Lithium Batteries

Lithium batteries have become commonplace and the Regulations regarding their transport now affect a wider audience. They can be found in everything from consumer applications (watches, mobile phones, computers, etc) through industrial applications (communications, automobiles, etc).

Because of this, IATA has developed the following information to assist shippers, freight forwarders, ground handling agents, airlines/operators and passengers in complying with those Regulations. 

Regulatory Changes

The ICAO Dangerous Goods Panel (DGP) met in Montreal, to discuss the changes to the ICAO Technical Instructions in October 2011. A second meeting took place in February 2012 in part, because the DGP felt that the subject of lithium batteries could not be addressed in a piecemeal fashion. Read more about the Regulatory changes on the transport of Lithium batteries that take effect 1 January 2013.

 

Guidance Material

Download the Guidance Document developed by IATA for complying with the 54th (2013) edition of the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR) on:

• Definitions, classification, exceptions, prohibitions
• Packaging
• Passenger Provisions
• Frequently Asked Questions and their Answers

Lithium Battery Guidance Document English (pdf)
Lithium Battery Guidance Document German (pdf)
Lithium Battery Guidance Document French (pdf)

Note: Translated versions of the guidance document will be posted as they become available.

For passenger provisions refer to the Download corner.

 

Packing Instructions

Packing instructions 965-970 from the 54th Edition of the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations, applicable to lithium batteries on passenger and cargo aircraft and CAO can be found in below. The packing instructions are broken down into three (3) sections for clarity:

• General Requirements - Applicable to all battery shipments assigned to that packing instruction.
• Section I/IA - Together with the General Requirements, applicable to the "fully regulated", Class 9 battery shipments assigned to that packing instruction.
• Section IB - Together with the General Requirements, applicable to the Section II batteries that exceed the limits found in Tables 965-II and 968-II, Class 9 battery shipments assigned to that packing instruction.
• Section II - Together with the General Requirements, applicable to the "excepted", battery shipments assigned to that packing instruction.

PI 965-970 English (pdf)
PI 965-970 French (pdf)
PI 965-970 Spanish (pdf)
PI 965-970 German (pdf)
PI 965-970 Russian (pdf)

 

Training

Training is an essential component in understanding the requirements of the Regulations. To address this, IATA has developped a shipping lithium batteries by air course, for more information view the lithium battery course details page here.

Outreach

IATA, in conjunction with the Dangerous Goods Board and the IATA Dangerous Goods Training Task Force has developed 3 new lithium battery outreach & awareness products.

• Lithium battery passenger pamphlet (view sample (jpg)) (for hard copies email us)
• Lithium battery booklet for shippers and acceptance staff (order)
• Lithium battery awareness poster (view sample (jpg)) (order)