IRC DEBATE (Reports Continue)... Alf, 5B4AFB, informs OPDX new style IRCs are on sale in Cyprus. They are 15 x 10cm in size with a "Bar Code" along the bottom edge and are only valid until December 31, 2006.
Ivan, G4BGW, informs OPDX that the "new" IRCs are now available in the UK, and he has bought some from his local village post office on January 14th. So presume they will be available from all UK post offices as and when they replenish their stocks.
Martyn, G4JZO, reports "that no NEW IRCs on sale in the UK isn't true up here. I live where some people would call the outer reaches of the known universe!, and my local Post Office has known about the new IRCs for several months. They even sold me some this morning, and very nice they were too!"
Gunnar, SM0SMK, President of SSA (The national radio amateur society in Sweden), informs OPDX that in Sweden they have been informed by their postal administrator that IRCs will not be sold in Sweden after the 1st of January, but they will be allowed to cash in both old and new IRCs. For one IRC they get a 10 SEK stamp (about 90 cent). The reason for not selling the new IRC is the risk of forgery; every country must print their own. Only 72 of 198 members in the World Postal Union, UPU, will print and sell IRC. However, every country must accept the new IRC.