IATA urges action over rogue lithium-battery shippers

IATA is calling for the criminalisation of rogue lithium-battery shippers as part of moves to ensure the safe carriage of such cargo for airlines. During a media briefing on 11 May, IATA’s senior VP of airport, passenger, cargo and security, Nick Careen, identified a historical reluctance to tackle the issue of unsafe transport of lithium batteries by a minority of shippers. “Nobody has ever been held criminally responsible for all these risks that have been introduced into our supply chain by rogue shippers,” says Careen. “That has to change.” Rogue shippers need to be held accountable as part of a general tightening of regulations to minimise the risk of fires caused by lithium batteries, he argues. He says that in areas such as testing, fire suppression and containment, the sector is “lagging behind”, and appeals for greater involvement by governments and regulators in tackling the issue and for greater data-sharing. IATA will be proposing over next few weeks the formation of an industry-led group to investigate the issue. DG Willie Walsh says carriage of lithium batteries has for some time been a “challenge” for the airline industry.<br/>