Cells, battery packs and the rules that follow them everywhere: UN38.3 transport, IEC 62133-2, and market registrations from BIS to KC.
Lithium batteries are the component most likely to be regulated twice: once as a product in the destination market, and once as dangerous goods in transport. Projects stall when teams plan for the first and forget the second.
Cell-level and battery-level approvals are also separate deliverables. A cell certificate does not automatically cover the pack built from it, and pack makers are frequently asked for cell documentation they never requested from their supplier.
| Market | Typical requirements | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Transport (all markets) | UN38.3 test summary, packaging and marking per IATA/IMDG | Mandatory for air and sea shipment of lithium cells and batteries |
| European Union | EU Battery Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 phasing in CE requirements for batteries; IEC 62133-2 commonly referenced for safety | Also drives documentation duties for battery-containing products |
| India | BIS mandatory registration for lithium cells and batteries (IS 16046, aligned with IEC 62133-2) | Required before customs clearance |
| South Korea | KC 62133 certification for lithium cells and batteries | Separate from KC radio approval |
| China | CCC certification for lithium-ion cells/batteries, mandatory since August 2024 (GB 31241) | For the domestic China market |
If your supplier's cell reports and your pack requirements do not line up, send us what you have. We can identify which documents are missing for your destination market before the shipment is booked.
The cell is the individual electrochemical unit; the battery (or pack) is the assembled product with BMS, housing and wiring. UN38.3 and most market registrations test both levels separately - a cell report does not cover the finished pack.
No. UN38.3 is specific to lithium metal and lithium-ion cells and batteries. Other battery chemistries follow different transport rules, which is why 'battery test report' requests should always specify the chemistry.
It is a standardized summary of the UN38.3 results required by the UN Manual of Tests and Criteria. The test laboratory or manufacturer prepares it, and shippers and airlines rely on it during booking and inspection.