Increase of Low-Value Import Thresholds and update of Personal Franchise Program

For: Shippers, Receivers
Shipping: Packages
Effective March 19, 2026

The Government of Uruguay has introduced changes to the customs treatment of low-value imports. The new regulations increase the value threshold for Simplified/Informal imports and modify the Personal Franchise program available to eligible consumers. These changes may provide greater access to simplified import procedures and expanded benefits for qualifying personal imports.

What you need to know

Effective March 19, 2026:

• The Simplified/Informal import threshold increased from 200 USD to 800 USD based on the total shipment value, including the value of the goods, freight, and insurance (CIF value).
• Eligible Simplified/Informal imports remain subject to a 60% global import duty, with a minimum duty payment of USD 20.

Effective May 1, 2026:

• The Personal Franchise program changed from three duty-free imports valued up to 200 USD each to a maximum cumulative annual value of 800 USD across up to three eligible imports.
• Personal Franchise imports are generally subject to a 22% Value Added Tax (VAT), with a minimum VAT payment of 20 USD.

Effective November 3, 2026

• U.S. sellers seeking to benefit from the VAT exemption must be registered with Uruguay Customs and provide their registration number with shipment information.
• Incomplete shipment information, missing registration details, or failure to meet eligibility requirements may result in customs clearance delays.

Shipments valued up to 800 USD and weighing less than 20 kg may qualify for Simplified/Informal import processing without the need for a customs broker and is available for both Business-to-Business (B2B) and Business-to-Consumer (B2C) shipments.

The Personal Franchise program is available only to eligible Uruguayan citizens and is limited to three imports per calendar year, with a maximum cumulative annual CIF value of 800 USD and maximum weight of 20 kg per shipment.

Receivers seeking to use the Personal Franchise program must complete a one-time registration with Uruguay Customs through the Uruguayan Customs system (LUCIA).

Personal Franchise imports are generally exempt from customs duty but subject to a 22% VAT.

Qualifying shipments originating from the United States may be exempt from VAT when the shipment value does not exceed USD 200 and all applicable eligibility requirements are met.

Goods subject to excise taxes, prohibited or restricted goods, and goods requiring approval from other government agencies are not eligible for Simplified/Informal or Personal Franchise processing and may require formal customs clearance.

New Smartphone Import Requirements

For: Shippers
Shipping: Packages
Effective: July 1, 2026

Smartphones (HS code: 8517.13.01), other mobile phones (8517.14.91), and other telephones (8517.18.99) are subject to Mexican Official Standards (NOMs) and must comply with all applicable NOM requirements prior to import into Mexico.

• Low value shipments of these commodities will still be eligible for the simplified clearance (T1) processing but must comply with the applicable NOMs.
• The NOMs are a combination of labelling and certifications.

What you need to know

• Smartphones and other mobile phones are now subject to Mexican Official Standards (NOMs) regardless of their value or nature of the transaction (both Business to Consumer (B2C) and Business to Business (B2B) will require the NOMs).
• Receivers should verify whether or not their goods are classified under any of the HS codes subject to the NOMs.
• Compliance with NOMs is the responsibility of the Importer of Record (IOR).
• If subject to NOMs, shippers and receivers/IORs must coordinate prior to shipping any such goods to Mexico to ensure full compliance with the NOMs required.
• All parties should note that shipments arriving to Mexico without the required documentation and/or certification may be delayed pending receipt of all NOM documents.

New Low Value Threshold

For: Shippers
Shipping: Packages
Effective: April 1, 2026

What you need to know

Effective April 1, 2026 Barbados has introduced a new low value threshold for imports of personal goods and increased the de minimis threshold. Below are the details of the new thresholds:

• De Minimis* (Duty and tax-free): The import value threshold will increase from BBD 60 (approximately 30 USD) to BBD 50 (approximately 75 USD), based on the value of the goods (FOB).
• Informal*: A new category will be established for shipments containing goods valued from BBD 150.01 (approximately 75.01 USD) to BBD 199.99 (approximately 99.99 USD) based on the value of the goods (FOB). These shipments will benefit from duty-free treatment but will be subject to 17.5% VAT.

