UPS Updates – September 2025

UPS has announced new measures affecting shipments during the busy holiday season and import shipments to the United States. Below you’ll find an overview of the most important changes.

Holiday Season

To manage global demand during the busiest time of the year, the following updates will apply from 28 September 2025:

1. Increased Peak Season Surcharge

To handle the holiday rush, UPS is introducing a temporary surcharge:

• Period: 28 September 2025 – 17 January 2026
• International air shipments: Surcharge on selected routes and services (Express, Express Saver, Express Plus, Expedited, and Worldwide Express Freight).
• Domestic & international residential deliveries: Surcharge on Standard, Express, Express Saver, and Express Plus.
• Commercial deliveries: Not applicable.
• Calculation: Per billable weight (international) or per parcel (domestic).
• Note: The surcharge may be adjusted during the period and is subject to a fuel surcharge.

2. Peak Surcharges for Special Packages

Extra fees apply for specific types of shipments:

• Large packages and parcels requiring special handling.
• Higher surcharge for shipments exceeding maximum limits.
• Subject to fuel surcharge.
• No money-back guarantee for shipments requiring extra handling.

3. New Compliance Requirements for US Imports

UPS is implementing stricter US regulations:

• Country of Origin required: Since 29 August 2025, all shipments to the US must include the country of origin (COO) on the commercial invoice.
• FDA-beoordeling verplicht: Sinds 9 juli 2025 geldt dat alle producten die onder de FDA (Food and Drug Administration) vallen, ongeacht waarde of hoeveelheid, moeten worden aangemeld. Dit geldt o.a. voor:
  • VoedsFDA filing mandatory: Since 9 July 2025, all products regulated by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) must be registered, regardless of value or quantity. This includes:
  • Food
  • Cosmetics
  • Tableware and cookware
  • Radiation-emitting electronics
  • Biological samples

These products will no longer be automatically cleared by US Customs without FDA notification and approval. Importers must provide all required data correctly to avoid delays and extra costs.

What does this mean for you?

• Expect higher shipping costs during the holiday season.
• Make sure your invoices are complete and accurate, including the country of origin.
• When shipping FDA-regulated products, proper and timely documentation is essential.

For the most up-to-date information, we recommend checking ups.com regularly.