Printer-Friendly Procedures for Shipping Lithium Batteries


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FedEx Express Procedures for Shipping Lithium Metal Batteries
(Primary Non-Rechargeable)

UN 3090 Under Part 1 of IATA Packing Instruction 968
(Previously Special Provision A45)

Shippers must be preapproved by FedEx Express Dangerous Goods Administration and purchase special Part 1 (A45) Exception Labels in order to ship primary lithium batteries.

Obtain Preapproval
Shippers must submit the following information to be considered by FedEx Express Dangerous Goods Administration for approval to ship primary lithium batteries.

  1. FedEx account number
  2. Company name and complete address (include country for orders outside the U.S.)
  3. Contact name and phone number (in case of questions related to the preapproval)
  4. Type of preapproval requested (Part 1 [A45], UN 3090, primary non-rechargeable lithium metal batteries)
  5. A detailed description and digital photos or diagrams of your inner packaging. Packaging must be designed to protect the battery terminals from contact with another lithium battery or cell (or metal or any item that is capable of conducting electricity) in order to prevent short-circuiting.

Submit the above information to dgadmin@fedex.com. Please allow five business days for a response from FedEx. If you are unable to send your request via e-mail, please contact the FedEx Express Dangerous Goods Administration at 1.901.4DG.SAFETY (1.901.434.7233) to discuss other means to submit your request for approval.

Purchase and Use Special Part 1 (A45) Exception Labels
You must also purchase special FedEx Express Part 1 (A45) exception labels from our approved vendor, Moore Wallace, an RR Donnelly Company. You must complete the Lithium Battery Label Order Form and Moore Wallace credit application. Fax the completed order form and credit application to the attention of Shara Watermeier and Fiona Henry at 1.901.748.2926.  

To expedite the process, please pay with a credit card, so your order can be shipped within 24 hours. To reorder exception labels, you must maintain current status on all invoices. You may be refused additional orders if your invoices are past due.

Affix a Part 1 (A45) exception label on each package that contains primary non-rechargeable lithium batteries prepared under IATA Packing Instruction 968. The portion of the label that denotes Cargo Aircraft Only (Danger) must remain on one face of the package without wrapping. Download a sample of the Part 1 (A45) exception labels (form numbers refer to the Lithium Battery Label Order Form above):