Italy
29th June 2026 - Saint Peter & Saint Paul
Switzerland
29th June 2026 - Saint Peter & Saint Paul
Canada
3rd August 2026 - Civic Holiday
Singapore
9th August 2026 - National Day
Japan
10th August 2026 - Mountain Day
France
14th July 2026 - Bastille Day
Belgium
21st July 2026 - National Day
Switzerland
1st August 2026 - Swiss National Day
Austria
15th August 2026 - Assumption Day
Belgium
15th August 2026 - Assumption Day
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France
15th August 2026 - Assumption Day
Italy
15th August 2026 - Assumption Day
Spain
15th August 2026 - Assumption Day
United Kingdom
31st August 2026 - Summer Bank Holiday (England, Wales and Ireland)
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.