Relevant low value personal goods exported from the Rest of the World to Barbados must have complete and accurate Commercial Invoice data including consignee contact details (mobile phone number, email address), value of the goods, and clear detailed commodity descriptions - ideally via one of the DHL Electronic Shipping Solutions.

*Exclusions: Alcoholic beverages, cannabis and vaping products, cigars, cigarettes, and manufactured tobacco are excluded from any tax and/or duty-free category.

FOB: Free On Board

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission eFiling Requirement

For: Shippers, Receivers
Shipping: Packages
Effective: July 8, 2026

What you need to know

Products subject to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) such as children’s clothing, toys, wearing apparel, other consumer goods, have historically been required to undergo specific testing and the Importers of such products are required to maintain the certificates which result from completion of the testing. These certificates are not required to be submitted to Customs or the CPSC at the time of entry but must be able to be provided should either Customs or CPSC request them from the Importer. As of July 6, 2026 the CPSC is requiring the eFiling of the certificate data via Customs ACE system for US imports containing one or more of the applicable harmonized tariff codes (HTS) at time of entry.

Relevant commodities and products exported from the Rest of World to the U.S. must provide one of the following options to clear, in compliance with the CPSC eFiling requirement:

• Preferred: Register applicable products in the CPSC’s Product Registry in advance of shipping and provide the resulting Reference Message Set (3 identifiers provided by CPSC after successful registration) on the commercial invoice (CI) or included on an addendum sheet provided with the shipment documents
• Full CPSC PGA Message Set (7 data elements found on the CPSC certificates) on the commercial invoice (CI) or as an addendum sheet
• A copy of the applicable certificate(s) either uploaded with the shipment documents at time of shipment creation or tendered to the courier at time of pick-up if paperless trade (PLT) is not available​

Shipments lacking this information at time of entry may be delayed while DHL Express attempts to contact the receiver or shipper for the required information.

DHL Express Update on IEEPA Tariff Refunds

For: Shippers, Receivers
Shipping: Packages
Effective: February 24, 2026

What you need to know

DHL Express is committed to helping customers recover IEEPA tariffs they paid to the U.S. government through U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

Following the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling and CBP confirmation that IEEPA tariffs no longer apply to shipments entering the United States as of February 24, 2026, CBP has since announced that it will begin processing refund claims through a phased administrative approach, with Phase 1 of its Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries (CAPE) system scheduled to begin on April 20, 2026.

Under the government-established process, eligible refunds are administered by CBP through the CAPE system. As refunds are issued by CBP, where DHL Express acted as the Importer of Record (IOR), DHL Express will pass on the refund to the party that originally paid the duties, in line with CBP guidance. For eligible entries where the customer has acted as the IOR, DHL Express can assist customers in filing their claims via CAPE.

View Details 

Import Customs Licensing Regulation

For: Shippers, Receivers
Shipping: Packages
Effective: July 6, 2026

What you need to know

Myanmar's Ministry of Finance and Revenue issued Notification No. 115/2026, which took effect on July 6, 2026. This directive replaces all previous series of import exemptions and relaxations granted since 2017 and are now enforcing mandatory pre-arrival import licensing, stricter consequences for no licenses and no approval for return to origin.

Customs Regulatory Fees

For: Shippers, Receivers
Shipping: Documents, Packages
Effective: April 1, 2026

What you need to know

Shipments imported to (or exported from) New Zealand with a value up to 1,000 NZD (New Zealand Dollars) will be subject to a new regulatory fee (per waybill) imposed by the New Zealand Government as follows:

• Export Fee: 2.48 NZD per shipment plus Goods and Services Tax (GST) of 15%
• Import Fee: 2.21 NZD per shipment plus Goods and Services Tax (GST) of 15%
• Applies to all imports and exports including Commercial (B2B), Private (B2C) and Documents

