ICAO REJECTS BAN ON LITHIUM BATTERIES IN PASSENGER JETS

November 30, 2015

In an 11-7 vote, an International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) panel voted down a ban on lithium battery shipments in the cargo holds of passenger planes, despite the support of the United States, China, Brazil and other countries and groups.  The U.S. had recently taken its first-ever official position on the issue and supported a ban on shipments in the cargo holds of passenger aircraft.  Because the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is statutorily barred from adopting more stringent lithium battery regulations than ICAO, the FAA finds itself in a bind.  However, dozens of U.S. and foreign air carriers have voluntarily stopped carrying lithium battery shipments in the cargo holds of passenger flights.

If you have any questions, please contact Evelyn Sahr (esahr@eckertseamans.com, 202-659-6622) or Drew Derco (dderco@eckertseamans.com, 202-659-6665).

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