BATTERY TRANSPORTATION GUIDELINES & MSDS INFORMATION
Dry Cell Batteries:
Alkaline, Carbon Zinc, Zinc Air, Silver Oxide, Nickel Cadmium, Nickel Metal Hydride.
All of our “dry cell” batteries are regulated for transportation by the US Department of Transportation (DOT) under Special Provision 130. By the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) under Special Provision A123. See below for downloadable information.
Lead Acid Batteries:
All of our lead acid batteries are unregulated by DOT for transportation by truck, rail, ocean and air transportation because they meet the requirements of 49 CFR 173.159 (d). The only transportation requirements are:
• The battery must be securely packaged in such a way to prevent the possibility of short-circuiting.
• The battery and the outer most packaging must be labeled "NONSPILLABLE" or "NONSPILLABLE BATTERY".
All of our lead acid batteries are unregulated for air transportation because they meet the requirements of Special Provision – "A67" as promulgated by the International Air Transportation Association (IATA) and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). They also meet the Vibration and Pressure Differential Tests of the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) regulations.
See below for downloadable information.
Lithium Batteries:
BR & CR Primary, Lithium-Ion, VN, VL, MT & ML Rechargeable.
All Panasonic lithium (primary and rechargeable) batteries are now subject to various transportation regulations for all modes of transportation both in the United States and around the world. Regulatory agencies governing the transportation of these batteries include the US Department of Transportation, International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), International Air Transport Association (IATA) and International Maritime Organization (IMO).
Note: All Panasonic Lithium coin & cylindrical cells included with welded tabs/terminals produced by Panasonic after March 31, 2003 use lead-free solder tinning. The tab material is Ni platted Sn. The lead free solder tinning on the tabs is Sn-3.0Ag-0.5Cu.
The CR Lithium primary coin cells contain Perchlorate over the limit specified by the state legislature of California and are therefore subject to requirements in the California Code of Regulations, title 22, division 4.5: Chapter 33 – Best Management Practices for Perchlorate Materials. http://www.dtsc.ca.gov/HazardousWaste/Perchlorate/
• Product Regulatory Notification on Perchlorate in CR Lithium primary coin cell batteries
MSDS:
Considerations
Batteries are specifically not covered by the RoHS Directive. Refer to the next paragraph below for an overview.
RoHS, Batteries and The Battery Directive
Batteries are specifically not covered by the RoHS Directive. The Technical Adaptation Committee (TAC) under the WEEE and RoHS Directives concluded in their December 17, 2003 meeting that batteries were not covered by either Directive.
Please refer to the EU Commission WEEE FAQ section 1.5 for reference:
http://www.europa.eu.int/comm/environment/waste/pdf/faq_weee.pdf.
In August 2004 the European Portable Battery Association (EPBA) published a legal opinion intended to clarify the relationship between the ROHS and WEEE Directives and the batteries used in appliances.
General Conclusions
- The marketing restriction, as provided for in the RoHS Directive, on new equipment containing mercury, lead and cadmium does not apply to batteries used with or incorporated in electrical and electronic equipment.
- The WEEE Directive applies to spent batteries collected together with WEEE and requires their removal and separate collection. Once removed from WEEE, spent batteries are governed by the Battery Directive. Therefore, batteries containing lead or cadmium, as well as button cells with a mercury content of no more than 2% by weight can be used in electrical and electronic equipment after 1 July 2006. This applies to individual cells, battery packs or batteries attached to the equipment (i.e. soldered to parts of the equipment).
While batteries and battery packs are exempt from the requirements of the RoHS Directive, we have voluntarily committed to eliminate the use of these RoHS substances from our products, except our Nickel Cadmium and Lead Acid batteries, where this is impossible because cadmium and lead are the primary metal in the electrodes.