May 29th, 2015 | Posted in General
First Regulatory Update on Lithium Batteries in Nearly 20 Years
Washington (May 28, 2015) – PRBA – The Rechargeable Battery Association said today that Transport Canada has responded to numerous questions the trade group raised regarding the new lithium battery provisions in the Agency's Transport of Dangerous Goods Regulations and has confirmed these rules will take effect on July 1, 2015.
PRBA submitted a letter to Transport Canada earlier this year requesting clarification on a number of issues associated with the lithium battery shipping regulations, which generally are consistent with international dangerous goods requirements and the U.S. Department of Transportation's lithium battery hazardous materials regulations. PRBA also sought a six-month delay to January 1, 2016, in the implementation of the regulations.
"We appreciate Transport Canada's willingness to consider our questions on the new regulations and our concerns with the July 1, 2015 mandatory compliance date,' PRBA Executive Director George Kerchner said. He noted that these changes are the first update of the lithium battery provisions in the TDG Regulations in nearly 20 years and the substantive changes are expected to have a significant impact on shippers of new and used lithium batteries within Canada as well as the carriers transporting these batteries.
Transport Canada agreed with PRBA's position on the new regulations applicable to shipping lithium batteries for disposal or recycling, the changes needed to the regulations for shipping prototype and low production lithium batteries and the changes to the language associated with United Nations battery testing requirements.
Transport Canada also acknowledged that the new documentation requirements for "consignments' of small lithium batteries may cause confusion amongst the regulated community and inspectors in Canada. The Agency offered to look into new wording to clarify the intent of the documentation provision. Transport Canada also confirmed the packaging requirements applicable to large format lithium batteries.
About PRBA
PRBA members power the consumer electronics revolution. We deliver a safe, efficient, and essential power source for portable electronic equipment such as notebook computers, tablets, cellular phones and power tools, medical devices as well as hybrid and electric vehicles and containerized lithium ion battery stationary systems. PRBA members produce approximately 70 percent of the world's lithium ion cells and account for billions of dollars in annual worldwide sales. With more than 70 members, PRBA is widely recognized as the nation's authoritative source for information on rechargeable batteries.