IATA Updates Lithium Battery Air Shipper Guidance

IATA has released an updated version of its Lithium Battery Guidance Document, revised on March 9 to reflect the latest changes for lithium-ion and lithium-metal batteries shipped by air.

Last month, IATA issued new requirements for lithium batteries, which take effect on April 1, 2016, in Addendum II to the 57^th edition Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR)—the manual currently mandatory for hazmat air shippers. Among the new rules starting April 1 are a restriction on state-of-charge (SoC) for lithium-ion batteries shipped by air, limits on the number of packages allowed per shipment, and a prohibition of lithium-ion batteries as cargo on passenger aircraft.

See the updated IATA Lithium Battery Guidance Document here.


The revised guidance document includes new Frequently Asked Questions stemming from the latest changes to the DGR requirements. In addition, it lays out in flow-chart form the different variations for classifying, naming, packing, and labeling lithium battery air shipments. 

Here is the latest IATA flow chart for classifying, packing, and labeling lithium-ion batteries for air transport:

Here is the latest IATA flow chart for classifying, packing, and labeling lithium-metal batteries for air transport: 

Beat the April 1 Deadline!

Don’t let changing rules push your shipping operations out of compliance. Get up to speed on the imminent new requirements for shipping lithium batteries by ground, air, and vessel before new IATA DGR restrictions take effect on April 1.  

At the interactive, instructor-led Shipping Lithium Batteries Webinar, build confidence working with the complex, overlapping lithium battery restrictions under 49 CFR, IATA, and IMDG Code rules. Join the live session to keep your employees and shipments safe, and avoid DOT penalties up to $75,000 per day, per violation. 

Tags: hazmat, IATA, lithium batteries, new rules, shipping