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Environmental and materials

UN 38.3 lithium battery transport testing

Transport test requirement for lithium metal and lithium ion cells and batteries before air, sea or land shipment.

CodeUN 38.3
RegionInternational transport
TypeMandatory for shipping
Issued byUN Manual of Tests and Criteria, tested by accredited labs
Last verified2026-10-10
Quick answerCertification · last verified 2026-10-10

Transport test requirement for lithium metal and lithium ion cells and batteries before air, sea or land shipment. Status: Mandatory for shipping. Issued or recognised by UN Manual of Tests and Criteria, tested by accredited labs.

CodeUN 38.3
RegionInternational transport
TypeMandatory for shipping
Issued byUN Manual of Tests and Criteria, tested by accredited labs
GroupEnvironmental and materials
Last verified2026-10-10
How to cite this pageIoT Atlas. "UN 38.3 lithium battery transport testing". https://hi-spark.net/certification/un383.html Last verified 2026-10-10.

What it means

Shipping lithium batteries without a UN 38.3 test summary is a transport regulation violation, and carriers can refuse the shipment. The test report accompanies the battery through the supply chain, including sample shipments.

Applies to

  • Devices with lithium ion or lithium metal cells
  • Replacement battery packs
  • Prototype and sample shipments

What it does not cover

  • Battery safety certification of the finished product
  • Charging system design
  • Consumer warnings beyond transport labelling

Verification checklist

  • Test each cell and battery type as shipped
  • Hold the test summary from an accredited laboratory
  • Check state of charge and packaging rules for air transport
  • Re-test after design or supplier changes that affect the battery

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