Spain
12th October 2026 - Hispanic Day
1st November 2026 - All Saint's Day
Italy
1st November 2026 - All Saint's Day
Austria
1st November 2026 - All Saint's Day
Belgium
1st November 2026 - All Saint's Day
11th November 2026 - Armistice Day
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France
1st November 2026 - All Saint's Day
11th November 2026 - Armistice Day
United Kingdom
11th November 2026 - Remembrance Day
China
2nd - 7th October 2026 - Chinese National Day Holiday
Taiwan
10th October 2026 - National Day
Canada
12th October 2026 - Thanksgiving
11th November 2026 - Remembrance Day
Japan
12th October 2026 - Health-Sports Day
3rd November 2026 - Culture Day
23rd November 2026 - Labour Thanksgiving Day
USA
11th October 2026 - Veterans Day
26th November 2026 - Thanksgiving Day
France
Since January 2022, plastic wrapping will be unauthorised in France, which may impact your sending volumes. Please be advised that France is becoming increasingly vigilant about enforcing this law regarding its ban on using poly-wrapped items.
India
Please be advised effective immediately, the Indian government has banned single-use plastic products. These are plastic items intended to be used once for the same purpose before being disposed of or recycled.
Banned Items Include Earbuds with plastic sticks, balloons with plastic sticks, candy sticks, ice cream sticks, thermocol for decoration, plastic plates, plastic cups/glasses, plastic cutlery, plastic straws, plastic trays, wrapping/packing films around sweet boxes, plastic/PVC banners not less than 100 microns, wrapping or packing filmes around invitation cards or cigarettes, plastic stirrer, plastic carry bag less than 75 microns.
Canada New Surtax
The Government of Canada announced a new 25% surtax for goods with Country of Origin (COO), meaning made in the USA, with an effective date of March 4, 2025. The surtax is introduced in response to the imposition by the US of tariffs on Canadian goods.
What this means:
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Shipments containing goods made in the US, regardless of where they are shipped from, being imported into Canada, will be subject to a 25% surtax.
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Shipments currently eligible for De Minimis treatment (under $20 CA dollars), will continue to be exempt from general duties and taxes BUT will not be exempt from the 25% Surtax. The surtax will apply regardless of the value of the shipment.
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The Surtax applies to a wide range of US goods in the List of products from the United States subject to 25 per cent tariffs effective March 4, 2025 - Canada.ca published by the Department of Finance Canada.
For items being sent DDU, the recipient will bear this cost, for items being sent DDP the retailer will bear the cost of the surtax.
Please speak to your account manager if you have any questions.
Australia Biosecurity Levy
Details of the New Levy:
Name: Self-Assessed Clearances (SAC) Cost Recovery Charge
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Effective Date: October 1st 2024
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Levy Amount: AUD 0.36 per parcel / 18p per parcel (based on current exchange rate)
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Purpose: The charge aims to cover the Australian government’s direct and indirect costs of managing biosecurity risk associated with items being brought into the territory by air or sea.
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Official Notice: https://www.agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity-trade/policy/self-assessed-clearances-cost-recovery
This new levy will apply to all parcels sent to Australia on the International Standard Tracked DDU service.
How this affects Whistl Parcels Customers:
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All Australia-bound parcels processed at a Whistl Parcels hub on or after October 1st will be subject to the levy
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Weekly invoices will be sent out to cover the additional levy alongside any fuel or airlift surcharges
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More information can be found on the Australian government’s website at the link listed above
If you are not yet accessing Australia on our International Standard Tracked DDU service, please get in touch with your account manager to access our new improved service.
