DOT 37-16
Friday, April 1, 2016

PHMSA Issues Lithium Ion Battery Safety Advisory Related to Air Transportation. The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) today issued a safety advisory to alert the general public and shippers of recent actions taken by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to enhance the safe transportation of lithium batteries by air. Effective April 1, 2016, the ICAO amended Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air prohibits transporting lithium ion cells and batteries as cargo aboard passenger carrying aircraft; requires that lithium ion cells and batteries be shipped at a state of charge of no more than 30 percent of their rated capacity; and requires that small packages of so called "Section II" lithium batteries be offered to the operator separately from the general cargo stream and in single package consignments. For more information go to: Lithium Ion Battery Safety Advisory. Contact for media: Joe Delcambre (202) 493-0730.