Effective May 16, 2012, the Postal Service™ will revise Publication 52, Hazardous, Restricted, and Perishable Mail, to indicate that primary lithium metal or lithium alloy (nonrechargeable) cells and batteries, or secondary lithium-ion cells or 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 349.22 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. Currently, the only exceptions to this general prohibition relate to certain medical materials, infectious substances, and radioactive materials when they are treated in accordance with additional requirements listed in the Technical Instructions. Lithium metal or lithium alloy batteries and lithium-ion cells are listed in the Technical Instructions as Class 9 Miscellaneous Dangerous Goods. 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, minor changes are made throughout the publication for consistency and clarity regarding the outbound domestic mailing of lithium batteries.
Publication 52, Hazardous, Restricted, and Perishable Mail
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3 Hazardous Materials
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34 Mailability by Hazard Class
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349 Miscellaneous Hazardous Materials (Hazard Class 9)
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349.21 Nonmailable Class 9 Materials
The following materials are prohibited:
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[Revise item 349.21e as follows:]
e. For domestic mailings only, primary (nonrechargeable) lithium batteries are prohibited via air transportation if the batteries are shipped without the equipment they operate (individual batteries). Lithium batteries are prohibited in international mailings regardless of packaging.
349.22 Mailable Class 9 Materials
349.221 Primary Lithium (Nonrechargeable) Cells and Batteries
[Revise 349.221 as follows:]
For domestic mailings only, 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. See 622 or IMM 136 when mailing batteries internationally or to APO, FPO, or DPO destinations.
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 (individual batteries):
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.
349.222 Secondary Lithium-ion (Rechargeable) Cells and Batteries
[Revise 349.222 as follows:]
For domestic mailings only, 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. See 622 or IMM 136 when mailing batteries internationally or to and from APO, FPO, or DPO destinations.
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 DOT’s 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 (individual batteries):
1. The secondary lithium cells and batteries must be mailed in “the originally sealed packaging”, and the package may contain 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).”
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6 International Mail
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62 Hazardous Materials: International Mail
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622 Mailable Hazardous Materials
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[Revise the heading and text of 622.5 as follows:]
622.5 Lithium and Lithium-ion Cells and Batteries — General
Primary lithium metal or lithium alloy (nonrechargeable) cells and batteries, or lithium-ion cells and batteries (rechargeable), regardless of quantity, size, watt hours, and regardless of whether the cells or batteries are packed in the equipment they are intended to operate, with the equipment they are intended to operate, or without equipment (individual batteries) are prohibited when mailed internationally or to and from an APO, FPO, or DPO location regardless of mail class.
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Appendix A Hazardous Materials Table: Postal Service Mailability Guide
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[Delete the three entries whose names in column “(a)” are “Lithium batteries, contained in equipment,” “Lithium batteries packed with equipment” and “Lithium battery” (the three entries are consecutive), and insert the following six entries as follows in their place:]
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Appendix C USPS Packaging Instructions for Mailable Hazardous Materials
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USPS Packaging Instructions 9D
Lithium and Lithium-ion Cells and Batteries
[Revise Lithium and Lithium-ion Cells and Batteries paragraph as follows:]
n When mailed domestically only: Primary lithium (nonrechargeable) cells and batteries and secondary lithium-ion (rechargeable) cells and batteries are mailable in limited quantities domestically via air or surface transportation when they are installed in or packed with the equipment they are intended to operate. Individual secondary batteries (without equipment) are mailable in limited quantities domestically via air or surface transportation only, provided the batteries are in the originally sealed packaging. Individual primary batteries (without equipment) are mailable in limited quantities only via surface transportation, provided the batteries are in the originally sealed packaging.
n When mailed internationally or to APO, FPO, or DPO destinations: Primary lithium metal or secondary lithium alloy (nonrechargeable) cells and batteries, or lithium-ion cells or batteries (rechargeable), regardless of quantity, size, watt hours, and regardless of whether the cells or batteries are packed in the equipment they are intended to operate, with the equipment they are intended to operate, or without equipment (individual batteries) are prohibited when mailed internationally or to and from an APO, FPO, or DPO location regardless of mail class.
