Service Updates

Last updated: 16th of April 2025

Important Update Below
 

Welcome to our live service update page for Europe. Below is a round-up of any issues that may be impacting our services to and from destinations in Europe. We keep this page as up-to-date as possible, with information supplied to Parcelforce from our partners. 

Service update: 16th of April 2025

Important Notices:

Import Control System 2 (ICS2) 
ICS2 is a regulatory change required by the EU, focused on continuing to improve the security of parcels shipped internationally. It allows customs authorities to identify items which may require control earlier in the supply chain and take the appropriate action. Sending countries must provide the required parcel/customs information. This means that any item that requires a customs declaration (including gifts, samples, goods and other categories) must have the relevant customs documentation attached and associated Electronic Data must also be supplied. You can use an approved Parcelforce or Third-Party Shipping Solution where this is captured so you can continue exporting with the required compliant electronic data. From the 1st July 2023 any items containing goods that do not have mandatory data fields completed will be at risk of being delayed, returned, or even destroyed. Please see here and here for more information.

We are still despatching items to Belarus however dispatch is once a week via a transit destination therefore longer transit times should be expected. We are continually monitoring the situation and will provide an update if there are any changes to our service moving forward.

Globalexpress suspension
Service is currently suspended until further notice. Any shipments already in transit are likely to be returned.

Belgian Post have informed us that blockades have now been lifted at various sorting centres following the strike of 13th February 2025 however targeted strikes may continue throughout the network, especially in the Brussels and the south Belgian regions.

As a result, delays may still be experienced for all mail types until further notice.

La Poste of France have informed us that the infrastructure in Mayotte (postcode 976xx) has been severely impacted by the passage of Cyclone Chido.

As the airport is not currently operational, the shipment and delivery of all mail items are suspended until repairs can be undertaken.

The shipment of letter and parcel post to the Comoros via Mayotte is also suspended.

Hellenic Post of Greece have informed us that the Association for Civil Servants have announced a 24 hour strike on the 9th April 2025 which will also involve air traffic controllers. 

Delays may be experienced on and immediately after the strike

Earthquake and Volcanic Activity
Icelandic Post have advised that a new volcanic eruption started just north of Grindavik in the Reykjanes peninsula on Sunday 14th January 2024.

It is deemed likely that more eruptions will occur around the town in the coming weeks, hence It is unlikely that habitants will be allowed to return to live in Grindavik in the coming weeks or months.

Iceland Post has not delivered mail in the Grindavik area since the original evacuation 13th of November 2023 and due to the area being uninhabitable it seems unlikely it will be possible to deliver mail in Grindavik in the near future. We will provide any further updates on this as they become available.

Storm
Icelandic Post have informed us that an unseasonal storm has hit resulting in road closures in the northern and south-eastern part of the country.

Heavy snow and winds have closed roads in these parts of the country since the evening of Monday 3rd June, making it impossible to transport mail in those parts of the country.

The storm is expected to last into the week and as result delays can be expected until condition improves.

Our service to Ireland is operating as normal. Items that require the payment of import taxes may take longer to be delivered as this is required before items are released from Irish customs.

Please note: Delivered Duties Unpaid items sent to Ireland are handled as follows:

•Where a mobile number and /or email is provided, the recipient will receive a text and / or email and a letter with the amount of tax to pay plus An Post’s processing fee.
•Where just the address has been provided, the recipient will receive a letter.

In both situations the recipient will receive instructions on how to pay and will have 16 working days to make the payment before the item is returned. The pay by date is included in the customer notification. All items are held in the Dublin Mail Centre Campus before being released, once payment is received. If payment is not received by the payment due date or the customer rejects the item then it is returned to sender.

As a result of the current situation in Israel we are experiencing delays with many flight cancellations. This is a fluid situation and may change at short notice. Throughout the country, the retention period for unclaimed items has been extended to 30 days. All items are subject to delay and we will continue to provide updates as we receive them. 

Please note at this time, we are unable to accept items addressed to Gaza or Khan Yunis and The West Bank.

Flooding / Import Processing / Airport Closure

Flooding

Poste Italiane have informed us that adverse weather conditions affected the Toscana region on March 14th, 15th and 16th. Flooding has caused disruption to their infrastructure resulting in the need to evacuate municipalities and delays are expected until conditions return to normal. Severley affected areas are as follows:

Marradi - 50034
Pontassieve/Via di Valle - 50065
Pontassieve/Via del Sasso - 50065
Dicomano/Loc. Campagna - 50062
Dicomano/Loc. Santa Lucia - 50062
Pintassieve/Via Monterotondo - 50062
Pintassieve/Via del Trebbio - 50062
Casalguidi - 51034
Pistoia/Loc. Iano - 51100
Quarrata - 51039
Borgo San Lorenzo - 50032
Vaglia - 50036
Sesto Fiorentino/Loc. Arrighetto da Settimello - 50019
Sesto Fiorentino/Via Baroncoli - 50019

Import Processing

Poste Italiane have informed us that they have been experiencing technical issues since the 22nd March 2025

Airport Closure

Poste Italiane have updated that Catania Airport will be closing during night-time hours from the 31st March to the 30th October 2025.

The closure will not affect EMS & Parcel products and will only affect Letter traffic, Tracked and Registered items to the zip code areas of 93xxx to 98xxx. These items may be delayed as result of the evening closures.

Malta Post have informed us that owing to the implementation of a new Import system by their customs authorities it is currently experiencing delays in the processing of mail items subject to customs clearance.

Malta Post is working with the customs authorities to resolve these issues as quickly as possible.

We are still despatching postal items to Russia (except via our Global Express service). We are continually monitoring the situation and will provide an update if there are any changes to our service moving forward.

Slovakian Post have informed us that due to an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in the south-west of the country, special emergency measures have been implemented with effect from 21st March 2025 and a wider emergency has been declared with effect from 25 March 2025.

For premises housing livestock with confirmed cases of foot-and-mouth disease and all premises within the protection zone defined by the Regional Veterinary and Food Administration, the following will apply:-

All Postal items addressed to affected premises will be held at the appropriate post office for the duration of the above measures; The post office/courier will inform the recipient by phone or e-mail that items are being held.

Areas affected are:- 

Medveďov - 930 07

Ňárad - 930 06

Baka - 930 04

Malá Lúč - 930 03

Plavecký Štvrtok - 900 68

Delays may also be observed at border crossings due to extra control measures taken as a result of the outbreak

We continue to make regular mail despatch to Ukraine via our Postal Partners. In the absence of air transport, they have rebuilt their international logistics network using road line haul and trains to convey postal items to, and from airports outside of Ukraine. In areas without active hostilities, all Ukrposhta post offices will remain open. Sorting facilities are equipped with electricity generators to ensure uninterrupted work and maintain normal customs and sorting procedures. However, operationally delays are still likely to be experienced until further notice.

Globalexpress 
This service is currently suspended until further notice. Any  shipments already in transit may be returned.

There are 24 delivery regions in Ukraine (Oblasts) and we are currently unable to deliver to 3 of these;

Donetsk Oblast - postcodes starting 83xxx to 87xxx - including cities of Donetsk and Mariupol

Luhansk Oblast - postcodes starting 91xxx to 94xxx - including cities of Luhansk and Krasnyi Luch

Crimea (annexed by Russia in 2014) - postcodes starting 95xxx to 99xxx - including Simferopol and Sevastopol