IATA and battery manufacturers call for stricter regulation enforcement

In light of a number of fires onboard aircraft which have been attributed to ignition of lithium batteries, in a joint letter to the Minister of Trade, Industry and Transport, the International Air Transport Association, directors of Civil Aviation and the world’s largest lithium battery manufacturing and export countries, IATA, PRBA, the US Rechargeable Battery Association, RECHARGE, the European Advanced Rechargeable and Lithium Battery Association, the Global Shippers Forum (GSF) and the International Air Cargo Association (TIACA), have demanded that lithium battery safety regulations be enforced at the point of origin, including the initial shipper and the battery manufacturer.
Additionally, the letter requested the implementation of cooperative enforcement initiatives in situations where actions are taken to circumvent regulations, such as cross-border transportation to ship batteries from a state with less stringent regulations. The request is also for the fines to be of a significant level, and custodial sentences to be imposed on transgressors.
According to Tony Tyler, Director General and CEO IATA, “Safety is aviation’s top priority. Airlines, shippers and manufacturers have worked hard to establish rules that ensure lithium batteries can be carried safely. But the rules are only effective if they are enforced and backed-up by significant penalties. Government authorities must step up and take responsibility for regulating rogue producers and exporters and flagrant abuses of dangerous goods shipping regulations, which place aircraft and passenger safety at risk, must be criminalized.”
George A. Kerchner, Executive Director of PRBA which represents the majority of the world’s major manufacturers of lithium ion and lithium metal batteries and manufacturers of lithium battery powered products is quoted as saying “The actions of a minority threaten to undermine confidence in legitimate battery and product manufacturers. This a matter of deep concern for our members,” adding “A ban on the shipment of lithium ion batteries aboard aircraft would put lives at risk by slowing delivery of life-critical and life–enhancing medical equipment and jeopardize the security of many countries because a large number of military applications are powered by lithium batteries.”
The need for the closing of loopholes used by rogue manufacturers to disregard international regulations is a priority request of both IATA and PRBA, principally to avoid a situation where a unilateral ban on the shipment of lithium batteries as air freight becomes necessary.