Transporting Lithium Batteries by Air: Updated Guidelines And Resources

In the world of Dangerous Goods Regulations, changes and updates are constant. And this year is no exception: there are a few important changes you must know if you are a shipper of lithium batteries. There are two main resources you will want to be familiar with:

• The International Air Transport Association (IATA): On January 1, the latest edition of the IATA 2019 Lithium Battery Guidance Document, Transport of Lithium Metal and Lithium Ion Batteries went into effect.

• 49CFR: Transport of cells and batteries within the United States is regulated through 49 CFR Sections 100-185 of the U.S. Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR).  Section 173.185 and the special provisions in Section 172.102 apply to lithium-ion cells and batteries. These sections include information on packaging for shipping, package weight limits, required testing, and exceptions that may apply.

In addition to the IATA and 49-CFR documents, you may also want to check out the FAA’s Interactive Guide to Shipping Lithium Batteries, which provides information on the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) 2019-2020 Edition of the Technical Instruction requirements for lithium batteries.

The Sterling Global Aviation and The Quick Group team will be regularly providing materials –including blogs, e-books, videos and more– to help you navigate the lithium battery shipping landscape. Continue to visit our website for additional resources and feel free to contact Quick’s dangerous goods shipping experts with any questions related to the shipment of lithium batteries.