Search

USPS Revises Rules for Lithium Battery Mail Shipments

Posted on 1/23/2015 by Roger Marks

On Monday, January 26, the United States Postal Service (USPS) will publish revised standards for shipping lithium batteries in the mail by ground and air. Notification of the revised lithium battery rules will appear in the Federal Register and the new standards will be published as a revision to USPS Publication 52, Hazardous, Restricted, and Perishable Mail.

The forthcoming USPS revisions are the latest in a series of regulatory updates for lithium battery shippers, including new standards under US DOT’s Hazardous Materials Regulations (49 CFR 171-181), IATA’s Dangerous Goods Regulations for air shipping, and the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code (IMDG Code).  

The new USPS lithium battery rules will harmonize the Postal Service’s standards for accepting packages containing lithium batteries with new DOT rules that dramatically changed the requirements that apply to even small shipments of lithium batteries.

Namely, the new USPS rules will make the following changes, affecting businesses and individuals that ship lithium batteries by mail: 

·         Size of lithium-ion cells and batteries must now be expressed in Watt-hours
·         Adopting separate shipping descriptions for lithium metal and lithium ion batteries
·         New requirements for shipping small lithium cells and batteries contained in equipment
·         New marking requirements and options for lithium battery shipments.

The USPS lithium battery rules will largely mirror the recent adoption of new standards by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials (PHMSA) on August 6, 2014. Read more about the major changes to DOT rules under this PHMSA rulemaking here.  

The final rule is slated for publication in the Federal Register on January 26. The specific revisions to USPS Publication 52 will be published in a Postal Bulletin on February 5, 2015, and will be incorporated into Publication 52 in March of this year.

Mandatory Compliance with New Lithium Rules Starts February 6

If you ship lithium batteries —with-equipment, in-equipment, or by themselves—new DOT, IATA, and USPS rules will begin affecting your shipments this year. DOT’s new rules are mandatory starting February 6, and IATA’s 56th ed. Dangerous Goods Regulations standards for lithium batteries are already in effect. 

Learn the latest rules with convenient, specialized training for lithium battery shippers. The Shipping Lithium Batteries Online Course covers the latest rules, and can be accessed 24/7.  This comprehensive course provides general awareness, security awareness, and function-specific training to satisfy US DOT’s three-year training requirement for lithium battery shippers. For training led by an expert Lion instructor, enroll in the upcoming live Shipping Lithium Batteries Webinar on February 10.

Tags: hazmat, lithium batteries, new rules, shipping

Find a Post

Compliance Archives

Lion - Quotes

The instructor was very engaging and helped less experienced people understand the concepts.

Steve Gall

Safety Leader

Attending Lion Technology classes should be mandatory for every facility that ships or stores hazmat.

Genell Drake

Outbound Lead

This course went above my expectations from the moment I walked in the door. The instructor led us through two days packed with useful compliance information.

Rachel Stewart

Environmental Manager

One of the best trainings I have ever received!

Brandon Morfin

EH&S Manager

The course was very well structured and covered the material in a clear, concise manner.

Ian Martinez

Hazmat Shipping Professional

I like the consistency of Lion workshops. The materials are well put together and instructors are top notch!

Kevin Pylka

Permitting, Compliance & Environmental Manager

The instructor was very patient and engaging - willing to answer and help explain subject matter.

Misty Filipp

Material Control Superintendent

The instructor was very dedicated to providing a quality experience. She did her best to make sure students were really comprehending the information.

Stephanie Venn

Inventory Control Specialist

I really enjoyed this training. Even after years on both sides of the comprehension coin, I find myself still learning! The quality of the delivery exceeded much of the training I have received in the past.

Neil Ozonur

Safety Officer

I was recently offered an opportunity to take my training through another company, but I politely declined. I only attend Lion Technology workshops.

Stephanie Gilliam

Material Production/Logistics Manager

Download Our Latest Whitepaper

This report details major changes for hazardous waste generators from US EPA’s Generator Improvements Rule, as well as the latest updates from states that are still working to adopt new, stricter Federal requirements.

Latest Whitepaper

By submitting your phone number, you agree to receive recurring marketing and training text messages. Consent to receive text messages is not required for any purchases. Text STOP at any time to cancel. Message and data rates may apply. View our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.