian weeks: “ Red Cross Week" from 8 to 15 May "Anti-Tuberculosis Week" from 14 to 21 September and "Solidarity Week " from 8 to 15 December In those periods, in the internal postal traffic charity postage stamp fee is charged on all postal items in favour of the Red Cross, except on the newspapers and magazines in the amount of 50 percent of the nominal value of the first rate letter according to the public operator price list. The amount in question is HRK 1.55 according to the HP, - Hrvatska pošta dd applicable tariff. This amount is additionally charged for each delivered postal item in a way that it is impossible to use or charge the postal service without fulfilling the regulatory requirements.
In these periods, pursuant to the CRC provisions, apart from the charity stamps in the internal postal traffic, the means are also raised by charging a certain percentage out of the sold tickets value in the long-distance and international air, rail, boat and bus traffic as well as by charging a certain percentage out of the sold tickets value for cultural, entertaining and sports events in the Republic of Croatia (RH)
Charging charity stamps in the internal postal traffic of RH has lasted for many years and with the liberalization of the postal market this obligation has been extended to all postal service providers who provide the postal services in the internal postal traffic. In case the postal service providers’ obligations are not applied, Article 44 of CHK lays down the misdemeanour sanctions. Furthermore, all postal service providers are obliged to duly inform all the users of postal services that, in the above mentioned period, along the amount of the current cost of postal services, an additional fee for charity stamps should be calculated which will later be charged in favour of the Red Cross.
Postal Services Act (Official Gazette no. 144/12, 153/13 and 78/15, hereinafter: PSA ) under Article 6, paragraph 4 stipulates that the application of the Postal Services Act does not affect the obligation of the postal services provider to charge, apart from the postal service price, the sender for the amount prescribed under the special law. As the most common form of an additional payment along with the postal service price there is the amount for charity stamp which are used in the internal postal traffic. The issuing of charity stamps in the postal traffic is regulated under Article 43 of the PSA, and their application is voluntary, so the postal service provider may charge the charity stamps value only if the sender voluntarily agrees to it. . The only exception to this rule is in case of application of the special law, the Law on the Croatian Red Cross (Official Gazette no. 71/10, hereinafter LCRC) regulating the payment obligation for the amount of postal service providers for the benefit of the CRC.
Thus, the provisions under Article 33 of the LCRC, among other things, prescribe that each calendar year the CRC, in order to promote their activities, organizes humanitarian weeks: “ Red Cross Week" from 8 to 15 May "Anti-Tuberculosis Week" from 14 to 21 September and "Solidarity Week " from 8 to 15 December In those periods, in the internal postal traffic charity postage stamp fee is charged on all postal items in favour of the Red Cross, except on the newspapers and magazines in the amount of 50 percent of the nominal value of the first rate letter according to the public operator price list. The amount in question is HRK 1.55 according to the HP, - Hrvatska pošta dd applicable tariff. This amount is additionally charged for each delivered postal item in a way that it is impossible to use or charge the postal service without fulfilling the regulatory requirements.
In these periods, pursuant to the CRC provisions, apart from the charity stamps in the internal postal traffic, the means are also raised by charging a certain percentage out of the sold tickets value in the long-distance and international air, rail, boat and bus traffic as well as by charging a certain percentage out of the sold tickets value for cultural, entertaining and sports events in the Republic of Croatia (RH)
Charging charity stamps in the internal postal traffic of RH has lasted for many years and with the liberalization of the postal market this obligation has been extended to all postal service providers who provide the postal services in the internal postal traffic. In case the postal service providers’ obligations are not applied, Article 44 of CHK lays down the misdemeanour sanctions. Furthermore, all postal service providers are obliged to duly inform all the users of postal services that, in the above mentioned period, along the amount of the current cost of postal services, an additional fee for charity stamps should be calculated which will later be charged in favour of the Red Cross.
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For additional information please contact:
Croatian Regulatory Authority for Network Industries (HAKOM)
Roberta Frangeša Mihanovića 9
10110 Zagreb, Croatia
Tel. + 385 (0) 1 700 70 07
Fax + 385 (0)1 700 70 70
Media inquiries can be submitted online using HAKOM’s official website:
Registration required.
ABOUT HAKOM: HAKOM (www.hakom.hr) - Croatian Regulatory Authority for Network Industries – ensures preconditions for a fair market competition, stable growth and environment for innovations in the electronic communications and postal services market. HAKOM protects users’ interests and the possibility of choice among various communications and postal services at affordable prices, defines sustainable competitive conditions for operators and service providers under fair conditions for return on investment, and provides support to economic growth, public services and the quality of life in the Republic of Croatia by using modern technologies. HAKOM’ strategic goals are: to promote regulation of the electronic communications and postal services market, to support growth of investments and innovations in the electronic communications and postal services market, to provide efficient use of limited resources, to accelerate the growth of broadband products and services, to provide affordable offers of communications and postal services, to provide protection and informing of users, to build an efficient and comprehensive information system, to define and implement efficient processes, and to acquire multi-disciplinary competencies in market regulation.
