On December 10th, 2014, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) issued an Electronic Bulletin (EB 2014/72) which announced the release of Corrigendum #1 (itself dated November 20th, 2014) to their 2015 – 2016 edition of the Technical Instructions for the Safe Handling of Dangerous Goods, commonly referred to in the industry as the ICAO TI. The ICAO TI serves as either the actual regulation governing or as the most common basis for most other regulatory texts addressing the carriage of dangerous goods by air around the world. The corrigendum is brief (only one item) and addresses the issue of the ability of a state to grant an exemption from the prohibition of the carriage of Lithium Metal Batteries aboard passenger aircraft. (Reference ICAO TI 1;1.1.3) This is stated in a revised version of Special Provision A201, and is presented verbatim below:
TECHNICAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE SAFE TRANSPORT OF DANGEROUS GOODS BY AIR
In Part 3, Chapter 3, page 3-3-3, Special Provision A201, amend to read:
A201 States concerned may grant an exemption from the prohibition to transport lithium metal batteries on passenger aircraft in accordance with Part 1;1.1.3. Authorities issuing exemptions in accordance with this special provision must provide a copy to the Chief of the Cargo Safety Section within three months via email at CSS@icao.int, via facsimile at +1 514-954-6077 or via post to the following address:
Chief, Cargo Safety Section
International Civil Aviation Organization
999 University Street
Montréal, Quebec
CANADA H3C 5H7
Lithium Metal (i.e. “primary” or non-rechargeable) Batteries are considered to present a more severe risk of hazard than Lithium Ion (i.e. rechargeable) batteries due to their higher Lithium content, and under normal circumstances they are banned from carriage aboard passenger aircraft. They are however normally allowed aboard cargo aircraft. ICAO estimates that this new exemption, which was created to address potential emergency requirements for the transport of such batteries, will be invoked only rarely due to the ready availability of cargo aircraft to carry such goods under most circumstances.
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