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Mailability
[Revise the Mailability paragraph as follows:]
n Domestic Mail: Primary and secondary lithium cells and batteries installed in or packed with equipment are mailable via air or surface transportation. Primary lithium cells and batteries not packed with or installed in equipment (individual batteries) are mailable via surface transportation only.
n International Mail: Primary lithium metal or lithium alloy (nonrechargeable) cells and batteries, or lithium-ion cells or batteries (rechargeable), regardless of quantity, size, and watt hours, and regardless of whether the cells or batteries are packed in the equipment they are intended to operate, with the equipment they are intended to operate, or without equipment (individual batteries) are prohibited when mailed internationally or to and from an APO, FPO, or DPO location regardless of mail class.
Required Packaging
[Revise the entire Required Packaging section as follows:]
Primary (nonrechargeable) and Secondary (rechargeable) Lithium Batteries — Domestic Mail Only
n 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.
n All outer packages must have a complete delivery and return address.
Markings
n Primary (nonrechargeable) properly installed in the equipment they are intended to operate:
n Mailable via air transportation or surface transportation domestically. Prohibited internationally.
n No markings required provided the quantities are within the limits of 349.22. Primary (nonrechargeable) packed with the equipment they are intended to operate.
n Mailable via air and surface transportation domestically. Prohibited internationally.
n The outside of the package must be marked on the address side “Package Contains Primary Lithium Batteries.”
n Primary (nonrechargeable) not packed with or installed in equipment (individual batteries):
n Mailable domestic via surface transportation only. Prohibited internationally.
n The outside of the package must be marked on the address side “Surface Mail Only, Primary Lithium Batteries — Forbidden for Transportation Aboard Passenger Aircraft.”
n Secondary (rechargeable) properly installed in the equipment they are intended to operate:
n Mailable via air transportation or surface transportation domestically. Prohibited internationally.
n No markings required provided the quantities are within the limits.
n Secondary (rechargeable) packed with the equipment they are intended to operate:
n Mailable via air and surface transportation domestically. Prohibited internationally.
n The outside of the package must be marked on the address side “Package Contains Lithium-ion Batteries (no lithium metal).”
n Secondary (rechargeable) not packed with or installed in equipment (individual batteries):
n Mailable domestic via surface transportation only. Prohibited internationally.
n The outside of the package must be marked on the address side “Package Contains Lithium-ion Batteries (no lithium metal).”
Quantities
Domestic — Primary Lithium (nonrechargeable) Cells and Batteries:
Installed in or packed with the equipment they are intended to operate:
n Each cell must contain no more than 1.0 gram (g) of lithium content per cell.
n Each battery must contain no more than 2.0 g aggregate lithium content per battery.
n The shipment cannot contain more batteries than the number needed to operate the device.
n The mailpiece must not exceed 11 pounds.
Individual batteries mailed without equipment:
n Each cell must contain no more than 1.0 gram (g) of lithium content per cell.
n Each battery must contain no more than 2.0 g aggregate lithium content per battery.
n The mailpiece must not exceed 5 pounds.
Domestic — Secondary Lithium-ion (Rechargeable) Cells and Batteries:
Installed in equipment, packed with equipment, or mailed without equipment (individual batteries):
n The lithium content must not exceed 20 Wh (Watt-hour rating) per cell.
n The total aggregate lithium content must not exceed 100 Wh per battery.
n The mailpiece must not contain more than three batteries.
International — Primary (nonrechargeable) and Secondary (rechargeable) Lithium Batteries:
Primary lithium metal or lithium alloy (nonrechargeable) cells and batteries, or lithium-ion cells and batteries (rechargeable), regardless of quantity, size, watt hours, and regardless of whether the cells or batteries are packed in the equipment they are intended to operate, with the equipment they are intended to operate, or without equipment (individual batteries) are prohibited when mailed internationally or to and from an APO, FPO, or DPO location regardless of mail class.
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We will incorporate these revisions into the next update of the online Publication 52 available via Postal Explorer® at http://pe.usps.com.
— Product Classification,
Pricing, 5-3-12
