December 2, 2008

New international standards for air shipment of lithium batteries take effect on January 1, 2009, with the implementation of the next edition of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR). These changes will significantly change the way many common lithium metal and lithium ion batteries are shipped internationally by air. Also, since UPS Air Dangerous Goods shippers may elect to follow the IATA DGR for domestic U.S. shipments, these changes could affect U.S. domestic shipments of these batteries.

Classifying Lithium Batteries

• Lithium Metal Batteries: International standards in general classify non-rechargeable lithium (primary) batteries, also referred to as lithium metal batteries, on the basis of lithium content. The regulations have been amended for batteries with higher lithium metal content, and new conditions are specified under which smaller batteries may be shipped without full application of the regulations.

• Lithium-ion Batteries: For rechargeable lithium ion (secondary) batteries, old IATA regulations were keyed to the “equivalent lithium content” of the batteries. Reference to lithium equivalent content for lithium ion batteries has been revised under the 2009 regulations to reflect a maximum watt/hour rating of 100 W/hr. This change reflects the amendments to Special Provision A45. In addition, unlike under the older measures, watt/hour information will be required to be marked on many batteries.

New Packing Instructions

Batteries that could be shipped as unregulated under the 2008 IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations will be subject to new conditions in 2009; these conditions affect packaging, allowable quantities, instructions for emergencies on an accompanying document or air waybill, and package labeling. If lithium metal or lithium ion batteries are packed with or contained in equipment, additional conditions apply. Shippers accustomed to using exceptions in IATA’s Special Provision A45 will find that the special provision no longer contains such information, and that information can be found in the applicable revised packing instruction instead.

Other than assigned “UN numbers” and changes to permitted quantities, there are, in general, no changes for fully regulated lithium metal and lithium ion batteries assigned to Class 9. Each type of battery will have its own UN number: UN3090 for Lithium Metal Batteries and UN 3480 for Lithium-ion Batteries. Other UN numbers also apply for both types of battery when packed with or in equipment.

Full information on shipping lithium metal and lithium ion batteries now appears in new Packing Instructions in the IATA DGR. These Packing Instructions provide full information on new restrictions applicable to small cells and batteries, as well as information for fully regulated shipments. (See 965, 966, and 967 for lithium ion batteries and 968, 969 and 970 for lithium metal batteries.)

Additional Detailed Information

Detailed information about the changes to the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations are available from the IATA web site at: http://www.iata.org/whatwedo/cargo/dangerous_goods/index.htm