The Postal Service recently updated international mailing standards concerning international mail shipments containing certain lithium batteries (see link at http://about.usps.com/postal-bulletin/2012/pb22350/html/updt_002.htm).
Specific quantities of lithium batteries are now allowed to be mailed when installed in the equipment they are intended to operate. However, some countries have decided to prohibit the acceptance of mail shipments containing any lithium metal or lithium-ion batteries.
As of today, the postal operators listed below have formally notified the Postal Service that they will not accept packages containing lithium metal or lithium-ion batteries. This link will be updated accordingly if and when additional countries provide the Postal Service similar notification.
This does not apply to shipments to and from APO (Army Post Office), FPO (Fleet Post Office) and DPO (Diplomatic Post Office) locations.
Updates to the Individual Country Listings in the International Mail Manual will be issued with the next scheduled online update.
Shipments of electronic items containing lithium cells and batteries are prohibited when sent to the following destinations and will be refused or returned to the sender:
