Which regulatory bodies apply to international air shipments of lithium batteries?

• A. OSHA and DOT.
• B. The carrier's internal compliance team.
• C. IATA DGR or ICAO TI requirements for air shipments.
• D. Local city ordinances only.

Answer: (C)

International air shipments of lithium batteries are governed by aviation-specific dangerous goods rules. The key authorities are the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR), which airlines rely on for all air shipments, and the ICAO Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air, which provide the technical basis for those rules. Together, they specify how lithium batteries are classified (lithium-ion and lithium metal), how they must be packaged and labeled, what documentation is required, and any limits such as state of charge or energy content. National civil aviation authorities enforce these standards, and many countries implement them in line with IATA and ICAO to ensure safe cross-border air transport.

OSHA and DOT govern domestic U.S. transport and workplace safety, not international air shipments. A carrier’s internal compliance team helps implement regulations but isn’t a regulatory body. Local city ordinances don’t control international air shipments either.