1、 Basic knowledge of lithium batteries
1. What are the common types of lithium batteries?
Answer: Lithium batteries can be divided into two categories based on their working principles: firstly, batteries using manganese dioxide as the positive electrode material, metal lithium or its alloy metal as the negative electrode material, and batteries using non-aqueous electrolyte solutions are lithium metal batteries; The second is to use lithium alloy metal oxide as the positive electrode material, graphite as the negative electrode material, and lithium-ion batteries that use non-aqueous electrolytes.
2. What are the common UN dangerous goods numbers for lithium batteries?
Answer: According to the United Nations' Model Regulations and Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods (TDG), different United Nations numbers (UN numbers) have been assigned to various dangerous goods according to their hazardous characteristics and regulatory requirements. Lithium batteries are mainly divided into three categories based on their working principles and transportation methods:
(1) Lithium batteries are transported separately: they can be divided into two categories: lithium metal batteries and lithium-ion batteries, corresponding to UN codes UN3090 and UN3480, respectively.
(2) It is a lithium battery installed in the device: also according to the two categories of lithium metal batteries and lithium-ion batteries, corresponding to the UN codes UN3091 and UN3481, respectively.
(3) Lithium battery powered vehicles or self-propelled devices, such as common electric vehicles, electric bicycles, balance vehicles, electric wheelchairs, etc., correspond to UN codes UN3171, UN3556, UN3557, etc. (the UN codes for lithium battery vehicles are currently being adjusted).
2、 Legal and regulatory requirements
1. What are the domestic and foreign regulations and standards related to the regulation of lithium batteries?
Answer: (1) It is an international regulatory requirement. Including international freight regulations such as the United Nations' Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods - Model Regulations (TDG), the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code (IMDG Code), and the Technical Code for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air (ICAO TI), lithium batteries belong to Class 9 dangerous goods. Unless exempted from the use of dangerous goods packaging, lithium batteries should be transported using dangerous goods packaging that meets international regulatory requirements.
(2) It is a requirement of domestic laws and regulations. According to the relevant provisions of the Import and Export Commodity Inspection Law of the People's Republic of China, lithium battery packaging production enterprises need to apply to the local customs for the performance inspection of dangerous goods packaging. After passing the inspection, the customs will issue the "Export Dangerous Goods Packaging Performance Inspection Result Form". Lithium battery enterprises need to purchase corresponding hazardous goods packaging from packaging production enterprises that can provide the "Export Dangerous Goods Packaging Performance Inspection Results Form" before exporting. After the lithium battery packaging is completed, apply to the local customs for the identification of the use of dangerous goods packaging. After passing the identification, the customs will issue the "Export Dangerous Goods Packaging Use Identification Result Form", commonly known as the "Dangerous Goods Certificate".
3、 Regulatory requirements for exporting lithium batteries
1. What are the conditions for exempting lithium batteries from the "hazardous packaging certificate"?
Answer: According to international regulations, there are two main situations where the export of lithium batteries is exempt from the "hazardous packaging certificate":
(1) It is a lithium battery used in electric vehicles, electric bicycles, and other vehicles, which is exempt from the packaging requirements for dangerous goods.
(2) A lithium battery with a rated capacity or lithium content less than a specific value. For lithium metal batteries or lithium alloy batteries, the lithium content shall not exceed 1 gram, and for lithium metal or lithium alloy battery packs, the total lithium content shall not exceed 2 grams. For lithium-ion batteries, the watt-hour ratio shall not exceed 20Wh, and for lithium-ion battery packs, the watt-hour ratio shall not exceed 100Wh.
On the basis of meeting the corresponding provisions of Article 188 of the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code, the above-mentioned batteries are exempt from the packaging requirements for dangerous goods.
It is particularly important to note that this exemption only exempts the "hazardous package certificate", but the outer packaging of lithium batteries still needs to indicate the watt-hour ratio and be marked with appropriate lithium battery markings.
2. What are the requirements for the supervision of lithium battery export ports?
Answer: Lithium batteries are exported at the port of export, and the port customs will verify the "hazardous package certificate" issued by the local customs, mainly verifying whether the information on the exported lithium battery "hazardous package certificate" matches the actual goods, including packaging type, UN mark, lithium battery mark, actual export quantity, etc.
From the common violations of exporting lithium batteries, it was found that the main problem was: failing to apply for a "hazardous packaging certificate" as required without meeting the exemption conditions, and failing to provide the corresponding "hazardous packaging certificate" during the port inspection process. In addition, some lithium battery labels on the outer packaging are covered or not marked as required.
The above content is sourced from the Customs Assistant
