• Algeria has introduced a regulatory framework governing express mail, parcel transport, and delivery services.
• The rules aim to protect consumers, secure digital transactions, and support the digital economy.
• The delivery market has grown alongside e-commerce, which exceeded $1.5 billion in 2024.

In Algeria, the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications announced on Sunday, January 4, the entry into force of new specifications governing express mail, parcel transport, and delivery services more broadly. According to information reported by the Algerian Press Service (APS), the decision forms part of ongoing efforts to modernize a segment that has become central to the functioning of e-commerce.

In detail, the regulatory framework aims to “strengthen the protection of customer rights” and to “support e-commerce and the national digital economy.” The Ministry of Post and Telecommunications and the Postal and Electronic Communications Regulatory Authority (ARPCE) jointly developed the text, with ARPCE overseeing its legal and regulatory structure. The specifications conclude a consultation process that began with the first meeting with express delivery operators in September 2025, held under the leadership of Minister Sid Ali Zerrouki and attended by sector representatives and the president of ARPCE.

According to the official statement, the regulation relies on “an approach that combines investment incentives with consumer protection.” The framework introduces several operational requirements, including improved service quality, compliance with delivery deadlines, protection of personal data, structured handling of customer complaints, broader adoption of electronic payment methods, and the use of clear commercial identities and uniforms by delivery agents.

Beyond service standards, the regulation also targets a labor-intensive sector. The Algerian government said the framework should primarily formalize existing activities, improve operating conditions, and strengthen the stability of operators. Authorities said these factors remain essential to creating more sustainable employment dynamics, even without promising large-scale job creation in the short term.

The introduction of the specifications comes as Algeria’s e-commerce market continues to expand. According to data attributed to the Ministry of Commerce by local media, the market exceeded $1.5 billion in 2024, driven by a rising number of online merchants and digital transactions.

This article was initially published in French by Félicien Houindo Lokossou

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum