US DOT changes battery rules
Reports from the USA say that there are new restrictions for carrying loose lithium batteries in checked or carry-on luggage in flights, taking effect form January, 1, 2008.
The new US federal rules have been inplemented reduce the risk of lithium battery fires and under the new rules, passengers can no longer pack loose lithium batteries in their checked luggage.
Passengers can take two loose batteries with them in their carry-on baggage, but only if each battery is in a separate resealable plastic bag or its original packaging.
Day to day consumer electronics such as travel cameras, cell phones and most laptop computers are still allowed in both carry-on and checked luggage with their lithium batteries inside them.
The DOT in the US says that lithium batteries are considered hazardous materials because they can overheat and ignite in certain conditions, adding that safety testing conducted by the FAA found that current aircraft cargo fire suppression systems would not be capable of suppressing a fire if a shipment of non-rechargeable lithium batteries were ignited in flight.
“Doing something as simple as keeping a spare battery in its original retail packaging or a plastic zip-lock bag will prevent unintentional short-circuiting and fires,” said Krista Edwards, deputy administrator of the DOT’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, in a press release issued last week.
The DOT issued the press release as a reminder of the new rules, which it published in August.
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