Flexport is now accepting products into our network that contain small lithium metal and lithium ion batteries installed in the device (AA & AAA batteries are okay to inbound without this approval process - Please ensure they are sufficiently packaged and protected). In order to inbound these products into the network, the products:
- must meet a certain criteria,
- must be flagged in the Flexport portal as hazardous prior to inbounding, and
- the required documents (MSDS and UN Test Summary Documents) must be approved by Flexport before you create and send in an inbound shipment that includes these types of products.
In this article you’ll find the detailed product requirements as well as the instructions to flag products as containing a battery and upload the required documentation. Inbounding battery products without providing this flagging will result in a $0.50 per unit noncompliance penalty.
Orders including battery products will incur a $0.11 per unit surcharge.
Sellers have the liability and obligation to properly label items as having lithium batteries. Sellers assumes all risk and harm if it violates the requirements of this policy, and Flexport is not liable under any claims to the extent this policy is not followed.
Product Requirements:
- The battery is installed in the device and falls under one of the following categories:
- UN 3481, PI966 Section II, Lithium Ion Batteries / Cells
- Cells equal to or less than 20Wh; Batteries equal to or less than 100Wh
- UN 3091, PI969 Section II, Lithium Metal Batteries / Cells
- Cells equal to or less than 1g; Batteries equal to or less than 2g
- UN 3481, PI966 Section II, Lithium Ion Batteries / Cells
- The product can be shipped by air
- The product can be stored at room temperature
- The product does not require special handling equipment
- The MSDS has not expired
- The product cannot have a replacement value of $300 or more per item
Batteries must be packaged as per the guidelines below.
Alkaline Batteries / Dry Cell Batteries
For AA/AAA/C/D dry cell batteries not exceeding 9V, inbound approval and MSDS documents are not required, but it is required to prepare products containing these types of batteries.
Acceptable #1: All terminals must have a hard plastic wrap.
Acceptable #2: If the batteries are within the device, there is a pull tab to deactivate batteries from a complete circuit.
Documentation Requirements:
Products that fall under the approved UN categories will require the most up to date MSDS and UN Test Summary Documents be uploaded into the the Portal for approval prior to the product being inbounded to Flexport (continue reading this article for instructions to upload these documents).
Products containing batteries (or any hazardous products) that arrive at the fulfillment centers without prior approval will be considered non-compliant, will be returned to you at your cost (potentially disposed of), and the related restricted item non-compliant fees will apply.
Inbound Packaging & Label Requirements:
Products must be completely enclosed in inner packaging then placed in a strong rigid outer packaging. The products must be secured against any movement within the outer packaging and must be equipped with an effective means of preventing accidental activation. The required lithium battery labels are required on the outside packaging of all inbounds containing products with batteries. All inbound shipments must be in accordance with ICAO/IATA, as well as with applicable conditions and limitations of 49 CFR.
Flagging a Product as Hazardous & Uploading Documentation:
Navigate to the Inventory page in the Flexport Portal. Use the search bar to search for the hazardous product and click the title of the product to be directed to the product details page:
In the middle of the page, you’ll see a panel called “Batteries”. Click the toggle in this panel to flag the product as containing a battery. When the button turns green, you’ll see a drop down menu:
Use the drop down menu to select the UN Number associated with the product - Flexport is only accepting products that fall under UN 3481 and UN 3091. Once you’ve selected a UN Number from the drop down menu, you’ll be able to click the “Upload Docs” Button:
When you click the “Upload Docs” button you’ll see a pop up screen labeled “List of supporting documents”. Click the “Upload MSDS Document” button to upload your MSDS document. Then, click the “Upload UN Test Summary” button to upload your Test Summary Document:
If you upload one document, but do not upload the other document (e.g. the MSDS Document has been uploaded but the UN Test Summary document has not been uploaded), the status will read “Pending” and the top banner will state which document needs to be uploaded before the documents will be sent for review:
Once you’ve uploaded both the MSDS and UN Test Summary documents, you’ll see that there is a “Pending” status on the product. The product will stay in this state until a member of the Flexport team reviews the documents and either approves or rejects the product. You should expect this status to update within 2-4 calendar days of uploading your documents.
If your product is not approved to be inbounded, the status will read “Rejected”. You’ll see a reason code for the rejection in the top banner of the product details page.
If you accidentally uploaded the incorrect documentation, you can re-upload a document by clicking the “View Docs” button, then clicking the “upload” icon. If you upload new documents the status will read pending and the documents will go through the approval process again.
If your product was rejected and you believe there has been a mistake, please contact the Flexport support team.
If your product is approved, the status will read “Approved”. Now you’re ready to create an inbound!
Note: Lithium battery products are not fully enabled to ship to all international locations. Flexport can only ship lithium battery products to Canada at this time.