USPS Packaging Instruction 9E

Lithium Metal and Lithium-ion Cells and Batteries — International and APO/FPO/DPO

Lithium metal (non-rechargeable) cells and batteries and lithium-ion (rechargeable) cells and batteries are mailable in limited quantities internationally or to and from APO, FPO, or DPO locations only when they are properly installed in the equipment they operate. Lithium batteries must also be accepted by the destination country as designated by the Individual Country Listing in the IMM. APO/FPO/DPO destinations are also subject to the conditions prescribed by the Department of Defense (DOD) as listed in Overseas Military/Diplomatic Mail in the Postal Bulletin.

Proper Shipping Name

• Lithium Metal Battery.
• Lithium-ion Battery.

ID Number

• Lithium Metal Battery contained in equipment, UN3091.
• Lithium-ion Battery contained in equipment, UN3481.

Mailability

• Lithium metal and lithium-ion cells and batteries installed in the equipment they are intended to operate (UN3091 and UN3481) are mailable.
• Lithium metal and lithium-ion cells and batteries not packed in equipment (i.e., batteries packed with equipment or individual batteries) are prohibited.

Required Packaging

Lithium Metal and Lithium-ion Batteries

• The equipment must be cushioned to prevent movement or damage, and must be contained in rigid outer packaging, sealed and strong enough to prevent crushing of the package or exposure of the contents during normal handling in the mail.
• All outer packages must have a complete delivery and return address.

Markings

• Lithium metal batteries properly installed in the equipment they are intended to operate:
• Mailable internationally when permitted by country, including to and from APO, FPO, and DPO locations.
• No lithium battery markings permitted. Quantities must be within the limits of 622.5 and as outlined below.
• Lithium-ion batteries properly installed in the equipment they are intended to operate:
• Mailable internationally when permitted by country, including to and from APO, FPO, and DPO locations.
• No lithium battery markings permitted. Quantities must be within the limits of 622.5 and as outlined below.

Quantities

International — Lithium Metal and Lithium-ion Cells and Batteries:

Installed in equipment:

• Each shipment may contain a maximum of four lithium-ion cells or two lithium-ion batteries.
• The total watt-hour rating for each cell must not exceed 20 Wh.
• The total watt-hour rating for each battery must not exceed 100 Wh.

Note: A lithium battery consignment, as defined in 349.12b, is limited to a maximum of two mailpieces for all international and APO/FPO/DPO mailings.

International — Very Small Lithium Metal and Lithium-ion Cells and Batteries:

Installed in equipment:

• Each shipment containing very small lithium cells and batteries, when installed in the equipment they operate (including circuit boards), may contain a maximum of four lithium cells or two lithium batteries.
• Lithium metal cells and batteries must contain no more than 0.3 gram of lithium content.
• Lithium-ion cells/batteries must have watt-hour rating of not more than 2.7 Wh.

Note: A lithium battery consignment, as defined in 349.12b, is limited to a maximum of two mailpieces for all international and APO/FPO/DPO mailings.

International Lithium Battery Mailability Exhibit

 

	International APO/FPO/DPO1	Mailpiece Battery Limit
Lithium Metal or Lithium Alloy Batteries 2, 3 Small, non-rechargeable, consumer-type batteries
Contained in (properly installed in equipment)	Mailable	Maximum of 4 cells or 2 batteries
Packed with equipment, but not installed in the equipment	Prohibited
Without the equipment they operate (individual batteries in originally sealed packaging)	Prohibited
Lithium-ion or Lithium Polymer Batteries 4, 5 Small, rechargeable, consumer-type batteries
Contained in (properly installed in equipment)	Mailable	Maximum of 4 cells or 2 batteries
Packed with equipment, but not installed in the equipment	Prohibited
Without the equipment they operate (individual batteries in originally sealed packaging)	Prohibited
Very Small Lithium Metal or Lithium-ion Batteries 6, 7 Exception for very small consumer-type batteries in international mailings
Contained in (properly installed in equipment)	Mailable	Maximum of 4 cells or 2 batteries
Packed with equipment, but not installed in the equipment	Prohibited
Without the equipment they operate (individual batteries in originally sealed packaging)	Prohibited

1. Unless otherwise prohibited by the international destination country or specific APO/FPO/DPO ZIP Code location.

2. Each lithium metal or lithium alloy cell must not contain more than 1.0 g lithium content.

3. Each lithium metal or lithium alloy battery must not contain more than 2.0 g aggregate lithium content.

4. Each lithium-ion or lithium polymer cell must not exceed more than 20 Wh per cell.

5. Each lithium-ion or lithium polymer battery must not exceed 100 Wh.

6. Each lithium metal or lithium alloy cell or battery must not exceed 0.3 g of lithium content.

7. Each lithium-ion or lithium polymer cell or battery must not exceed a watt-hour rating of 2.7 Wh.

Note: Shipments containing lithium batteries are not permitted in Global Express Guaranteed mailpieces.