A message from USPS Headquarters:

Effective May 16, 2012, the Postal Service™ will revise Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®) section 601.10.20 to codify that primary lithium metal or lithium alloy (nonrechargeable) cells and batteries or secondary lithium-ion cells and bat­teries (rechargeable) are prohibited when mailed interna­tionally or to and from an APO, FPO, or DPO location. However, this prohibition does not apply to lithium batter­ies authorized under DMM 601.10.20 when mailed within the United States or its territories.

International standards have recently been the subject of discussion by the International Civil Aviation Organiza­tion (ICAO) and the Universal Postal Union (UPU), and the Postal Service anticipates that on January 1, 2013, cus­tomers will be able to mail specific quantities of lithium bat­teries internationally (including to and from an APO, FPO, or DPO location) when the batteries are properly installed in the personal electronic devices they are intended to operate.

Until such time that a less restrictive policy can be implemented consistent with international standards, and in accordance with UPU Convention, lithium batteries are not permitted in international mail. The UPU Convention and regulations are consistent with the ICAO Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air (Technical Instructions). The Technical Instructions con­cerning the Transport of Dangerous Goods by Post do not permit “dangerous goods” as defined by the ICAO Techni­cal Instructions in international mail. The prohibition on mailing lithium batteries and cells internationally also applies to mail sent by commercial air transportation to and from an APO, FPO, or DPO location.

In addition, we will revise and renumber Exhibit 601.10.20.7 to reflect “watt-hour ratings” instead of “lith­ium content” for secondary lithium-ion batteries when describing maximum quantity limits.

Finally, the Postal Service has moved the lithium battery standards as it relates to international, APO, FPO, or DPO locations, to the Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, International Mail Manual (IMM®). These standards appear in the Postal Bulletin, May 3, 2012 (22336) on pages 31–32, in the article titled “IMM Revision: Outbound International Mailings of Lithium Batteries and Other Dangerous Goods.”