DOT to Form Lithium Battery Safety Advisory Committee

Posted on 5/20/2019 by Roger Marks

US DOT’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration announced last week the formation of a new Lithium Battery Safety Advisory Committee. PHMSA is now seeking nominations for the committee, which will work to facilitate communication between lithium battery manufacturers/shippers and the Federal agencies that regulate those shipments.

The new safety committee will also provide a forum for PHMSA and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to explore new lithium battery technologies and safe shipping practices. PHMSA will consider members from a range of industries: lithium battery manufacturing; battery-powered consumer products, vehicles, and medical devices; cargo and passenger air service; and DOT employees.

Have someone in mind for a nomination? Read more about the process, and how to submit nominations, in the May 14 Federal Register.

2019 Lithium Battery Shipper Updates

Regulations for shipping lithium batteries have evolved drastically in the past few years. New marking and labeling requirements for both fully regulated and excepted lithium battery shipments took effect on January 1, 2019.

Need a quick refresher on lithium battery marking, labeling, and handling requirements? Join an expert Lion instructor for the function-specific Shipping Lithium Batteries Webinar on June 25 from 1 to 3 PM ET.

In March of this year, US DOT adopted updated provisions for air shipments that were added to the ICAO Technical Instructions (TI) and the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR) in 2016. The updated 49 CFR regulations took effect immediately on March 6, 2019.

In addition to the “harmonization” changes made, PHMSA also added a new requirement for marking/labeling excepted lithium batteries by all modes of transport in its March rulemaking (HM 224I).
And that’s just what’s happened so far this year!

Training to Ship Lithium Batteries Confidently

Keep up with all the latest changes to lithium battery regulations and ensure your shipments will be accepted by any carrier. Lion’s popular Shipping Lithium Batteries Online Course is updated regularly to reflect the most recent changes to lithium battery rules for ground (49 CFR), air (IATA DGR), and vessel (IMDG Code) shipments.

New! Ship excepted lithium batteries by ground, air, or vessel? We’ve got a course just for you! The new Shipping Excepted Lithium Batteries Online Course will help you identify the requirements you must know, without getting bogged down or confused by rules for fully regulated lithium batteries.

Tags: DOT, FAA, hazmat shipping, lithium batteries, PHMSA

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