Amazon UK tightens air-shipping rules for lithium-ion battery products from 2026
Sellers must share new battery details and limit charge levels to keep FBA items eligible for air transport
Amazon UK has announced a new safety requirement for products that ship with lithium-ion batteries and are transported by air through Fulfilment by Amazon. The change, published as a news update on Seller Central, brings Amazon’s policies in line with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) rules designed to reduce fire risks linked to lithium batteries in air cargo.
The new rules take effect from 1 January 2026, but Amazon is asking sellers to submit the required battery information by 31 December 2025. Sellers who act early will be better placed to avoid disruption to Prime-style fast delivery and cross-country inventory transfers.
What is changing from 1 January 2026
According to the announcement on Seller Central, Amazon will update its requirements for products that are packaged with lithium-ion batteries and shipped by air.
Key points from the update are:
1. The change applies to products that are packaged with lithium-ion batteries and shipped by air via FBA.
2. The policy is being revised to align with ICAO air safety standards.
3. If Amazon cannot confirm that a product meets the new battery rules, that ASIN will only be moved by ground transport until further notice.
This could affect a wide range of catalogues, including electronics, tools, toys, personal care devices and any item that includes a rechargeable battery.
Deadline for submitting battery information
Amazon has set a clear timeline for compliance.
1. By 31 December 2025: Sellers must provide accurate and complete battery compliance information in Seller Central for all affected products.
2. From 1 January 2026: Amazon will apply the updated requirements to air shipments. Products without sufficient information will not be shipped by air.
The announcement stresses that providing correct and complete data is part of the Business Solutions Agreement and is mandatory for all affected listings.
State-of-charge limit for lithium-ion batteries above 2.7 Wh
The most technical part of the update is the new state-of-charge rule. Amazon states that:
1. For products packed with lithium-ion batteries that have a watt-hour (Wh) rating above 2.7 Wh, the battery must be at a state of charge of 30 percent or less when shipped by air.
2. If Amazon cannot verify that this requirement is met, the product will only travel by ground transport.
This 30 percent state-of-charge limit reflects broader ICAO and IATA guidance for air transport of lithium-ion batteries, which aims to reduce the risk of thermal runaway and fire in cargo holds.
For sellers, this means working closely with suppliers, manufacturers and logistics partners to ensure that batteries are shipped at or below 30 percent charge and that this is properly documented in the supply chain.
Also Read: Amazon Announces 2026 Fee Changes for Sellers: What You Need to Know
Existing lithium battery rules still apply
The new requirement sits on top of existing lithium battery regulations on Amazon. Sellers must continue to follow current policies, which include:
1. Providing detailed dangerous goods (hazmat) information when listing products on FBA, including whether the item contains or is packed with lithium batteries.
2. Ensuring that lithium battery manufacturers and distributors provide a UN 38.3 lithium battery test summary, as required globally since 2020, for batteries and products containing lithium batteries.
3. Respecting Amazon Global Logistics restrictions, which already limit the types of lithium batteries that can be shipped internationally as dangerous goods.
Who is affected
The update is particularly important for:
1. Electronics brands and private-label sellers offering laptops, tablets, smartphones, cameras, wearables and audio devices.
2. Home and personal care brands selling rechargeable trimmers, toothbrushes, shavers and similar products.
3. Tools and DIY categories with cordless power tools and battery packs.
4. Toys, hobby and sports products that use rechargeable power, such as drones, RC cars and e-scooter parts.
Any UK-based seller using FBA for products that include rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, whether the battery is built-in or packed with the product, should review their catalog immediately.
What Amazon UK sellers should do now
To prepare for the 2026 change and avoid last-minute issues, Amazon sellers can take the following practical steps:
1. Audit your catalog
Identify all ASINs that contain or are packaged with lithium-ion batteries. Focus first on higher-capacity items such as laptops, power tools, drones and large battery packs. Use your existing hazmat classifications and any internal product master data to create a list.
2. Collect technical data from suppliers
Request full battery specifications from manufacturers, including:
– Watt-hour rating (Wh) for each battery.
– Confirmation of UN 38.3 test summary availability.
– Recommended shipping state of charge for air transport.
3. Plan how to meet the 30 percent state-of-charge rule
Work with your logistics partners and 3PLs to ensure that batteries above 2.7 Wh are charged to 30 percent or less before being shipped to Amazon. Ask suppliers whether they can ship at 30 percent SoC from the factory and provide proof or certificates if needed.
4. Update battery compliance answers in Seller Central
When listing or relisting affected products for FBA, complete all battery compliance questions in the listing workflow. This includes confirming whether the product contains lithium batteries, the type of battery, its watt-hour rating and other safety details.
5. Monitor hazmat reviews and shipment status
Some ASINs may go through Amazon’s dangerous goods review process. Keep an eye on notifications and performance alerts, and respond quickly if Amazon requests additional documentation or clarification.
6. Consider delivery promise and pricing impact
If a product is limited to ground transport, it may no longer qualify for the fastest delivery options in some regions. This can affect Buy Box performance and conversion. Sellers should factor potential changes in shipping speed into pricing, advertising and inventory planning.
