Virtual business adviser Tamebay has posted an advisory concerning ordering lithium batteries on the internet. Because the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) classified lithium batteries as restricted goods in late 2016. This followed onĀ the Japan Airlines Dreamliner fire . This restriction on shipping lithium batteries means suppliers may no longer ship them in passenger holds unless they travel with associated equipment. Hence this has implications for us, as customers.
Impact of Restriction on Shipping Lithium Batteries
The extent of the impact however depends on the shipping method. Battery wholesalers supplying retail outlets will largely use cheaper commercial options. However, eBay has started to add restrictions on lithium battery advertisements on its site. Again, the impact depends on the business model of the supplier.
There are broadly speaking two types of sellers on eBay providing a service on the internet. Some are affiliate marketers who fish for orders on behalf of corporates. The latter regularly use commercial carriers because they want to benefit from bulk discounts. This limits the main impact of the ICAO restriction on shipping lithium batteries to small dealers who carry their own stocks and ship direct.
The Effect of This on Royal Mail in the UK
The restriction on shipping lithium batteries could affect you if you order lithium batteries from a UK independent supplier. This is because smaller UK companies generally use British Royal Mail as their preferred shipper. Royal Mail in turn uses airmail to link to postal services in other countries, including the U.S.A. Thus UK customs officials could reject a lithium-ion order at the exit port, delaying delivery.
How eBay is Coping With the Lithium Battery Restriction
Royal Mail appears to be the first delivery service to implement the ICAO advisory. Because others will follow, eBay has implemented new controls at the supplier end. It has instructed its users to remove Royal Mail as a delivery option. This restriction on shipping lithium batteries applies equally to overseas suppliers, shipping into the UK using Royal Mail.
Related
Is This the End of Lithium Battery Fires?
MIT Investigates Solid Lithium-Ion Batteries
Preview Image: ICAO Flag
Video Share Link: https://youtu.be/PVUOm_isrOA