Official New Zealand Customs Website

Removal of Duty Di Minimis for all Imports

For: Shippers, Receivers
Shipping: Packages
Effective: January 1, 2026

What you need to know

• Goods from the Rest of World to Thailand with a value equal to or above THB 1 will be subject to full duties as per the Thai Customs tariff upon import into Thailand.
• This effectively removes the current De Minimis of THB 1500 down to THB 1 which was known as Category 2 clearances.
• Applies to all imports including Commercial (B2B) and Private (B2C)

Official Thai Customs Website

New European Union Handling Fee (UHF)

For: Shippers, Receivers
Shipping: Packages
Effective: November 1, 2026

What you need to know

A new European Union (EU) regulatory handling fee, known as the Union Handling fee (UHF), will apply to all Business to Consumer (B2C) imports into the European Union, regardless of the value of the goods, arriving in the European Union on or after November 1, 2026.

The European Commission has proposed setting the Union Handling Fee at 2 EUR per import customs declaration line item.

DHL Express will charge the fee to the payer of import duties, import taxes and other customs-related charges, based on the DHL Duty Billing Service selected when the shipment is created and will appear as a separate line item on the DHL Express invoice.

The fee is not a DHL Express fee and does not affect the calculation of customs duty. However, it forms part of the taxable amount used to calculate import Value Added Tax (VAT) and will therefore affect the import VAT amount.

European Commission Customs Reform 
Commission guidance

New Melt and Pour Evidence Requirements for Certain Steel Imports

For: Shippers, Receivers
Shipping: Packages
Effective: October 1, 2026

What you need to know

Importers of certain steel products into the European Union (EU) must declare the Country of Melt and Pour and provide the Heat Number supported by verifiable evidence, for certain steel products listed in Annex I of Regulation (EU) 2026/1384.

The primary supporting document is a Mill Test Certificate, which should confirm the:

• Country of Melt and Pour
• Associated Heat Number

Shippers must provide these required documents to DHL Express as part of the shipment paperwork before customs clearance can take place:

• Mill Test Certificate
• Commercial Invoice

DHL will use this information to determine and declare the appropriate customs data and Tariff of the European Union (TARIC) document codes required by customs authorities.

Failure to provide the required information may result in requests for additional documentation, customs clearance delays or refusal of importation.

If no Mill Test Certificate is available, alternative supporting documents containing both the Country of Melt and Pour and Heat Number can be used only until September 30, 2027.

After September 30, 2027, a Mill Test Certificate will be required in all cases. Alternative supporting documents can still be provided.

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1963 of 28 August 2026
Regulation (EU) 2026/1384

New Customs Requirements for Shipments to Gibraltar

For: Shippers
Shipping: Packages
Effective: July 15, 2026

What you need to know

All shipments exported from the European Union (EU) to Gibraltar via Spain require a formal export declaration, regardless of shipment value. Export declarations must show ES001167 – La Línea as the Customs Office of Exit.

Where shippers submit their own export declarations or use their own customs broker, DHL must receive the export declaration information before the shipment reaches the Spain-Gibraltar border. DHL will use this information to complete the required transit and border formalities.

Failure to provide the required information or use the correct Customs Office of Exit may result in customs clearance delays.

European Commission

Spanish Tax Authority

European Union Tariffs for Products with United States Country of Origin

For: Shippers, Receivers
Shipping: Packages
Effective: July 1, 2026

What you need to know

The European Union has introduced a new tariff for certain goods originating in the United States. Eligible goods may benefit from:

• Reduced customs duties
• Duty-free treatment
• Tariff-rate quotas for certain products

The tariff is currently scheduled to remain in place until December 31, 2029 unless amended or extended by the European Union. The tariff applies to certain goods originating in the United States listed in European Union Regulation 2026/1455. Depending on the goods, the arrangement may provide:

• Duty-free treatment for certain industrial products
• Reduced customs duties for selected agricultural products
• Tariff-rate quotas for certain agricultural and fishery products, allowing imports within specified limits to benefit from reduced or zero customs duties

European Commission

Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR)

For: Shippers, Receivers
Shipping: Packages
Effective: August 12, 2026

What you need to know

The European Union's Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) applies across all European Union Member States. The regulation introduces harmonized packaging requirements aimed at reducing packaging waste, improving recyclability and supporting the circular economy.

