PostNL has said it will object to a nearly €7m (US$8.1m) fine imposed by the Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) for failing to meet statutory delivery standards for universal service obligation (USO) mail in 2023.
The company described the penalty as “ineffective and disproportionate,” warning that it could put further strain on the financial viability of postal services in the Netherlands.
According to PostNL, the delivery requirements in place at the time were already unworkable due to labor shortages and regulatory constraints that limited operational flexibility. The company said conditions have worsened since 2023, with mail delivery continuing to operate at a loss.
CEO Pim Berendsen said, “The conditions under which we were required to deliver USO mail were already unworkable in 2023. Since then, the situation has only deteriorated further, and despite a highly efficient operating model, delivering mail costs more money than it generates.”
He added that the fine “is not only incomprehensible but also irresponsible,” arguing that it undermines the financial position of the operator and puts additional pressure on service reliability.
The fine relates to a failure to meet legal delivery standards, which are set to be adjusted from July 2026. PostNL acknowledged this change as a step forward but said the revised requirements still do not provide a sustainable framework for the service.
The company said the underlying issue remains unresolved, calling for either regulatory changes to align obligations with current market conditions or financial compensation for the costs of maintaining the universal service.
“Legal obligations must be adjusted to align the service with reality, or appropriate compensation must be provided,” the company said, warning that a lack of structural reform will leave it operating a loss-making service under unsustainable conditions.
PostNL also stated that the fine does not affect its previously communicated financial outlook, as provisions had already been made.
In related news, Royal Mail outlines £500m plan to improve universal service performance