UN Sub-Committee clarifies data-sharing rules for transport of electric batteries

In its recently held 60th session, the United Nations (UN) Sub-Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods adopted proposed amendments to the UN Model Regulations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods that would clarify the scope of test data sharing in the value chain. 

The Model Regulations are an effort by the UN to develop common approaches to the management of dangerous goods in transport. While not directly applicable, they seek to inform the development of national regulation. Under the Model Regulations, manufacturers and subsequent distributors have a duty to “make available” test summaries for lithium batteries or equipment containing them. 

The amendment proposal adopted by the Sub-Committee would add a note to the provision clarifying that the purpose of this requirement is to enable other actors in the supply chain to assess the compliance of the batteries. 

The Sub-Committee is a subsidiary body of the Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods and on the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals. If the amendments are adopted, they would be incorporated into upcoming revisions of the Model Regulations. After that, it would fall upon national governments to incorporate changes in their legislation.