PPWR applies to all types of packaging, including

• shipping cartons,
• flyers,
• void fill,
• pallets,
• packaging components and
• ancillary elements

Regardless of origin. It applies to packaging placed on the EU market, including packaging supplied by third parties on behalf of a company.

Companies placing packaged goods on the European Union market may need to ensure their packaging:

• Complies with applicable PPWR substance restrictions.
• Is correctly identified, including manufacturer, importer and traceability information.
• Is supported by the required compliance documentation where applicable.
• Meets relevant Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) requirements.

European Commission

Exemption threshold for Business-to-Consumer (B2C) imports

For: Shippers, Receivers
Shipping: Packages
Effective: July 1, 2026

What you need to know

As of July 1, 2026, new customs regulations for e-commerce shipments (where e-commerce shipments are defined as goods purchased online by consumers from an online store or platform) will be implemented in Kazakhstan, applying to Business to Consumer (B2C) shipments from the Rest of the World to Kazakhstan, and are as follows:

• VAT and duties apply to shipments above 200 EUR from outside the EAEU (Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia).
• Customs value now includes transport and insurance costs.
• Online stores must include their name in the customs declaration, matching the Commercial Invoice and DHL shipping data.
• Receivers must choose DHL as broker or self-clear, with clearance handled only by registered e-commerce operators.
• For certain goods (e.g. children’s products), online stores must provide a compliance declaration on their website, which may be checked during inspections.

View Details

Removal of the De Minimis customs duty exemption

For: Shippers, Receivers
Shipping: Packages
Effective: July 1, 2026

What you need to know

The European Union (EU) will remove the customs duty exemption for low-value imports on July 1, 2026. Currently, goods with an intrinsic value of 150 EUR or less can enter the European Union without customs duty.

All commercial imports into the European Union will be subject to customs duty, regardless of value. This change affects Business to Consumer (B2C) and Business to Business (B2B) shipments.

Effective July 1, 2026:

• All commercial imports (B2C and B2B) into the European Union will be subject to customs duty
• Most low-value B2C shipments will incur a flat fee of 3 EUR customs duty per Harmonized System (HS) code line item
• B2B shipments below 150 EUR can no longer be declared using a simplified customs declaration
• Import VAT continues to apply as it does today

What this means to you

Precious Metal Control (PMC) Rules

For: Shippers, Receivers
Shipping: Packages
Effective: April 1, 2026

What you need to know

The Swiss Customs Authority will introduce new Precious Metal Control (PMC) rules on April 1, 2026. The rules apply at brand level and require all shipments imported into Switzerland that contain precious metals (including Business‑to‑Business (B2B), Business‑to‑Consumer (B2C), and Consumer‑to‑Consumer shipments (C2C)) to be linked to a registered brand owner. The rules do not apply to exports from Switzerland.

The following information must be included on the Commercial Invoice:

• Responsibility Mark (Authorization Number) at line-item level on the Commercial Invoice
• Registered brand or brand‑owner name at line-item level on the Commercial Invoice
• Goods description including the precious metal details (what the item is made of and percentages of precious metals) at line-item level on the Commercial Invoice and within the shipment data

Precious Metal Control (PMC) Rules

Italy Regulatory Fee

For: Shippers, Receivers
Shipping: Packages
Effective: March 13, 2026

What you need to know

The Italian government suspended the regulatory fee on low‑value imports (up to 150 ) until July 1, 2026 to allow time for IT system updates.

DHL began invoicing the fee on March 1, 2026. Charges applied between March 1, 2026 and March 13, 2026 may qualify for a refund.

