Germany's New Postal Act: What Shippers Need to Know
On 19 July 2024, Germany’s modernised Postal Act (Postrechtsmodernisierungsgesetz or PostModG) entered into force, replacing the original 1997 Postgesetz and its accompanying Universal Postal Services Ordinance. It’s the first major reform of German postal regulation in 27 years, and it introduces changes that directly affect how B2B shippers send parcels to and within Germany.
If Germany is part of your shipping footprint — and for most European B2B shippers, it is — you should understand what changed and what it means for your operations.
What you’ll learn:
- What is the new Postal Act?
- Key changes for parcel shippers
- Why this matters beyond Germany
- How carriers are responding
- What you should do now
What is the new Postal Act?
The Postrechtsmodernisierungsgesetz replaces both the original Postal Act and the Universal Postal Services Ordinance from 1998. The old framework was written when letter mail was the dominant postal product and parcel volumes were a fraction of what they are today. The new law acknowledges a fundamental shift: letter volumes are declining, parcel volumes are growing, and the regulatory framework needed to catch up.
The law was passed by the Bundestag on 14 June 2024, approved by the Bundesrat (Federal Council) on 5 July 2024, and entered into force on 19 July 2024, with certain provisions — notably the parcel weight labelling rules — taking effect on 1 January 2025.
Tobias Meyer, CEO of DHL Group: “The approval of the revised Postal Act provides much-needed clarity for our employees, customers, and investors regarding the future of postal services in Germany.”
Key objectives of the reform:
- Modernise universal postal service obligations to reflect the shift from letters to parcels
- Improve working conditions for parcel delivery workers
- Strengthen the regulatory role of the Bundesnetzagentur (Germany’s federal network agency)
- Promote fair competition in the parcel delivery market
- Adapt delivery standards to reflect the digital reality of declining letter volumes
Key changes for parcel shippers
Mandatory weight labelling (from 1 January 2025)
This is the change with the most immediate operational impact for B2B shippers. The new law introduces mandatory weight labelling for parcels shipped within and to Germany:
| Weight class | Labelling requirement |
|---|---|
| Over 10 kg | Must be clearly labelled as exceeding 10 kg |
| Over 20 kg | Must be clearly labelled as exceeding 20 kg |
The labelling must be clearly visible, easy to understand, and draw attention to the higher weight. This applies to both senders and carriers. The purpose is worker safety: parcels over 20 kg may only be delivered by two delivery workers or with the assistance of technical equipment.
For B2B shippers sending heavier goods — industrial parts, machinery components, bulk orders — this means updating your label templates and ensuring your shipping systems generate the correct weight classifications.
Relaxed letter delivery times
While this primarily affects letter mail rather than parcels, it’s worth noting: the old requirement that 80% of letters arrive the next working day has been scrapped. Under the new law, 95% of letters must arrive within three business days. This reflects the reality that physical letter mail is increasingly used for non-urgent communication.
Post office network requirements
Deutsche Post must continue operating 12,000 post offices across Germany, but the law now explicitly allows automated postal stations to count toward this requirement. For B2B shippers using parcel shops or collection points as part of their last-mile strategy, the network will evolve but won’t shrink.
Network access provisions
The new law introduces provisions for competitor access to Deutsche Post’s delivery network, particularly for merchandise shipments and press products. Deutsche Post has been vocal in criticising these provisions, arguing they will increase costs and reduce quality. For shippers, this could eventually create more routing options — but the practical impact remains to be seen.
Why this matters beyond Germany
Germany is Europe’s largest parcel market. Any regulatory change in Germany sets a precedent and creates operational ripple effects across the continent:
Cross-border compliance: If you ship parcels to Germany from other EU countries, the weight labelling requirements apply to your shipments too. It doesn’t matter where the parcel originates — if it enters the German delivery network, it must comply.
Carrier pricing: The new worker safety requirements (two-person delivery or mechanical assistance for 20 kg+ parcels) will increase last-mile delivery costs for heavy shipments. Don’t be surprised if carriers adjust surcharges for heavy parcels shipped to German addresses.
Regulatory trend-setting: Germany’s approach to parcel worker safety and weight labelling is being watched by other EU member states. Similar regulations could appear in the Netherlands, France, or elsewhere. Shippers who build compliance into their processes now will be ahead of the curve.
Sustainability alignment: The relaxation of letter delivery times is partly motivated by allowing more efficient route planning and reducing the environmental impact of rushed delivery schedules. This aligns with the broader EU push toward sustainable logistics, including CountEmissionsEU.
How carriers are responding
The major parcel carriers operating in Germany have already begun implementing the new requirements:
DHL: As the incumbent universal service provider, DHL is the most directly affected. They’ve publicly welcomed the modernisation while criticising the competition provisions. Label changes were implemented ahead of the 1 January 2025 deadline.
DPD: Updated their labelling standards for parcels destined for Germany, classifying heavy parcels into the two weight brackets (>10 kg and >20 kg). Software updates for label generation were rolled out in late 2024.
GLS, FedEx, DHL Express: Carriers that generate labels through their own web APIs have handled the changes server-side, meaning less direct impact on shippers’ systems.
Trans-o-flex, UPS, TNT, General Overnight: These carriers required label template updates, with most rolling out changes in Q4 2024.
If you use a TMS or multi-carrier shipping platform, check with your provider that the weight labelling logic has been implemented for all your German-bound carriers.
What you should do now
The new Postal Act is already in force, and the weight labelling requirements are live as of January 2025. Here’s your action plan:
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Audit your German-bound shipments — How many of your parcels to Germany exceed 10 kg or 20 kg? If you ship industrial or B2B goods, the answer is probably “a lot.” Understand your exposure.
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Update your label templates — Ensure your shipping systems, warehouse management systems, and TMS are generating compliant weight labels for German-bound parcels. If you’re using carrier-provided label APIs, confirm that the updates are active.
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Review heavy-parcel surcharges — Carriers will pass on the increased cost of two-person delivery or mechanical handling for 20 kg+ parcels. Review your carrier contracts for changes to heavy-parcel pricing and factor this into your transport cost calculations.
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Communicate with your warehouse team — The labelling requirements apply at the point of shipment. Make sure your warehouse staff know which parcels need weight classification labels and how to apply them correctly.
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Monitor for further changes — The Bundesnetzagentur has been given expanded oversight powers under the new law. Expect further implementing regulations and guidance in the coming months. Keep an eye on carrier communications for updates.
Germany’s new Postal Act is a long-overdue modernisation that catches postal regulation up to the reality of e-commerce and B2B parcel shipping. The weight labelling requirements are the most immediate action item for shippers, but the broader changes — worker safety standards, network access rules, and the shift in delivery time expectations — will shape the German parcel market for years to come.
Sources: Bundesgesetzblatt — Postrechtsmodernisierungsgesetz (PostModG), DHL Group — Statement on revised Postal Act (Jul 2024).
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