A partnership between four organizations is seeking to ensure the safe transportation of lithium batteries by air.
Each year, consumer demand for lithium batteries grows 17 percent. The number of undeclared or misdeclared lithium batteries at airports has also increased.
The safety campaign is a collaboration between the International Air Cargo Association, the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations, the Global Shippers Forum, and the International Air Transport Association.
The campaign will focus on three initiatives.
An information-sharing platform aims to cut down on the number of misdeclared lithium batteries. The platform will work in conjunction with a reporting system to identify and stop acts of deliberate concealment or misdeclaration.
A series of dangerous-goods awareness seminars will be held globally as well as an education and awareness program for customs authorities developed in collaboration with the World Customs Organization.
The partners support the UN’s International Civil Aviation Organization call for the adoption of an approach that includes aviation security, manufacturing standards, customs, and consumer protection agencies.
Governments must play a role in enforcing stricter international regulations, the partners caution, to eliminate counterfeit batteries and mislabeled and noncompliant shipments. Governments should issue and enforce criminal penalties, such as fines, on those responsible, the partners said.