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Regulation update
IATA DGR 67th Edition (2026): What Changed for Lithium Battery Air Freight
IATA updates the Dangerous Goods Regulations every year, and the 67th edition — in force from 2026 — tightened the rules for lithium batteries by air. For exporters shipping from China, the practical impact is mostly about state of charge, packaging and marking. Here is what changed and how to prepare.
By the Cargo163 operations team · Updated 2 October 2026 · 7 min read
The IATA DGR is the rulebook airlines and forwarders use to accept dangerous goods. It is updated annually, and each edition can change packing instructions, limits and documentation. Lithium batteries (Class 9) are one of the most frequently revised sections because of their fire risk in the air cargo environment.
The 67th edition continued a clear trend: stricter control of how much energy a battery carries when it flies, and tighter packaging and marking.
As with all dangerous-goods rules, the exact requirements depend on the battery, packing instruction, airline and destination — and operators apply their own variations. Confirm the current edition and rules for your specific shipment before booking.
State of charge
The state-of-charge (SoC) limit
The headline change shippers feel is the state of charge limit. Under the current DGR, certain lithium-ion batteries offered for air transport — most notably loose cells and batteries under UN3480 — are subject to a maximum state of charge, commonly expressed as no more than 30% of their rated capacity.
The reason is safety: a battery at lower charge holds less available energy, which reduces the severity of a thermal event if a fault occurs in flight. Reports from the industry in 2026 note that cargo presenting above the limit can be refused at acceptance or returned.
Batteries contained in or packed with equipment are handled under different provisions. The applicable rule depends on the configuration — confirm per shipment.
What this means in practice
- Ship loose Li-ion (UN3480) at ≤30% SoC where required
- Have the SoC figure ready to declare
- Don't assume "it shipped last time" — acceptance is per shipment
- Confirm the airline's and destination's current rules
Packaging & marking
Packaging and marking updates
The 67th edition also touched packaging and marking expectations for lithium batteries. In practice, compliant shipments still need:
Correct labels & marks
Class 9 lithium battery label and the lithium battery mark, applied per the applicable configuration.
Accurate documents
UN38.3 summary, MSDS/SDS and a dangerous goods declaration that match the actual cargo.
Marking and labelling details have been a focus of recent editions — using the correct label and mark for the exact UN entry and packing instruction is essential to avoid rejection at acceptance.
Who's affected
Who is most affected
The SoC and packaging changes bite hardest for:
- Loose lithium-ion cells and battery packs (UN3480) — e-bike, scooter, ESS and standalone packs
- High-watt-hour products where charge and quantity limits apply
- Exporters shipping by air into markets with strict airline acceptance
Products with batteries contained in equipment (UN3481) are often simpler, but still need correct marking and documentation.
What China exporters should do now
- Confirm your battery's UN entry and packing instruction
- Prepare the UN38.3 summary and MSDS/SDS up front
- Ship loose Li-ion at the required SoC
- Use correct Class 9 labels and lithium marks
- Send specs to your forwarder before booking, not at the counter
Shipping batteries under the new DGR?
Send your battery specs and destination — we check the current requirements and book a compliant air route.
Related reading: Battery Shipping from China · State of Charge (SoC) explained · UN38.3 Test Explained · Class 9 Labels & Marks · All guides
Note: The IATA DGR is updated annually and operators apply state and operator variations. Figures such as the 30% state-of-charge limit apply to specific configurations and can change between editions. This article summarises publicly reported changes to the 67th edition and is general guidance only — always confirm the current DGR edition and the airline's and destination's requirements for your actual shipment.