Lithium batteries are becoming more and more widely used and there are almost always strict certification and testing requirements for entering the international market for lithium batteries and related products, but each country and region has different regulatory requirements for lithium batteries. The following are the latest regulatory requirements for import and export of batteries in some countries.

A: Thailand

On 19 June 2020, Thailand TISI officially issued a notice to include mobile power into the mandatory certification list, the certification standard is TIS 2879-2560, which will take effect 150 days after the announcement and is expected to be officially implemented on 16 November 2020.

B: Korea

KC 62133-2:2020 certification standard with the official release on 21 July 2020, which means that the 2017 version of 62133 CB certificate + report can be accepted for subsequent transfer of certification.

Until 31 December 2020, the old and new KC 62133 standards are used side by side, which means that the 2012 version 62133 CB certificate can still be used to apply for a KC certificate in the second half of this year, but from 2021 onwards, the old version of KC 62133 will be cancelled and only applications for KC 62133-2:2020 certification will be accepted.

From 15 November 2020, KC will include disposable cylindrical batteries and disposable button-shaped batteries in the scope of certification control, with standards to be determined.

Samples need to be sent to a Korean laboratory for testing and are subject to safety confirmation without factory audit.

From 1 January 2021, rechargeable lithium-ion cells (energy density over 700Wh/L and charging voltage over 4.4V) used in tablets, mobile phones and laptops will also be subject to KC safety certification and require KC audit.

C: India

The Indian BIS authorities have extended the validity of Standard 16046:2015 for rechargeable batteries with alkaline or non-acidic electrolytes until 29 December 2020. Lithium batteries shipped to India after this date will be subject to the new standards IS 16046(Part 1):2018 and IS 16046(Part 2):2018.

The cells and packs need to apply for BIS and CRS certification respectively, and samples need to be sent to local laboratories for testing; when applying for pack certification, the cells should first confirm whether they have obtained CRS certification.

D: Australia

Rechargeable lithium batteries and mobile power can apply for RCM registration, which is a voluntary certification, not mandatory.

E: Saudi Arabia

Only rechargeable lithium batteries used in mobile phones need to apply for SIRC certification, which can be transferred based on IEC 62133 CB certificate + report, without certification mark.

SIRC certification is required for mobile power supplies, which can be transferred based on IEC60950-1 CB certificate + report, without certification mark. (Note: After completion of the SIRC certification for Li-ion batteries or mobile power supplies, they will need to be self-declared by the importer in the SABE system before they can be exported.)

Lithium-ion batteries (LIB) have become the main energy storage solution in modern social life. Among them, lithium iron phosphate batteries are perfect replacements for lead-acid batteries, and are even more preferred for grid-connected peaking, off-grid energy storage, photovoltaic energy storage, UPS, data centres and other industries.