Regulatory Amendments of the Handling of Lithium ion and Lithium metal batteries transported by air

2015.12.30

Please be informed that the regulations on lithium batteries will party be modified following the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR) 57th edition coming into effect from 1st January 2016 as follows.
Your understanding and cooperation in this matter will be highly appreciated.

1. Main point of the amendments

Certain types of packages prepared in accordance with Section II of PI967 (Lithium ion batteries contained in equipment) and PI970 (Lithium metal batteries contained in equipment) are exempted from the application of labelling requirements and from the description of lithium batteries onto the Air Waybill. These exemptions will be amended as follows.

[Before change]
Additional Requirements-Section II
Each package containing more than four cells or more than two batteries installed in equipment must be labelled with a lithium battery handling label, except for button cell batteries installed in equipment (including circuit boards)

[After change]
Additional Requirements-Section II
Each package must be labelled with a lithium battery handling label.
This requirement does not apply to:

① Packages containing only button cell batteries installed in equipment.
② Consignments of two packages or less where each package contains no more than four cells or two batteries installed in equipment ^*1.

(International Cargo) *1 We define the wording of 'consignment' to be Operator's Air Waybill in case of non-consolidated shipment, and to be House Air Waybill in case of consolidated shipment.

(Domestic Cargo) *1 We define the wording of 'consignment' to be one Operator's Air Waybill.

Lithium battery shipments exempted from labelling of a lithium battery handling label, are also exempted from requirement of the statement of Section II on the Air Waybill.

In case that the above requirement is not applied, the labelled shipment is also acceptable. However the statement of Section II on the Air Waybill is also required.

2. Implementation of transitional period

Customers are requested to take steps to comply with the requirements indicated in the above1. [After change] ② as soon as possible, however packages of more than two per one Operator's Air Waybill or one House Air Waybill may continue to move without lithium battery handling label until 31st to 2016.

Your kind cooperation and understanding are highly appreciated.

Sincerely,