Effective May 16, 2012, the Postal Service™ will revise Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®) section 601.10.20 to codify that primary lithium metal or lithium alloy (nonrechargeable) cells and batteries or secondary lithium-ion cells and batteries (rechargeable) are prohibited when mailed internationally or to and from an APO, FPO, or DPO location. However, this prohibition does not apply to lithium batteries authorized under DMM 601.10.20 when mailed within the United States or its territories.
International standards have recently been the subject of discussion by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the Universal Postal Union (UPU), and the Postal Service anticipates that on January 1, 2013, customers will be able to mail specific quantities of lithium batteries internationally (including to and from an APO, FPO, or DPO location) when the batteries are properly installed in the personal electronic devices they are intended to operate.
Until such time that a less restrictive policy can be implemented consistent with international standards, and in accordance with UPU Convention, lithium batteries are not permitted in international mail. The UPU Convention and regulations are consistent with the ICAO Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air (Technical Instructions). The Technical Instructions concerning the Transport of Dangerous Goods by Post do not permit “dangerous goods” as defined by the ICAO Technical Instructions in international mail. The prohibition on mailing lithium batteries and cells internationally also applies to mail sent by commercial air transportation to and from an APO, FPO, or DPO location.
In addition, we will revise and renumber Exhibit 601.10.20.7 to reflect “watt-hour ratings” instead of “lithium content” for secondary lithium-ion batteries when describing maximum quantity limits.
Finally, the Postal Service has moved the lithium battery standards as it relates to international, APO, FPO, or DPO locations, to the Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, International Mail Manual (IMM®). These standards appear in this Postal Bulletin on pages 31–32, in the article titled “IMM Revision: Outbound International Mailings of Lithium Batteries and Other Dangerous Goods.”
Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM)
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600 Basic Standards For All Mailing Services
601 Mailability
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10.0 Hazardous Materials
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10.20 Miscellaneous Hazardous Materials (Hazard Class 9)
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10.20.5 Primary Lithium (Non-Rechargeable) Cells and Batteries
[Revise 10.20.5 as follows:]
Small consumer-type primary lithium cells or batteries (lithium metal or lithium alloy) like those used to power cameras and flashlights are mailable domestically under the following conditions. Mailing batteries internationally, or to and from APO, FPO, or DPO destinations, is prohibited regardless of mail class. See IMM 136 for details.
a. General. The following restrictions apply to the mailability of all primary lithium (nonrechargeable) cells and batteries:
1. Each cell must contain no more than 1.0 gram (g) of lithium content per cell.
2. Each battery must contain no more than 2.0 g aggregate lithium content per battery.
3. Each cell or battery must meet the requirements of each test in the UN Manual of Tests and Criteria, Part III, and subsection 38.3 as referenced in DOT’s hazardous materials regulation at 49 CFR 171.7.
4. All outer packages must have a complete delivery and return address.
b. Installed In Equipment. The following additional restrictions apply to the mailing of primary cells or batteries properly installed in the equipment they operate:
1. The batteries installed in the equipment must be protected from damage and short circuit.
2. The equipment must be equipped with an effective means of preventing it from being turned on or activated.
3. The equipment must be cushioned to prevent movement or damage and be contained in a strong enough sealed package to prevent crushing of the package or exposure of the contents during normal handling in the mail.
4. The mailpiece must not exceed 11 pounds.
c. Mailed With Equipment. The following additional restrictions apply to the mailing of primary cells or batteries shipped with (but not installed in) the device or equipment being mailed:
1. The shipment cannot contain more batteries than the number needed to operate the device.
2. The primary lithium cells and batteries must be packaged separately and cushioned to prevent movement or damage.
3. The shipment must be contained in a strong enough sealed package to prevent crushing of the package or exposure of the contents during normal handling in the mail.
4. The outside of the package must be marked on the address side “Package Contains Primary Lithium Batteries.”
5. The mailpiece must not exceed 11 pounds.
d. Mailed Without Equipment. The following additional restrictions apply to the mailing of primary cells or batteries without equipment:
1. The primary lithium cells and batteries must be mailed in “the originally sealed packaging”.
2. The sealed packages of batteries must be separated and cushioned to prevent short circuit, movement, or damage.
3. The shipment must be contained in a strong enough sealed package to prevent crushing of the package or exposure of the contents during normal handling in the mail.
