Spain creates an independent regulator for the postal sector

Automatic summary, not yet reviewed

1. The law creates the National Postal Sector Commission (Comisión Nacional del Sector Postal), a public body with its own legal personality that watches over transparency, the proper working of the postal market and free competition. It is independent from the Administration, although it is attached to the Ministry of Public Works (Ministerio de Fomento).
2. The Commission works through a Governing Board with a President, a Vice President and four board members, appointed by the Government from people with professional expertise in the sector, after a hearing before Congress. Their terms last six years, with only one possible renewal, and they cannot work in the postal sector for two years after leaving office.
3. The Commission grants and revokes the authorizations needed to provide postal services, inspects services, punishes breaches, resolves disputes between operators, keeps the register of postal companies and handles user complaints.
4. Postal operators pay fees to fund the Commission: 50 euros every two years for being listed in the register, an annual fee of up to 0.2 percent of income from postal activity, and 100 euros for each registry certification.
5. The Commission resolves disputes between the universal postal service operator and other operators, through a procedure that must be started at a party's request within two months. Its decisions are binding and may require compensation for damages.
6. The Commission also acts as a free arbitrator in disputes that postal operators submit to it, and the Government must appoint its members and have it up and running within six months of the law taking effect.

Who it affects

• Postal companies, which must register, pay fees, allow inspections and follow the Commission's instructions.: New obligations and payments.
• Users of postal services, who can bring their questions, complaints and claims to the Commission.: A body that defends their interests.
• The Ministry of Public Works, which transfers authorization, inspection and sanction powers to the Commission.: Loses functions now exercised by the Commission.
• Ministry staff working on postal regulation and inspection, who move to the Commission while keeping their employment status.: Change of workplace.

Words worth knowing

Servicio postal universal (universal postal service)

The basic postal services that must be provided to everyone, across the whole country, at affordable prices.

Título habilitante (enabling authorization)

The administrative authorization that allows a company to provide postal services.

Potestad sancionadora (sanctioning power)

The power to impose penalties for breaking the law.

Tasa (fee)

Money paid to the State for a specific service, such as registering in a registry.

Devengo (accrual)

The moment when the obligation to pay a fee arises.

It summarizes the law as published in the BOE. It is written by artificial intelligence and may contain mistakes: the official text is what counts. Read the official text · How we make summaries