New marks and labels have been introduced for the shipment of lithium batteries, effective on January 1, 2017.The current lithium battery handling labels will be replaced with a new lithium battery mark. The new mark comes into effect on 1st Jan. 2017 with a 2-year transitional period, as such the current lithium battery shipping label may continue to be used until December 31, 2018.

Lithium batteries are generally split into 2 categories; lithium metal batteries and lithium ion batteries. Lithium metal batteries are generally non-rechargeable, contain metallic lithium and used to power devices such as watches, pacemakers, hearing aids, cameras and calculators. Lithium-Ion batteries do not contain metallic lithium and are found in devices such as telephones, computers and laptops.

Lithium Battery Classification

Lithium batteries are classified as Class 9 - miscellaneous dangerous goods:

• UN3090 - Lithium metal batteries (shipped by themselves)
• UN3480 - Lithium ion batteries (shipped by themselves)
• UN3091 - Lithium metal batteries contained in or packed with equipment
• UN3481 Lithium ion batteries contained in or packed with equipment

New IATA, ADR & IMDG Labelling Requirements

Changes to the lithium battery labelling requirements now require packages to be marked with the new lithium battery symbol, UN number and telephone number. Labels must be rectangular, 120x110mm minimum size  and have a hatched edging (5mm thick). If the package size is too small to contain this label it may be reduced to no less than 105x74mm.

A new class 9 lithium battery miscellaneous hazard label has also been introduced replacing the existing class 9 label, containing vertical black stripes on the upper half of the label, the new lithium battery symbol & an underlined number 9 in the lower half of the label.

All new Lithium Battery shipping labels can be purchased on our e-store www.labelsonline.co.uk