Refund process:

Customers with a contractual agreement for a deferred payment of Duties and Taxes to DHL (SDD or bank transfer through TOP Dogana account): Refunds will be issued automatically.

All other customers: Refunds can be requested by contacting the Customer Service team.

Ministry of Economy and Finance

Electronic Transport Supervision System (SENT) Requirements

For: Shippers, Receivers
Shipping: Packages
Effective March 1, 2026

What you need to know

The Polish Government will extend Electronic Transport Supervision System (SENT) to additional product groups such as clothing, fashion accessories, used clothing, and footwear.

All shipments above 31.5 kg are subject to SENT requirements and must:

• Have a valid SENT registration submitted by the obligated party
• Ensure real time GPS geolocation transmission to the SENT system
• Provide continuous tracking covering the entire domestic road journey in Poland

Important:

DHL Express cannot meet these criteria, therefore shipments in scope of SENT and above the 31.5 kg threshold will no longer be accepted in the DHL Express network.

Carriage of goods subject to monitoring (SENT)

EORI Number Structure Change

For: Shippers, Receivers
Shipping: Packages
Effective: January 1, 2026

What you need to know

France is changing its EORI¹ (Economic Operators Registration and Identification) structure from SIRET²‑based EORI numbers (FR + 14 digits) to SIREN³ based EORI numbers (FR + 9 digits).

¹ EORI stands for Economic Operators Registration and Identification number. It is a mandatory requirement for businesses, and in some cases private individuals depending on the local country regulations, which import or export goods into or out of the European Union 27 Member States

² SIRET stands for Establishment Directory Identification System

³ SIREN stands for Business Directory Identification System

Single EORI SIREN Number

Optative Charge Update

For: Shippers, Receivers
Shipping: Packages
Effective: January 1, 2026 

What you need to know

Portuguese Customs Authority have updated the values of the Optative Regulatory charge for shipments imported into Portugal. The Optative regulatory charge is only applicable when shipments remain longer than 3 days in a Customs bonded warehouse.

The Optative charge is a regulatory charge implemented by the Portuguese Customs Authority. It ensures consistency and compliance with Portuguese VAT regulation, which requires inclusion of all costs up to the first destination in Portugal.

Tax and Customs Authority website
Tax and Customs Authority website – Optative charge table values

Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism

For: Shippers, Receivers 
Shipping: Packages
January 1, 2026

What you need to know

Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) is a system to confirm that a price has been paid for the embedded carbon emissions generated in the production of certain goods imported into the European Union, ensuring that:

• imported goods are treated the same as European Union produced goods under European Union climate rules,
• competition remains fair, and
• companies are encouraged to reduce their carbon footprint.

This applies to the imports of certain goods from all non-European Union countries and territories into the European Union. The production of these goods is carbon intensive and places them at significant risk of carbon leakage*:

• Cement
• Iron
• Steel
• Aluminum
• Fertilizers
• Electricity
• Hydrogen

Importers of CBAM goods or their indirect customs representatives importing more than the single mass-based threshold of 50 tons per year of CBAM goods into the European Union are requested to:

• apply for the status of authorized CBAM declarants
• buy CBAM certificates from the national authorities in their country of establishment.
• declare the emissions embedded in their imports and surrender the corresponding number of certificates each year

DHL Express can only clear CBAM shipments where an importer is European Union established, otherwise, shipments will not be cleared at import and may be returned to origin at customers’ expense.

*Carbon leakage occurs when companies based in the European Union move carbon-intensive production abroad to countries where less stringent climate policies are in place than in the European Union, or when European Union products get replaced by more carbon-intensive imports.

European commission CBAM
CBAM Guidance and Legislation - European Commission
Regulation - 2023/956 - EN - CBAM regulation - EUR-Lex
CBAM amendment to Annex I: Regulation (European Union) 2025/2083

Exemption threshold for B2C imports

For: Shippers, Receivers
Shipping: Packages
December 24, 2025

What you need to know

The De Minimis value, the threshold under which no duties or taxes are levied, for Business to Consumer (B2C) imports has been increased from 75 USD to 150 USD.

