APC continues to track the COVID-19 situation and its impact to shipping. Please ensure you are checking the country-specific restrictions as it is updated daily. Our “Service Alerts” are always posted on our website at APC - Service Alert. 

APC continues to work hard at minimizing the impact to you. We do anticipate possible delivery delays due to air uplift, cancellations, closures and other factors due to the crisis but we continue to operate, process and export mail and parcels at all our facilities.

As a company, our staff is maintaining all suggested precautionary guidelines. We are available and prepared to assist.
Thank you in advance for your understanding and patience during this uncertain time.

US Weather Delays

Due to winter weather conditions potential delays are possible for package deliveries across the U.S.

**Service Impacts in Canada Due to COVID-19**

Canada Post asks us to inform other Union member countries and their designated operators that a number of cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in one of the three shifts at its Gateway East processing plant in the Greater Toronto Area.

Following guidance by the regional health authority, Canada Post has temporarily closed this shift to prevent further spread of the virus. The Toronto exchange office, located in a separate area of the Gateway plant, continues to operate, albeit with a reduced workforce. Given this situation, disruption to normal operations and reduced processing capacity and clearance within customs operations are to be expected.

As further staff shortages are expected during this time, in addition to measures to protect the health and safety of workers, member countries can expect delays in the processing and delivery of both inbound and outbound mail items.

The following actions are being taken by Canada Post to help minimize delays as much as possible:

• USPS ground transportation dispatches to Toronto are being diverted to the Montreal Office of Exchange for processing.
• First-Class Packet International Service (FCPIS) and Commercial ePacket (CeP) volume already received in Toronto from the USPS is being cleared through customs using an automated process which is not impacted by the reduction in customs personnel staffing.
• USPS PMEI, PMI, FCPIS and CeP dispatches continue to be prioritized at all three CPC Offices of Exchange (Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver).

This is an evolving situation and Canada Post is expected to take additional steps to help maintain performance. We will continue to provide updates as information is received.

Canada Post has operated with safety protocols in place following the guidance of public health officials since the beginning of the pandemic in 2020 and will continue to follow their expert guidance and recommendations.

Canada Post thanks all Union member countries and their designated operators for their understanding during this very difficult time.

**ALERT: UK BORDER CLOSURES DELIVERY DELAYS**

Dear customer,

Please note that due to significant spikes in COVID in the UK, many countries have banned flights from the UK to enter their border. Specifically, the UK/France border which is the major gateway to the EU from the UK has been shut down for 48 hours. The two governments are working very closely together and are confident they will have a plan to unblock the flow of trade within the 48 hour window. Notwithstanding the lift of the border closure, this will still cause delays in the delivery of packages to both the UK and the EU. We do apologize for any inconvenience these delays may cause but ask for patience as the backlogs clear up.

You may find more information on this fluid situation here:

BBC UK - Covid-19: More than 40 countries ban UK arrivals
sky news - COVID news live – latest UK updates

Sincerely,

APC Postal Logistics

Country Specific Restrictions Due to COVID-19

Due to restrictions imposed by governments and/or carriers due to the COVID-19 outbreak, please do not send any shipments to the following countries until further notice:

The USPS recently reported that a handful of countries have service delays due to COVID-19 related impacts:

• Denmark
• Israel
• Latvia
• Mexico
• Sri Lanka
• Greece

Mail is still being accepted to these countries but service could be impacted at destination.

Service has been RESTORED to the following countries:

Due to the current backlog of items on hold, please allow additional processing time for these countries.

29 JANUARY 2021:

• LIBERIA
• SIERRA LEONE

08 JANUARY 2021:

• MYANMAR
• PANAMA

18 DECEMBER 2020

• LIBYA

11 DECEMBER 2020

• MADAGASCAR

04 DECEMBER 2020

• NIGER

13 NOVEMBER 2020:

• CAMEROON
• LAOS
• LEBANON
• MONGOLIA
• MYANMAR (BURMA)

