BP024 (With effect from 1 Jan 2026) ^{ISSUED (22 Dec 2025)}

HAFFA and the CLG-DGWG remain at the forefront to introduce DG Best Practice to the Hong Kong air cargo industry in response to the latest changes in the requirement of consigning lithium batteries under the 67th Edition IATA DGR (2026) (with effect from 01 January 2026), and the increasing local/global dangerous goods safety concern. We worked together to provide an updated version of the Best Practice (BP) with operational guidance for Members, airlines and the industry. Please note the number of best practice is now changed from "BP023" to "BP024" to avoid confusion in the market. That means, “Best Practice BP024” will replace “BP023” with effect from 1 Jan 2026.  

Please note the best practice is jointly issued by HAFFA and the CLG-DGWG for industry reference only. Shippers and freight forwarders are required to follow the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations, requirement of the HKCAD and the requirement of individual carriers for the air carriage of shipments containing lithium batteries at all times.

Please find below the major changes of the BP024 for your easy reference:

Subject

•        Subtitle Added: “Transport of Lithium Ion, Lithium Metal and Sodium Ion Batteries”

Important Notes

•        Points Added: “and PI 976, Section I and II of PI 977 and PI978 batteries manufactured after 31 December 2025 must be marked with the watt-hour rating on the outside case. (67th Edition of IATA DGR: PI965, PI966, PI967, PI976, PI977 and PI978)”

Part 1 – Classification – Lithium Ion Batteries (Rechargeable) / Sodium Ion Batteries (Rechargeable)

•        Title Updated: “Classification - Lithium Ion Batteries & Lithium Metal Batteries” has been replaced by “Classification - Lithium Ion Batteries, Lithium Metal Batteries and Sodium ion Batteries”.

Classification – Lithium Ion Batteries (Rechargeable)

•        Points amended under the graphic in the centre

PI 966 Section I: Batteries must be limited to a maximum of 30% SoC.

PI 966 Section II: Batteries over 2.7 Wh must be limited to a maximum of 30% SoC; batteries ≤ 2.7 Wh recommended to have the SoC not exceeding 30%.

PI 967 Section I & Section II: Recommended to have SoC not exceeding 30% or an indicated battery capacity not exceeding 25%

Classification - Sodium Ion Batteries (Rechargeable)

•         New Added Part

Part 2 – Documentation / Packaging & Labelling / Packing Requirements

Documentation

•       UN3551 & UN3552:

New Added Part

•       UN3552:

Item added under UN3481, UN3091 & UN3552 Section I

2. Cargo Aircraft Only or CAO (if applicable)

Item added under UN3481, UN3091 & UN3552 Section II

Sodium ion batteries in compliance with section II of PI977 / 978

Item amended under UN3481, UN3091 & UN3552 Section II

*Where packages of Section II lithium or sodium ion batteries from multiple packing instructions are included one airwaybill, the compliance statement for the different battery types and/or packing instructions may be combined into a single statement provided that the statement identifies the applicable battery type(s) and packing instruction numbers.

Packaging & Labelling

•       UN3551 & UN3552:

New Added Part

•       UN3552:

Item amended under UN3481, UN3091 & UN3552 Section I

“PI966 & PI9692” has been replaced by “PI966, PI969 & PI9772”

“PI967 & PI970” has been replaced by “PI967, PI970 & PI978”

Item amended under UN3481, UN3091 & UN3552 Section II

“PI966 & PI969” has been replaced by “PI966, PI969 & PI977”

•       Footnote 2: Added PI977

Packaging Requirements

•       UN3551 & UN3552:

New Added Part

•       UN3552:

Item amended under UN3481, UN3091 & UN3552 Section II

For UN 3481 & UN 3091, when a package contains a combination of lithium batteries packed with equipment (PI 966 / PI 969) and lithium batteries contained in equipment (PI 967 / PI 970), please refer SP A181 for details.

Part 3 – Lithium Batteries or Sodium Ion Batteries Hazard Label and Battery Mark

•       Title Updated: “Lithium Battery Hazard Label and Battery Mark” has been replaced by “Classification - Lithium Ion Batteries, Lithium Metal Batteries and Sodium ion Batteries”.

Battery mark for Section IB and II

•        Title Updated: “Class 9 Lithium Battery Hazard Label for Section I, IA and IB” has been replaced by “Lithium Batteries or Sodium Ion Batteries Hazard Label”.

Part 5 - Shipper’s Letter of Instruction (SLI)

•        “The type of cells or batteries: Lithium ion cells / Lithium ion batteries / Lithium metal cells / Lithium metal batteries” has been replaced by “The type of cells or batteries: Lithium ion cells / Lithium ion batteries / Lithium metal cells / Lithium metal batteries/ Sodium ion cells/ Sodium ion batteries”.

•        Items added under “The relevant Packing Instruction”: PI976/ PI977/PI978

Part 6 – Case Sharing

•       Updated cases.

Part 7 – Vehicles powered by batteries (PI 952)

•        “Other Recommended Practice” has been replaced by “Vehicles powered by batteries”.

Part 8 – Un/Mis-declared lithium battery incidents summary (ex-HKG Jan 2019-May 2025)

•       Figures updated from ex-HKG 2019-2024 to ex-HKG Jan 2019-May 2025.

•    Items Updated under: “Shipment containing un/mis-declared lithium           battery - examples of goods description on Air Waybill.”

[Download here]

For BP023, please Download here.

- White paper “Make Lithium Batteries Safe to Ship" of the IATA DGR ^{NEW (25 Oct 2023)}

[Download here] 

- Guidance Document for Lithium Batteries (2023)

[Download here] 

IATA Dangerous Goods Regulation (DGR)

- Significant changes to the 67th edition (2026) of the IATA DGR ^{NEW (22 Sep 2025)}

[Download here]

- Significant changes to the 66th edition (2025) of the IATA DGR ^{NEW (05 Sep 2024)}

[Download here]

- Significant changes to the 65th edition (2024) of the IATA DGR ^{NEW (20 Dec 2023)}

[Download here]

- Significant changes to the 64th edition (2023) of the IATA DGR 

[Download here]

“Case Sharing for “Solar Street Light” Shipment”  新危險品最佳指引 - 「太陽能路燈」最佳指引 ^{ISSUED (01 Jun 2021)}

Recently a mis-declared Lithium Battery RLI shipment had been intercepted during Air-waybill acceptance with the AWB commodity name “Solar Street Light” Shipment” 太陽能路燈, declared under UN3481 PI967 Section II ELI.  It was later found that one large batteries pack installed in equipment which is over 260Wh and therefore should be classified as RLI UN3481 Section I. 

It is noted that some airlines may now request for more information (see details in the Best Practice) and will ask for further verification for any shipment declared “Solar Street Light” or similar declaration as PI966/967 Section II.  Or else, the shipment and/or the related ULD will be held at CTO after clarification while forwarder may also be requested to come to CTO for open box inspection if deemed necessary. 

In this regard, Freight Forwarders and/or Shippers are highly recommended to contact the individual airlines to check their latest requirements and/or pre-arrangement if required, and to be vigilant when accepting lithium battery equipment shipment and comply to latest IATA DG regulation. 

Please note the Case Sharing is jointly issued by the CLG-DGWG and HAFFA for industry reference only. Shippers and freight forwarders shall always follow the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations, requirement of the HKCAD and the requirement of individual carriers for the air carriage of shipments containing lithium batteries at all times.

[Download here]