The De Minimis threshold refers to the value of goods excluding insurance, shipping, and other applicable costs.

Exemption threshold for B2C imports on Official Israeli Website

Import VAT

For: Shippers, Receivers
Shipping: Packages
Effective: December 18, 2025

What you need to know

• Non-document goods from the Rest of the World to North Macedonia with a goods value between 0 – 22 EUR will be subject to Value Added Tax (VAT) upon import into North Macedonia.

Official North Macedonian Customs Website

Turkish simplified customs procedure restrictions

For: Shippers, Receivers
Shipping: Packages
Effective: December 17, 2025

What you need to know

The Turkish Ministry of Trade will monitor the limit of five shipments per receiver per month, cleared under the simplified customs declaration procedure through a centralized control and tracking system.

The simplified customs declaration is used in Turkey in case of:

• Business to Business (B2B) shipments with a value for customs purposes* up to 22 EUR
• Business to Consumer (B2C) shipments with a value for customs purposes* for up to 30 EUR

*In Turkey the value for customs purposes is based on the goods value plus freights costs.

Turkish Government PDF

Romania Regulatory Fee

For: Shippers, Receivers
Shipping: Packages
Effective: January 1, 2026

What you need to knowThe Romanian Government has introduced a regulatory fee on goods valued under 150 EUR (excluding insurance/shipping and other applicable costs) imported from non-European Union¹ countries into Romania and cleared under the simplified customs declaration procedure.

The fee helps offset customs handling costs and manage the rising amount of low-value shipments, supporting stronger compliance and to create a level playing field for local businesses competing with foreign sellers.

There will be a flat fee of 25 RON (approximately 5 EUR) per low-value shipment.

¹ European Union: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Republic of Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden.

Important:

This is a mandatory regulatory fee imposed by the Romanian Government and is not a DHL Express fee.

DHL Express will pass the fee to the payer of duties and taxes based on the selected DHL Duty Billing Service. This fee applies to shipments arriving in Romania on or after January 1, 2026, and will appear as a separate line item under ‘LOW VALUE REGULATORY TAX’ on the DHL Express invoice.

Romanian Government Logistics Fee PDF

Advance Cargo Information Declaration

For: Shippers, Receivers
Shipping: Packages
Effective: April 1, 2026

What you need to know

The Egyptian Customs Authority has introduced a mandatory pre-departure approval system. The Advanced Cargo Information Declaration (ACID) procedure requires the generation of an ACID approval number prior to booking the shipment.

Important
Failure to provide the ACID approval number at the time of shipment booking with DHL may result in shipment rejection at origin until an ACID number is provided or, if the shipment arrives in Egypt without an ACID number, a fine will be imposed by the Egyptian Customs Authorities and the shipment will be returned to origin.

Phase 1:
Pre-Booking and Registration:

• Importer (in Egypt): Must register on the Nafeza portal to acquire a 19-digit ACID approval number and share it with the Shipper immediately
• Shipper/Exporter: Must create an official company profile on the CargoX Block Chain Platform. Please note the exact Company Registration Number or Tax ID (e.g., VAT, EORI, USCC) used to register, as it’s required for booking

Phase 2:
Booking Instructions (Action Required in MyDHL+), when creating a shipment, adhere to the following data entry rules:

• The ACID: Enter the 19-digit ACID number in the first Shipment Reference field. (Do not use the second reference field)
• Exporter ID: Enter your Exporter Identification Number in the Shipper VAT/TAX ID field. (This must match your CargoX registration)
• Importer ID: Enter the Receiver/Importer’s Egyptian Tax ID in the Receiver VAT/TAX ID field

Phase 3:
Document Upload (CargoX):

• After booking, the Shipper must upload the DHL Waybill, Commercial Invoice, and any required Certificate of Origin to the CargoX platform

Nafesa  
CargoX 

Pickup or Delivery Request, Check Shipment Status, Get Shipping Rates or Order Shipping Supplies

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