French government to penalise post office for losses and delays
The French government has launched a public consultation on its proposal to hold the French post office (La Poste) responsible for loss or delivery delays of items in its care. The initiative is contained in the French postal services regulation bill, which has been drawn up with a view to enabling La Poste to provide banking services and compete in a deregulated postal market.
Once the French market for the dispatch of items weighing less than 50g is opened up to competition in 2006, say observers, La Poste will be faced with courier-company rivals which offer compensation for lost items. At present, the French postal and telecommunications code states that La Poste is not liable for the loss of ordinary mail.
Original article by Aude Seres
Abstracted from Le Figaro
