The danger of transporting lithium batteries by air has long been an issue of extreme concern, which the International Air Transport Association (Iata) has now addressed with the launch of a new industry certification programme — Center of Excellence for Independent Validators Lithium Battery – to improve the safe handling and transport of lithium batteries across the supply chain.
“Lithium batteries are critical power sources for many consumer goods on which we all rely. And it is vital that we can ship them safely by air either with finished products or as components in global supply chains,” says Iata director-general Willie Walsh. “That’s why we developed the CEIV Lithium Battery certification. It gives shippers and airlines assurance that certified logistic companies operate to the highest safety and security standards when shipping lithium batteries.”
Shipments (alone or with finished products) must comply with well-established global safety standards for how they are manufactured, tested, packed, marked, labelled and documented. These requirements are a key element of the IATA Lithium Battery Shipping Regulations (LBSR) and of the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR) which combine regulatory and operational input from industry and government experts.
CEVA Logistics has become the first to achieve certification for its operations at Hong Kong International Airport and at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, following an extensive period of piloting.
Source:https://www.freightnews.co.za/article/iata-addresses-lithium-battery-safety-issue