Can my supplier ship a sample to me by air with batteries?

Small sample shipments (under 2 batteries, under Section II thresholds) are allowed by courier under PI 967 II. Always ask the supplier to confirm the courier will accept before they ship.

Do I need UN 38.3 for AA alkaline batteries?

No — UN 38.3 applies only to lithium cells. Alkaline, NiMH, and lead-acid have different (generally lighter) rules.

Lithium Battery Shipping Regulations — US & International Rules

Lithium batteries are among the most heavily regulated goods in international shipping. Get the paperwork wrong and your container sits at origin until it's fixed — we've seen 3-week delays from a missing shipping mark. Every seller of consumer electronics should understand the basics.

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UN 38.3 testing — the foundation

Every lithium cell or battery shipped internationally must pass UN 38.3 — a battery of tests covering altitude, thermal shock, vibration, impact, short circuit, overcharge, and forced discharge. Your supplier provides the test summary. Without it, the battery can't legally move.

You don't run the tests yourself. You request the UN 38.3 Test Summary (T1–T8) from your supplier. The 2020 update requires a specific summary document format. If your supplier sends a generic certificate, push back.

IATA Packaging Instructions (PI) — air freight

Air freight uses IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations. The relevant instructions:

PI 965 — standalone lithium-ion batteries (not in equipment). Strictly regulated; most passenger-aircraft restrictions apply.
PI 966 — lithium-ion batteries packed with equipment (e.g., spare batteries in the box).
PI 967 — lithium-ion batteries contained in equipment (the most common case for consumer electronics).
PI 968–970 — equivalent instructions for lithium-metal batteries.

Watt-hour thresholds that matter

Cells ≤ 20 Wh and batteries ≤ 100 Wh face the least restriction and ship under PI 967 Section II with minimal paperwork (a shipper's declaration is still required for some carriers).

Above 100 Wh you are in full DGR territory — you need a trained dangerous-goods shipper, proper UN packaging, and carrier pre-approval. Power banks often cross this line.

Ocean and ground

Ocean shipment follows IMDG Code. Ground US shipment follows 49 CFR via DOT. Rules are less strict than air but still require proper Class 9 markings (UN3480 / UN3481 / UN3090 / UN3091) and SDS sheets.

Most Amazon FBA sellers ship ocean for bulk and accept longer transit times to avoid the complexity of air-freight DG filing.

Frequently asked questions

Can my supplier ship a sample to me by air with batteries?: Small sample shipments (under 2 batteries, under Section II thresholds) are allowed by courier under PI 967 II. Always ask the supplier to confirm the courier will accept before they ship.
Do I need UN 38.3 for AA alkaline batteries?: No — UN 38.3 applies only to lithium cells. Alkaline, NiMH, and lead-acid have different (generally lighter) rules.

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