Why Amazon is tightening lithium battery rules
Lithium-ion batteries can overheat, catch fire or explode if they are damaged, improperly packed or shipped at a high state of charge. Aviation regulators and industry bodies have flagged lithium batteries as a key cargo safety risk for many years, leading to progressively stricter rules on how they can be transported by air.
By aligning with ICAO’s 30 percent state-of-charge framework and asking for more precise data from sellers, Amazon aims to:
1. Reduce the likelihood of incidents in air cargo.
2. Ensure compliance with international regulations across all carriers and routes.
3. Protect staff, customers and infrastructure.
For sellers, these changes may feel like an extra layer of paperwork and process, but they are also a signal that regulators and marketplaces are watching lithium battery safety very closely.
Amazon UK’s new requirement for products with lithium-ion batteries shipped by air is a significant update for FBA sellers but also a clear, predictable one. From 1 January 2026, products packed with lithium-ion batteries above 2.7 Wh must be shipped at 30 percent or less state of charge, and sellers must provide complete battery compliance information in Seller Central by 31 December 2025 to keep these items eligible for air transport.
Sellers who treat this as an opportunity to clean up their data, tighten coordination with suppliers and formalise battery safety processes will be better positioned to maintain fast delivery promises, avoid unexpected shipping restrictions and stay compliant as air-transport rules continue to evolve.
Also Read: Amazon extends return window for holiday purchases until January 31
Disclaimer:
Amazon is the registered trademark of the e-commerce brand.
About ChannelMAX.NET:
ChannelMAX offers Amazon Repricer that runs on the latest AI Repricing agents to do Amazon Pricing Management or Amazon Repricing. Based on Amazon SP API, the repricing engine or repricer runs 24/7 and efficiently manages Amazon prices to maximize your BuyBox with profit optimization. Established in 2005, ChannelMAX has been integrated with Amazon technology since 2007, helping thousands of third-party sellers on various eCommerce platforms. Some of the eCommerce platforms, aka marketplaces, supported by ChannelMAX.NET, are Amazon, Walmart, eBay, and Shopify. Some of ChannelMAX key offerings include ChannelMAX Amazon Repricer, 2ndly, ChannelMAX Amazon FBA Audits and FBA Refunds management, an offering for managing Amazon FBA Refunds Reimbursement management for lost or damaged or misplaced inventory for which Amazon is responsible and for which sellers deserve appropriate credit reimbursement from Amazon. ChannelMAX Services offer Remote (aka Virtual) Full-Time eCommerce Assistant to help 3P sellers run their daytoday business.
Check ChannelMAX at Amazon Selling Partner Appstore, an application with a 5 star rating.
By ChannelMAX Staff Writer
Nov-2025#17
Amazon UK has announced a new safety requirement for products that ship with lithium-ion batteries and are transported by air through Fulfilment by Amazon. The change, published as a news update on Seller Central, brings Amazon’s policies in line with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) rules designed to reduce fire risks linked to lithium batteries in air cargo.
The new rules take effect from 1 January 2026, but Amazon is asking sellers to submit the required battery information by 31 December 2025. Sellers who act early will be better placed to avoid disruption to Prime-style fast delivery and cross-country inventory transfers.
What is changing from 1 January 2026
According to the announcement on Seller Central, Amazon will update its requirements for products that are packaged with lithium-ion batteries and shipped by air.
Key points from the update are:
1. The change applies to products that are packaged with lithium-ion batteries and shipped by air via FBA.
2. The policy is being revised to align with ICAO air safety standards.
3. If Amazon cannot confirm that a product meets the new battery rules, that ASIN will only be moved by ground transport until further notice.
This could affect a wide range of catalogues, including electronics, tools, toys, personal care devices and any item that includes a rechargeable battery.
Deadline for submitting battery information
Amazon has set a clear timeline for compliance.
1. By 31 December 2025: Sellers must provide accurate and complete battery compliance information in Seller Central for all affected products.
2. From 1 January 2026: Amazon will apply the updated requirements to air shipments. Products without sufficient information will not be shipped by air.
The announcement stresses that providing correct and complete data is part of the Business Solutions Agreement and is mandatory for all affected listings.
State-of-charge limit for lithium-ion batteries above 2.7 Wh
The most technical part of the update is the new state-of-charge rule. Amazon states that:
1. For products packed with lithium-ion batteries that have a watt-hour (Wh) rating above 2.7 Wh, the battery must be at a state of charge of 30 percent or less when shipped by air.
2. If Amazon cannot verify that this requirement is met, the product will only travel by ground transport.
This 30 percent state-of-charge limit reflects broader ICAO and IATA guidance for air transport of lithium-ion batteries, which aims to reduce the risk of thermal runaway and fire in cargo holds.
For sellers, this means working closely with suppliers, manufacturers and logistics partners to ensure that batteries are shipped at or below 30 percent charge and that this is properly documented in the supply chain.
Also Read: Amazon Announces 2026 Fee Changes for Sellers: What You Need to Know
Existing lithium battery rules still apply
The new requirement sits on top of existing lithium battery regulations on Amazon. Sellers must continue to follow current policies, which include:
1. Providing detailed dangerous goods (hazmat) information when listing products on FBA, including whether the item contains or is packed with lithium batteries.
