. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/TBT/N/USA/518 
12 February 2010  
 (10-0816) 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade Original:   English 
  
NOTIFICATION 
 
The following notification is being circ ulated in accordance with Article 10.6 
 
1. Member to Agreement notifying:  UNITED STATES
  
If applicable, name of local governme nt involved (Article 3.2 and 7.2):     
2. Agency responsible:  Department of Transportation (DOT), Pipeline and Hazardous 
Materials Safety Admini stration (PHMSA) (534) 
Name and address (including telephone and fax numbers, email and website 
addresses, if available) of agency or authority designated to handle comments 
regarding the notification shall be indicated if different from above :    
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [X], 2.10.1 [   ], 5.6.2 [   ], 5.7.1 [   ], other:   
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff heading. 
ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable):  Hazardous materials 
(HS:  8506, ICS: 13.300, 29.220) 
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:  Hazardous Materials: 
Transportation of Lithium Batterie s (23 pages, English)     
6. Description of content:  PHMSA, in consultation with the Federal Aviation Administration 
(FAA), is proposing to ame nd requirements in the Hazardou s Materials Regul ations (HMR) 
on the transportation of lithium cells and batt eries, including lithium cells and batteries 
packed with or contained in equipment.  The proposed changes are intended to enhance safety by ensuring that all lithium batteries are designed to withstand normal transportation 
conditions.  This would include provisions to ensure all lithium batter ies are packaged to 
reduce the possibility of damage  that could lead to a catastr ophic incident, and minimize the 
consequences of an incident.  In addition, lithium batteries would be accompanied by hazard 
communication that ensures appropriate and careful handling by air carrier personnel, 
including the flight crew, and informs both transport workers and emergency response 
personnel of actions to be taken in an emergency.  These proposa ls are largely consistent with 
changes made to the United Nations Recomme ndations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods 
(UN Recommendations) and th e International Civil Aviation Organization Technical 
Instructions on the Safe Transport of Danger ous Goods by Air (ICAO Technical Instructions) 
and respond to recommendations issued by the National Transportation Safety Board 
(NTSB). 
7. Objective and rationale, including the na ture of urgent problems where applicable:  
Protection of the environment and human life.  
8. Relevant documents:   75 Federal Register (FR) 1302, 11 January 2010; Title 49 Code of 
Federal Regulations (CFR) Parts 172, 173, 175.  Will appear in the Federal Register when 
adopted.   G/TBT/N/USA/518 
Page 2  
 
  9. Proposed date of adoption:   
Proposed date of entry into force:   }  To be determined 
10. Final date for comments:  12 March 2010 
11. Text available from: National enquiry point [X], or address, telephone and fax numbers, 
e-mail and web-site addresses, if available of the other body:   Internet URLs: 
http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/2010-281.htm  
http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-281.pdf