Latest Information Impacting Global Deliveries

Whistl Parcels would like to reassure our customers that it's business as usual for International deliveries. Despite some delivery challenges in key countries, we continue to collect, process, and deliver all untracked and tracked items to final-mile carriers in all countries that remain open for commercial movement.

Some International Carriers are experiencing delays, with several countries cancelling flights between Europe and the rest of the World.

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Biosecurity Protection Levy Increase

Effective 1 July 2026, the Australian Government will increase the Biosecurity Protection Levy by AUD 0.01, bringing the total levy amount to AUD 0.38 per parcel.

The levy, introduced by Australia's Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) in 2024, applies to low-value eCommerce shipments entering Australia by air or sea that are subject to Self-Assessed Clearance (SAC) processing.

There are no changes to the current shipping or clearance process, should you have any questions regarding this update, please do not hesitate to contact your account manager.

Further information is available on the Australian Government’s website:

Self-Assessed Clearance cost recovery - DAFF

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We would like to inform you of temporary airspace disruptions across parts of the Middle East that may affect international air freight operations.

Following recent military developments in the region, several countries have implemented temporary airspace closures or restrictions, including Israel, Iran, Iraq and neighbouring states. As a result, many airlines are cancelling or rerouting flights to avoid affected areas.

These measures are impacting some of the region’s key air corridors connecting Europe, Asia and the Middle East, which may lead to:

Flight cancellations or route diversions
Longer transit times for some shipments
Reduced cargo capacity on certain routes

We will continue to update you with news on this situation and impact to other destinations and services as we receive them from our carrier partners.

Sweden

19th June 2026 - Midsummer Eve

4th June 202

Spain

24th June 2026 - Feast of St John the Baptist

Italy

24th June 2026 - Feast of St John the Baptist

29th June 2026 - Saint Peter & Saint Paul

United Kingdom

15th June 2026 - Public Holiday (Scotland)

United States

16th June 2026 - Juneteenth (Utah)

China

19th June 2026 - Dragon Boat Festival

Hong Kong

19th June 2026 - Dragon Boat Festival

Taiwan

19th June 2026 - Dragon Boat Festival

Canada

22nd June 2026 - June Day

24th June 2026 - The National Holiday of Quebec

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:

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.
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.
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

Effective Date: October 1st 2024
Levy Amount: AUD 0.36 per parcel / 18p per parcel (based on current exchange rate)
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.
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:

All Australia-bound parcels processed at a Whistl Parcels hub on or after October 1st will be subject to the levy
Weekly invoices will be sent out to cover the additional levy alongside any fuel or airlift surcharges
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.

Introduction of Stop Words/Phrases in the Common Repository

Stop words/phrases will be introduced in the Common Repository as part of the initiative to improve ENS data quality. They will be applied for all ICS2 countries and all filing types.

Download Stop Word List