Conditions for the Provision of Postal Services
The basic rules are set out in Act No. 29/2000 on Postal Services, as amended by Act No. 517/2002 Coll., Act No. 225/2003 Coll., Act No. 501/2004 Coll., Act No. 95/2005 Coll., Act No. 413/2005 Coll. and Act No. 444/2005 Coll., Act No. 264/2006 Coll., Act No. 110/2007 Coll., Act No. 41/2009 Coll., Act No. 285/2009 Coll. and Act No. 153/2010 Coll.
With effect from 1 April 2005, provision of postal services and foreign postal services has been in the individual “open business” category of activities (See Annex No. 4, Government Order No. 278/2008 Coll.) A “foreign postal service” is, pursuant to the Act on Postal Services, understood to mean a service for deliveries in the Czech Republic, which differs from a regular postal service only in that its provision was arranged abroad.
Business opportunities in this area are limited by the fact that certain postal services may only be provided by a sole operator, who ensures the availability of the most important postal services in the entire territory of the Czech Republic (universal service provider, USP). Česká pošta s.p. is such a provider at present.
The above monopoly only applies to domestic mail containing written/printed matter, where the weight of each letter is less than 50 g and (simultaneously) the value of each letter is less than CZK 18.- (See Government Order No. 512/2005). Hence, the monopoly does not apply to pieces weighing 50 g or more or to services worth CZK 18.- or more, regardless of whether the mail contains, or does not contain, written/printed matter. Nor does the monopoly apply to mail to or from abroad.
With effect from 1.11.2009 the monopoly also applies to the delivery of financial sums through postal orders.
Further details are set out in the Act on Postal Services.
Note:
All documents (excluding the Act on Postal Services) are only in the Czech version.