Effective April 26, 2015, the Postal Service™ will revise Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, International Mail Manual (IMM®) section 135.6 to update its terminology for specific types of lithium cells and batteries to better reflect what is commonly used in the industry and by other regulatory agencies, including the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) of the Department of Transportation. With these revisions, primary lithium (non-rechargeable) batteries will be referred to as lithium metal or lithium alloy (non-rechargeable) batteries, and secondary lithium-ion (rechargeable batteries) will be referred to as lithium-ion or lithium polymer (rechargeable) batteries. We will also add an item to both 135.63 and 135.64 reiterating the prohibition against markings that indicate that a package contains lithium batteries. For more detailed information on standards pertaining to lithium batteries shipped internationally, see Publication 52, Hazardous, Restricted, and Perishable Mail, section 622.5.
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Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, International Mail Manual (IMM)
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1 International Mail Services
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130 Mailability
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135 Mailable Dangerous Goods
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135.6 Batteries
[Revise 135.6 in its entirety to read as follows (revising the terms used to refer to specific types of lithium batteries and adding item 135.63h and item 135.64i):]
135.61 Availability — Mail Classes
Shipments containing lithium cells or batteries, regardless of quantity or type — lithium metal or lithium alloy (non-rechargeable) or lithium-ion or lithium polymer (rechargeable) — are nonmailable in Global Express Guaranteed service. The standards under 135.62 through 135.64 apply to all other outbound international mail classes.
135.62 General
Only lithium cells and batteries under 135.63 and 135.64 that are properly installed in the equipment they are intended to operate may be sent internationally or to APO, FPO, or DPO locations when not restricted or prohibited by the destination country or APO, FPO, or DPO location. For specific country restrictions, see the applicable Individual Country Listing. For specific APO, FPO, or DPO restrictions, see the information for the destination ZIP Code in the article titled “Overseas Military/Diplomatic Mail” published in each issue of the Postal Bulletin.
Lithium batteries packed with equipment and lithium batteries sent separate from equipment are prohibited. Damaged or recalled batteries are prohibited and may not be mailed internationally under any circumstances.
135.63 Lithium Metal or Lithium Alloy (Non-Rechargeable) Cells and Batteries
Small consumer-type lithium metal or lithium alloy (non-rechargeable) cells and batteries like those used to power cameras and flashlights are mailable in a single shipment with the following restrictions:
a. The batteries must be installed in the equipment they are intended to operate.
b. Each shipment may contain a maximum of four lithium cells or two lithium batteries.
c. The lithium content must not exceed 1 gram (g) per cell.
d. The total aggregate lithium content must not exceed 2 g per battery.
e. The batteries installed in the equipment must be protected from damage and short circuit.
f. The equipment must be equipped with an effective means of preventing it from inadvertently being turned on or activated.
g. The equipment must be contained in a strong, sealed package and cushioned to prevent movement or damage.
h. Mailpieces must not bear markings or labels identifying the contents as lithium batteries.
135.64 Lithium-ion or Lithium Polymer (Rechargeable) Cells and Batteries
Small consumer-type lithium-ion or lithium polymer (rechargeable) cells and batteries like those used to power cell phones and laptop computers are mailable in a single shipment with the following restrictions:
a. The batteries must be installed in the equipment they are intended to operate.
b. Each shipment may contain a maximum of four lithium cells or two lithium batteries.
c. The total Watt-hour rating (Wh) for each cell must not exceed 20 Wh per cell.
d. The total Wh for each battery must not exceed 100 Wh per battery.
e. Each battery must bear the Wh marking on the battery to determine if it is within the limits defined in 135.64c and 135.64d.
f. The batteries installed in the equipment must be protected from damage and short circuit.
g. The equipment must be equipped with an effective means of preventing it from inadvertently being turned on or activated.
h. The equipment must be contained in a strong, sealed package and cushioned to prevent movement or damage.
i. Mailpieces must not bear markings or labels identifying the contents as lithium batteries.
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We will incorporate these revisions into the April 26, 2015, update of the online IMM, which is available via Postal Explorer® at http://pe.usps.com.
— Product Classification,
Pricing, 3-5-15