30 OCTOBER 2020:

• CAMBODIA
• HONDURAS
• LEBANON
• SAMOA
• TURKS & CAICOS

25 OCTOBER 2020:

• PAPUA NEW GUINEA
• SOLOMON ISLANDS
• VANUATU

16 OCTOBER 2020:

• AZERBAIJAN
• IRAQ
• JORDAN
• UZBEKISTAN

Italy - Suspended Service (Select Postal Codes)

Poste Italiane suspended delivery services in the below postal code areas, in order to minimise the spread of the coronavirus (Covid-19):

• Camastra (CAP 92020) - in the Caltanissetta area
• Misilmeri (postcode 90036) en Ciminna (90023) - in the Palermo area
• Vittoria (CAP 97019) en Acate (97011) - in the Ragusa area
• Cesarò (98033), Bronte ( 95034), Maniace (95030) en San Teodoro (98030) - in the Catania area
• Pallagorio (88818) - in the Cosenza area
• Cotronei (88836), Isola Capo Rizzuto (88841) en Mileto (89852) - in the Catanzaro area
• Bagnara Calabra (89011), Platì , Bruzzano Zeffiro (89030) en Cardeto (89060) - in the Reggio Calabria area

Postal code reopened: 97013

Barcelona, Spain - Embargoed Postcodes

Please see the below embargoed postcodes in Spain – Barcelona area, part of a Spanish government directive. These areas have been closed off as this is a main impact area for Coronavirus.

At this stage APC hasn't pulled the data on items being sent into this area via Seur & Correos but will keep you informed. For parcels received for these postcodes, these will be returned to the originator.

8672, 8695, 8698, 8699, 8700, 8710, 8711, 8712, 8718, 8719, 8773, 8779, 8781, 8782, 8783, 8784, 8785, 8786, 8787, 8788, 8789, 8791

Brazil Customs Requirement

We have been informed that effective January 1, 2020, Brazil Customs will require the importer's Tax Identification Number** to be provided for all items containing goods sent to recipients in Brazil.

Customs is stating that it will not accept shipments not containing this number and that items missing this information is subject to return.

Please note, APC will continue to ship all packages destined to Brazil normally, with or without the recipient Tax ID number included but recommends that you begin gathering the required information from your Brazilian recipients to minimize any potential returns due to the Tax ID number not being included on the address label.

Please contact your APC sales representative if you have questions.

_________________________________________

** In Brazil, the importer's Tax ID Number is known as CPF (format: 000.000.000-00) for natural persons and CNPJ (format: 00.000.000/0000-00) for legal persons

Secretary of Transportation Orders Suspension of Air Service Between the U.S. and Venezuela

With the approval of the Secretary of State and in close coordination with the Acting Secretary of Homeland Security, Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao has issued an order today suspending air service between the United States and Venezuela.

Federal law authorizes the Secretary of Transportation, with the approval of the Secretary of State, to take immediate action to suspend the rights of foreign and U.S. air carriers to provide service between the U.S. and foreign airports when conditions exist at those airports that threaten the safety or security of passengers, aircraft, or crew.

The Acting Secretary of Homeland Security has requested this action based on his assessment of current security conditions in Venezuela, and the Secretary of State has given his approval. Secretary Chao has agreed to the request and is exercising her statutory authority to suspend air service to Venezuela.

The Secretary's suspension order is in addition to the FAA's Notice to Airmen issued on May 1, which prohibits most U.S.-certified aircraft operators and pilots from flying below 26,000 feet over the territory of Venezuela, also for reasons of safety and security.

Through APC, as of today (but subject to change), you can continue using the following services to send parcels into Venezuela during this suspension period.

• parcelconnect Priority DDU

• parcelConnect Priority DDU Delcon

• parcelConnect USPS PQW

• parcelConnect ePMI DDU

• parcelConnect ePMEI DDU

The following APC services to Venezuela will be unavailable during this suspension period.

• All Courier services

• parcelConnect Expedited DDU

• parcelConnect Expedited DDP

• parcelConnect Priority DDP Delcon

• parcelConnect Priority DDP

Embargoed Countries

Due to international embargoes all volumes to the following destinations will cease with effect 30th July 2019:
• Iran
• North Korea
• Syria
• Sudan
• Somalia
• Ukraine (Crimea and Sevastopol only - remaining country can be dispatched)