2. Ensuring that lithium battery manufacturers and distributors provide a UN 38.3 lithium battery test summary, as required globally since 2020, for batteries and products containing lithium batteries.
3. Respecting Amazon Global Logistics restrictions, which already limit the types of lithium batteries that can be shipped internationally as dangerous goods.
Who is affected
The update is particularly important for:
1. Electronics brands and private-label sellers offering laptops, tablets, smartphones, cameras, wearables and audio devices.
2. Home and personal care brands selling rechargeable trimmers, toothbrushes, shavers and similar products.
3. Tools and DIY categories with cordless power tools and battery packs.
4. Toys, hobby and sports products that use rechargeable power, such as drones, RC cars and e-scooter parts.
Any UK-based seller using FBA for products that include rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, whether the battery is built-in or packed with the product, should review their catalog immediately.
What Amazon UK sellers should do now
To prepare for the 2026 change and avoid last-minute issues, Amazon sellers can take the following practical steps:
1. Audit your catalog
Identify all ASINs that contain or are packaged with lithium-ion batteries. Focus first on higher-capacity items such as laptops, power tools, drones and large battery packs. Use your existing hazmat classifications and any internal product master data to create a list.
2. Collect technical data from suppliers
Request full battery specifications from manufacturers, including:
– Watt-hour rating (Wh) for each battery.
– Confirmation of UN 38.3 test summary availability.
– Recommended shipping state of charge for air transport.
3. Plan how to meet the 30 percent state-of-charge rule
Work with your logistics partners and 3PLs to ensure that batteries above 2.7 Wh are charged to 30 percent or less before being shipped to Amazon. Ask suppliers whether they can ship at 30 percent SoC from the factory and provide proof or certificates if needed.
4. Update battery compliance answers in Seller Central
When listing or relisting affected products for FBA, complete all battery compliance questions in the listing workflow. This includes confirming whether the product contains lithium batteries, the type of battery, its watt-hour rating and other safety details.
5. Monitor hazmat reviews and shipment status
Some ASINs may go through Amazon’s dangerous goods review process. Keep an eye on notifications and performance alerts, and respond quickly if Amazon requests additional documentation or clarification.
6. Consider delivery promise and pricing impact
If a product is limited to ground transport, it may no longer qualify for the fastest delivery options in some regions. This can affect Buy Box performance and conversion. Sellers should factor potential changes in shipping speed into pricing, advertising and inventory planning.
Why Amazon is tightening lithium battery rules
Lithium-ion batteries can overheat, catch fire or explode if they are damaged, improperly packed or shipped at a high state of charge. Aviation regulators and industry bodies have flagged lithium batteries as a key cargo safety risk for many years, leading to progressively stricter rules on how they can be transported by air.
By aligning with ICAO’s 30 percent state-of-charge framework and asking for more precise data from sellers, Amazon aims to:
1. Reduce the likelihood of incidents in air cargo.
2. Ensure compliance with international regulations across all carriers and routes.
3. Protect staff, customers and infrastructure.
For sellers, these changes may feel like an extra layer of paperwork and process, but they are also a signal that regulators and marketplaces are watching lithium battery safety very closely.
Amazon UK’s new requirement for products with lithium-ion batteries shipped by air is a significant update for FBA sellers but also a clear, predictable one. From 1 January 2026, products packed with lithium-ion batteries above 2.7 Wh must be shipped at 30 percent or less state of charge, and sellers must provide complete battery compliance information in Seller Central by 31 December 2025 to keep these items eligible for air transport.
Sellers who treat this as an opportunity to clean up their data, tighten coordination with suppliers and formalise battery safety processes will be better positioned to maintain fast delivery promises, avoid unexpected shipping restrictions and stay compliant as air-transport rules continue to evolve.
Also Read: Amazon extends return window for holiday purchases until January 31
Disclaimer:
Amazon is the registered trademark of the e-commerce brand.
About ChannelMAX.NET:
ChannelMAX offers Amazon Repricer that runs on the latest AI Repricing agents to do Amazon Pricing Management or Amazon Repricing. Based on Amazon SP API, the repricing engine or repricer runs 24/7 and efficiently manages Amazon prices to maximize your BuyBox with profit optimization. Established in 2005, ChannelMAX has been integrated with Amazon technology since 2007, helping thousands of third-party sellers on various eCommerce platforms. Some of the eCommerce platforms, aka marketplaces, supported by ChannelMAX.NET, are Amazon, Walmart, eBay, and Shopify. Some of ChannelMAX key offerings include ChannelMAX Amazon Repricer, 2ndly, ChannelMAX Amazon FBA Audits and FBA Refunds management, an offering for managing Amazon FBA Refunds Reimbursement management for lost or damaged or misplaced inventory for which Amazon is responsible and for which sellers deserve appropriate credit reimbursement from Amazon. ChannelMAX Services offer Remote (aka Virtual) Full-Time eCommerce Assistant to help 3P sellers run their daytoday business.
Check ChannelMAX at Amazon Selling Partner Appstore, an application with a 5 star rating.