Lithium Battery Mark Labeling: What Shippers Need to Know before 2027

Stay Compliant and Avoid Shipping Disruptions

If your business ships lithium batteries, proper labeling is not optional; it is a critical requirement. Incorrect or outdated labels can lead to shipment delays, carrier rejections, and regulatory penalties.

With an important regulatory change taking effect in 2027, now is the time to verify your labels and your processes are up to date.

Current Lithium Battery Mark Requirements

To remain compliant, your lithium battery mark must include:

• Red hatched border with a minimum width of 5 mm
• Minimum size: 100 mm × 100 mm which may be reduced to 100 mm × 70 mm for smaller packages
• Battery symbol: Black icon with flames in the upper half
• UN number: The correct UN identification number

These elements help identify lithium battery shipments correctly and keep them safely handled throughout transport.

What’s Changing in 2027?

Effective January 1, 2027, contact telephone numbers are no longer allowed inside the lithium battery mark. This change aligns international and U.S. hazardous materials regulations and simplifies label requirements.

Figure 1: Example (UN3481) Lithium Battery Mark without Contact Number

What This Means For You:

• Remove any phone numbers from inside lithium battery mark
• Use updated labels that display only the battery symbol and UN number
• Review your packaging inventory and labeling workflows

New Label with Emergency Phone Number Outside of Mark

CHEMTREC has created a new compliant lithium battery label that customers may use. The updated label allows you to continue displaying the CHEMTREC number for these shipments while remaining compliant.

Figure 2: (UN3481) Lithium Battery Mark with CHEMTREC Number Outside Mark 

Figure 3: (UN3481) Lithium Battery Mark with CHEMTREC Number Outside Mark Alternative Placement

Why use this label:

• Direct questions to CHEMTREC first, so we can help handle calls from customers or handlers who may be confused about what is in the package, why it has a lithium battery label, and whether it is safe to handle
• Clearly identify the contact number so it can be easily recognized during an emergency

If you use a CHEMTREC emergency response number, display it outside the mark using the approved CHEMTREC format. Our approved label supplier, LabelMaster, can supply you with this new label design.

Transition Timeline

Understanding the regulatory timeline is essential for maintaining compliance:

• January 1, 2023 – International regulations removed the phone number requirement from the Lithium Battery Mark
• May 10, 2024 – U.S. domestic regulations aligned with international standards
• December 31, 2026 – Transition period ends; older labels with phone numbers will no longer be accepted after this date

Best Practices for Shippers

Although phone numbers are being removed from the mark, emergency contact information is still required on shipping documentation and safety data sheets [see our post The Lithium Battery Mark Changed—Your Compliance Obligations Didn’t for more information]. CHEMTREC suggests updating your lithium battery mark label and including the emergency phone number outside of the mark.

How CHEMTREC Can Help

CHEMTREC supports shippers with:

• Emergency response information services
• Regulatory guidance and best practices
• Safety Data Sheets (SDS)
• Hazmat training courses, including General, Safety & Security Awareness and Shipping Lithium Batteries & Cells

If you have any questions, please contact us at sales@chemtrec.com.

For approved Battery Mark labels, please visit LabelMaster for purchase new CHEMTREC battery mark labels in November.