Airlines demand clampdown on lithium batteries
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The world’s airlines are demanding stricter controls on the transportation of lithium-ion batteries, which are commonly found in electronic devices such as laptops and mobile phones.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA), which represents the majority of the world’s major carriers, has partnered with several major groups in the lithium battery supply chain to call for regulations to be tightened up.
In a joint letter to ministers of trade, industry and transport, and directors of civil aviation in the world’s largest lithium battery manufacturing and export countries, IATA and six other international bodies called for lithium battery safety regulations to be enforced at the point of origin.
The letter also called for fines and custodial sentences to be imposed on those who don’t comply with the regulations.
“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 criminalised,” said Tony Tyler, IATA’s director general & CEO.
IATA says that it has “repeatedly” called upon governments to address the issue, and to close legal loopholes that prevent prosecutions of serial offenders. Lack of enforcement is leading airlines to unilaterally ban lithium battery shipments from aircraft, which IATA says would be dangerous, as it may encourage some parties to mislabel shipments and smuggle batteries onboard.
Lithium batteries can overheat and catch fire when being transported by air, and several such incidents have already occurred. It has been suggested that such a fire could have caused the recent Egpytair crash in the Mediterranean Sea, although this has not been proven.
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