USPS will not want to ship any lithium battery after May 7, 2012. That means USPS will not ship any iPhones, cell phones, iPads, Kindle or notebooks to international destinations (including APO, FPO and DPO locations).
Background:
Under current rules of various international agencies, including the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the Universal Postal Union (UPU), lithium batteries cannot be sent as mail matter on international commercial air transportation.
In keeping with these requirements, the Postal Service must maintain standards prohibiting the carriage of lithium metal or lithium-ion batteries in postal shipments sent on commercial aircraft to international destinations, including to and from APO, FPO and DPO locations. On May 7, 2012, the Postal Service revised International Mail Manual (IMM) part 136, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) section 601.10.20, and Publication 52 section 349.22 to incorporate standards prohibiting outbound international mailing of lithium metal or lithium-ion batteries and devices containing lithium batteries.
The Postal Service anticipates that by January 1, 2013, aviation rules will be changed to allow specific quantities of lithium batteries (installed in the equipment they are intended to operate) to be sent by mail to destinations abroad.
Sample e-mails USPS customers receive:
Effective May 7, 2012, we are revising IMM part 136 to stipulate that
lithium metal or lithium-ion cells or batteries may not be sent in
international mail. The restriction applies regardless of quantity, size,
watt hours, and whether the cells or batteries are packed in equipment, with
equipment, or without equipment. The restrictions also apply when mailing to
an APO, FPO, or DPO location outside of the United States (including its
territories).
In addition, we will make parallel changes to other USPS publications that
make reference to the international mailing of lithium batteries such as the
Domestic Mail Manual (DMM(r)) and Publication 52, Hazardous, Restricted, and
Perishable Mail.
Rick Klutts
Product Classification
USPS Headquarters
US Postal Service
MEDIA STATEMENT ON Outbound International Mailing of Lithium Batteries
REACTIVE ONLY - FOR IMMEDIATE USE
Until January 2013, the Postal Service will not be able to accept packages containing lithium batteries and electronic devices containing lithium batteries addressed to international destinations. This includes mail destined to, or from, APO (Army Post Office), FPO (Fleet Post Office) and DPO (Diplomatic Post Office) locations.
This change is required by the standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the Universal Postal Union (UPU), both of which currently prohibit lithium batteries in mail shipments that are carried on international commercial air transportation.
This change will not apply to packages containing lithium batteries and electronic devices containing lithium batteries when mailed within the United States on domestic commercial air or ground transportation.
International organizations apply different rules to the carriage of lithium batteries in mail shipments carried on commercial aircraft as compared to domestic requirements.
We anticipate that by January 2013, international aviation rules will be changed to allow mailing of lithium batteries when installed in the personal electronic devices they are intended to operate.
USPS is working with expert organizations to determine if any new exceptions can be developed prior to January 2013. Further announcements will be made should USPS be able to accept lithium batteries in certain types of mail shipments as soon as any new options become available.
We appreciate our customers' business. We recognize this change will pose an inconvenience to our customers and we look forward to continuing to be their international shipping partner
Hope this problem will be resolved much sooner than January 2013.
Update from USPS (May 03, 2012)
Starting May 16, USPS will prohibit international mailing of lithium batteries and electronic devices containing lithium batteries. The new regulations also prohibit shipments to or from Army, Fleet and Diplomatic Post Offices.
The Postal Service is instructing retail associates to question whether lithium batteries are in any international shipments.
The prohibition doesn't include packages containing lithium batteries when mailed in the U.S. using domestic commercial air or ground transportation.
The International Civil Aviation Organization and the Universal Postal Union already prohibit lithium batteries in mail shipments transported on international commercial air flights.
The Postal Service's modification will remain in effect until at least January 2013. At that time, international aviation rules may be changed to allow mailing of lithium batteries when installed in personal electronic devices they're intended to operate.
The Postal Service is working with other organizations to determine if exceptions to the new rule can be developed before January 2013.
Update from Shipito (May 04, 2012)
The last day USPS will accept shipments with Li-ion batteries is May 15, 2012. If you package is not mailed out on this day, Shipito will not be able to ship it by USPS.
This change will not affect Shipito Airmail Economy and Priority shipments (at least not at this moment). Other carriers like FedEx, DHL and TNT allow shipping li-ion batteries with the proper warning sticker.
Update from USPS (May 04, 2012)
OUTBOUND INTERNATIONAL MAILING OF LITHIUM BATTERIES
Until January 2013, the Postal Service will not be able to accept packages containing lithium batteries and electronic devices containing lithium batteries addressed to international destinations. This includes mail destined to, or from, APO (Army Post Office), FPO (Fleet Post Office) and DPO (Diplomatic Post Office) locations.
This change is required by the standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the Universal Postal Union (UPU), both of which currently prohibit lithium batteries in mail shipments that are carried on international commercial air transportation.
This change will not apply to packages containing lithium batteries and electronic devices containing lithium batteries when mailed within the United States on domestic commercial air or ground transportation.
International organizations apply different rules to the carriage of lithium batteries in mail shipments carried on commercial aircraft as compared to domestic requirements.
We anticipate that by January 2013, international aviation rules will be changed to allow mailing of lithium batteries when installed in the personal electronic devices they are intended to operate.
USPS is working with expert organizations to determine if any new exceptions can be developed prior to January 2013. Further announcements will be made should USPS be able to accept lithium batteries in certain types of mail shipments as soon as any new options become available.
We appreciate our customers' business. We recognize this change will pose an inconvenience to our customers and we look forward to continuing to be their international shipping partner.
Currently, mail from the United States to all countries is being handled under normal operating conditions, with these exceptions (Effective 05/03/12).
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Update from USPS (November 11, 2012)
Effective Nov. 15, 2012, USPS will start accepting specific quantities of lithium batteries - when installed in the equipment they are intended to operate - to be sent to many international destinations, including APO (Army Post Office), FPO (Fleet Post Office) and DPO (Diplomatic Post Office) locations when permitted by the destination or host country.
Items which can be shipped may include: cameras, video cameras, mobile/smart phones, Bluetooth headsets, laptop computers, shavers, portable DVD players, tablets, two-way radios, GPS devices and most other small electronic devices requiring lithium batteries to operate.
Items which cannot be shipped include any lithium batteries not installed in the equipment they are intended to operate. In addition, when installed, they may not exceed the quantity or limits defined in the IMM or DMM.
Domestic shipments of packages containing lithium batteries, and electronic devices containing lithium batteries currently remain unchanged.
The Federal Register final rule, and IMM, DMM and Publication 52 revisions, will be available at pe.usps.com.
Update from Shipito (November 05, 2013)
Shipito Airmail can no longer be used for shipping lithium batteries. But you may use alternative shipping methods including USPS Priority, USPS Express, Russian Post, FedEx, DHL or TNT. Note that USPS allows to ship only lithium batteries installed into electronic devices.
