On April 7, 2010, a letter prepared by PRBA was sent to the U.S. Department of Transportation's Office of General Counsel requesting that they take steps to assure the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) fully complies with its legal obligations in considering the extensive comments filed on the Agency's proposed rulemaking on lithium batteries. The letter also was signed by numerous trade associations, organizations and companies concerned about the lithium battery rulemaking. The letter reminds the DOT's General Counsel of PHMSA's requirements under the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act (HMTA), the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), and the other authorities that bear on the lawfulness of any final rule promulgated by the Agency.

Click here to download a coy of the letter.

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Washington, D.C. —PRBA- The Rechargeable Battery Association has recommended that the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration drop its proposed rule on the air shipment of lithium cells and batteries and instead adopt the International Civil Aviation Organization requirements in effect since 2009 but never implemented in the United States.


"Only by bringing U.S. regulations up to the current international standards will PHMSA be taking appropriate, legally sustainable action," PRBA said in its March 12 filing with the agency. PHMSA announced its proposed rule on transportation of lithium batteries on Jan. 8, 2010.


"PRBA remains strongly committed to safety," said George Kerchner, PRBA’s executive director. “But this rule would not address the principal cause for concern—non-compliance by shippers with existing transport regulations—while imposing unacceptable costs on all Americans."

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The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Dangerous Goods Panel (DGP) met in Montreal, Canada on October 5 -16, 2009 to complete their work on amending the ICAO Technical Instructions on the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air. Approximately 110 papers were filed with DGP, including 24 papers related to lithium batteries. Four PRBA proposals were adopted by the DGP. PRBA also was successful in securing reasonable changes to the lithium battery Packing Instructions. The changes adopted during this meeting will go into effect on January 1, 2011. [more]

United Nations Subcommittee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods has endorsed a major PRBA initiative by modifying the international testing requirements for rechargeable lithium cells and batteries [more]

The Portable Rechargeable Battery Association today announced its support for new Department of Transportation rules that prohibit airline passengers from packing spare lithium metal (non-rechargeable) batteries and lithium ion rechargeable batteries in checked baggage but allow travelers to bring spare batteries in carry-on luggage

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