{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/postal-services-universal-postal-service-order-2012/article-3",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/postal-services-universal-postal-service-order-2012/article-3.json",
  "legislation": "uksi/2012/936",
  "legislation_title": "The Postal Services (Universal Postal Service) Order 2012",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/postal-services-universal-postal-service-order-2012",
  "path": "article/3",
  "kind": "article",
  "number": "3",
  "heading": "Routing times",
  "text": "(1) Routing times are expressed using the formula D + n, where—\n(a) “D” means the deemed date of collection; and\n(b) “n” means the number of working days between D and the delivery date, including the delivery date.\n(2) “Deemed date of collection” means—\n(a) in the case of a postal packet deposited at an access point in the United Kingdom on a day on which no collection is required under article 7, the next day on which a collection is required under article 7;\n(b) (i) in the case of a postal packet deposited in the United Kingdom as described in sub-paragraph (ii), the next day on which a collection is required under article 7;\n(ii) sub-paragraph (i) applies where the postal packet is deposited at a letter box on which, or at a post office at which, a time for last collection is advertised, after that time on a day on which a collection is required under article 7;\n(c) in any other case where the access point is in the United Kingdom, the date of deposit;\n(d) in the case of a postal packet deposited at an access point outside the United Kingdom after a last collection time notified in accordance with the rules of the country in question, the next day on which a collection is required under the rules of that country; and\n(e) in any other case where the access point is outside the United Kingdom, the date of deposit.\n(2A) “Working day” means, for—\n(a) priority and other letters and other postal packets, any day which is not—\n(i) a Sunday, or\n(ii) a public holiday in the place of collection or the place of delivery of the postal packet concerned; and\n(b) standard letters, any day which is not—\n(i) a Saturday,\n(ii) a Sunday, or\n(iii) a public holiday in the place of collection or the place of delivery of the letter concerned.\n(3) Where the formula as applied to the delivery of a particular postal packet results in delivery being required—\n(a) in the United Kingdom, on a day on which a delivery is not required under article 6; or\n(b) outside the United Kingdom, on a day on which under the rules of the country of delivery no delivery is required;\ncompliance with the routing time shall be achieved if delivery is effected on the next day on which a delivery is required.",
  "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Art. 3(2A) substituted (28.7.2025) by The Postal Services (Universal Postal Service) (Amendment) (No. 2) Order 2025 (S.I. 2025/890), arts. 1, 4"
    },
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I1",
      "text": "Art. 3 in force at 1.4.2012, see art. 1"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2012/936/article/3",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T01:35:28.959238+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}