IATA Battery Shipping Regulations 13th Edition 2026

Product Description

IATA Battery Shipping Regulations 13th Edition 2026

As adoption of electric cars, e-bikes increase and lithium batteries become lighter and last longer, the number of products relying on batteries will only continue to grow.

Though a practical and efficient way to store energy, batteries, if not properly designed, tested and manufactured can fail and catch fire. In addition, the stored energy and flammable electrolyte in the battery means that they must be prepared properly for shipping to reduce the potential risk to the transport system.

To help address this, IATA have put together the BSR; a manual with all the information manufacturers, retailers, wholesalers, freight forwarders and others in the supply chain need to ensure compliance when shipping batteries.

Effective Date: Jan 1, 2026 until Dec 31, 2026

What’s inside the BSR?
Making a mistake with marking, labelling or packaging products with batteries can at best cause delays. At worst, the battery could fail or short circuit causing a fire. The BSR covers all aspects of the shipping process from packaging requirements, labelling, marking and what to do if something goes wrong enroute.

• Applicability (definitions, shipper responsibilities, caution, training, dangerous good security)
• Regulations (international legislation, dangerous goods carried by passengers, variations by state and operator, UN Manual of Tests and Criteria, subsection 38.3 )
• Classification (UN Numbers, Class 9 substances, classification scenarios, testing)
• Identification (list of dangerous goods, special provisions)
• Packing (combination packaging, quantity limits, UN specifications, overpacks, instructions, examples)
• UN specification packaging performance tests (test frequency, drop test, stacking test, reports, suppliers)
• Marking and labelling (marks, specifications, shipper’s responsibilities, examples)
• Documentation (declaration form instructions and examples, waybills,)
• Acceptance (checklists, refusals)
• Emergency response

The 2026 IATA BSR is essential for professionals handling air transport of batteries—setting binding global standards across all chemistries with enhanced safety measures (now including SoC limits), robust packaging/testing regimes, and simplified labeling/documentation. It’s a must-have for anyone shipping battery-powered goods by air.

The significant changes that were made to the 13th edition of the BSR can be found here