4. They may only be sent via surface transportation.
5. The outside of the package must be marked on the address side “Surface Mail Only, Primary Lithium Batteries—Forbidden for Transportation Aboard Passenger Aircraft.”
6. The mailpiece must not exceed 5 pounds.
10.20.6 Secondary Lithium-ion (Rechargeable) Cells and Batteries
[Revise 10.20.6 as follows:]
Small consumer-type lithium-ion cells and batteries like those used to power cell phones and laptop computers are mailable domestically under the following conditions. Mailing batteries internationally, or to and from APO, FPO, or DPO destinations is prohibited regardless of mail class. See IMM 136 for details.
a. General. The following additional restrictions apply to the mailability of all secondary (rechargeable) lithium-ion cells and batteries:
1. The lithium content must not exceed 20 Wh (Watt-hour rating) per cell.
2. The total aggregate lithium content must not exceed 100 Wh per battery.
3. Each cell or battery must meet the requirements of each test in the UN Manual of Tests and Criteria, Part III, and subsection 38.3 as referenced in DOTs hazardous materials regulation at 49 CFR 171.7.
4. The mailpiece must not contain more than three batteries.
5. All outer packages must have a complete delivery and return address.
b. Installed In Equipment. The following additional restrictions apply to the mailing of secondary cells or batteries properly installed in equipment they operate:
1. The batteries installed in the equipment must be protected from damage and short circuit.
2. The equipment must be equipped with an effective means of preventing it from being turned on or activated.
3. The equipment must be cushioned to prevent movement or damage and be contained in a strong enough sealed package to prevent crushing of the package or exposure of the contents during normal handling in the mail. The shipment must be mailed in a strong outer package.
c. Mailed With Equipment. The following additional restrictions apply to the mailing of secondary cells or batteries shipped with (but not installed in) the device or equipment being mailed:
1. The shipment cannot contain more batteries than the number needed to operate the device, up to three batteries.
2. The secondary lithium cells and batteries must be packaged separately and cushioned to prevent movement or damage.
3. The shipment must be contained in a strong enough sealed package to prevent crushing of the package or exposure of the contents during normal handling in the mail.
4. The outside of the package must be marked on the address side “Package Contains Lithium-ion Batteries (no lithium metal).”
d. Mailed Without Equipment. The following additional restrictions apply to the mailing of secondary cells or batteries without equipment:
1. The secondary lithium cells and batteries must be mailed in “the originally sealed packaging” and no more than three batteries.
2. The sealed packages of batteries must be separated and cushioned to prevent short circuit, movement, or damage.
3. The shipment must be contained in a strong enough sealed package to prevent crushing of the package or exposure of the contents during normal handling in the mail.
4. The outside of the package must be marked on the address side “Package Contains Lithium-ion Batteries (no lithium metal).”
10.20.7 Damaged or Recalled Batteries
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[Delete Exhibit 10.20.7, Lithium Battery Mailability Chart, in its entirety.]
[Insert new item 10.20.8 and Exhibit 10.20.8 as follows:]
10.20.8 Lithium Battery Mailability
To determine the mailability of primary (nonrechargeable) lithium metal and lithium alloy batteries, or secondary lithium-ion batteries, see exhibit below. For detailed information refer to 10.20.5 and 10.20.6 respectively.
Exhibit 10.20.8 Lithium Battery Mailability Chart
1. Each primary cell must not contain more than 1g lithium content.
2. Each primary battery must not contain more than 2g lithium content.
3. Each secondary cell must not contain more than 20 Wh (Watt-hour rating) per cell.
4. Each secondary battery must not exceed 100 Wh per battery.
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We will incorporate these revisions into the next monthly update of the online DMM, which is available via Postal Explorer® at http://pe.usps.com.
— Product Classification, Pricing, 5-3-12
