UN38.3 for lithium batteries from China: tests, documents and acceptance

Cargo preparation guide · Updated 2026-10-14 · 8 minute read

Almost every lithium-ion or lithium-metal battery cell, whether it is installed in a phone, a power bank, an e-bike, a laptop, an electric scooter, or shipped on its own, must be supported by a UN38.3 test summary before it can travel by air, sea or road. UN38.3 refers to section 38.3 of the UN Manual of Tests and Criteria and is required by IATA for air, the IMDG Code for sea, and ADR for road transport in most jurisdictions.

1. What UN38.3 actually is

UN38.3 is a series of laboratory tests designed to verify that a lithium cell or battery can withstand the conditions of normal transport, including altitude, thermal cycling, vibration, shock, external short circuit, impact, overcharge and forced discharge. The tests are run on production cells or batteries and must be repeated when the cell design, manufacturing process or safety protection changes.

A UN38.3 test summary is the document the carrier or regulator asks for. It lists the cell or battery model, the manufacturer, the test lab, the date the tests were completed and the results of each test in the eight-test sequence. Without this summary, an air carrier will not accept a lithium battery shipment in most cases.

2. Why the test summary is required

IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations require a UN38.3 test summary for every standalone lithium battery (UN3480) and every lithium battery packed with or contained in equipment (UN3481 and UN3090/UN3091 for lithium-metal). The IMDG Code applies the same requirement to ocean freight. Most road and rail carriers also reference UN38.3 through ADR or local equivalents.

For importers into the USA, the test summary is also requested by US customs and by US-based carriers when the shipment is checked. Even small consumer products such as a power bank may be refused at the airline counter or last-mile delivery warehouse without the right test document.

3. The eight tests in the UN38.3 sequence

The full UN38.3 sequence covers eight procedures, usually named T1 to T8:

• T1 — altitude simulation (low-pressure storage).
• T2 — thermal cycling.
• T3 — vibration.
• T4 — shock.
• T5 — external short circuit.
• T6 — impact (for cells only) or crush (for batteries).
• T7 — overcharge (for rechargeable batteries).
• T8 — forced discharge (for cells and primary batteries).

All eight tests must be completed successfully on the production cell or battery design. If any test is re-run because the design changed, the document version must be updated.

4. Where UN38.3 testing is done from China

UN38.3 testing is performed by laboratories accredited under CNAS (China National Accreditation Service for Conformity Assessment) or recognized by other accreditation bodies. Buyers and manufacturers usually obtain a quote from a few accredited labs before choosing. The lab issues the official test summary in the format required by IATA, and that summary is what travels with the shipment.

Typical steps include:

• Submit cell or battery datasheet and BOM to the lab for feasibility.
• Send production samples to the lab (usually several finished cells plus packs).
• Lab runs T1–T8 and prepares the test summary in the IATA format.
• Lab signs and stamps the document for the manufacturer.
• Manufacturer keeps the master copy and shares copies with each buyer as needed.

5. Validity, re-testing and version control

UN38.3 test summaries do not have a fixed expiry date, but they are tied to the specific cell or battery design tested. When the manufacturer changes cell chemistry, capacity, internal layout, safety protection circuit, or production process, the tests must be repeated and a new summary issued. Carriers will compare the report against the actual cells in the shipment and may refuse cargo with an outdated report.

Practical checks for buyers:

• Match the model number in the report to the actual battery in the product.
• Confirm the report version date is later than any design change.
• Confirm the report is signed and stamped by an accredited lab.
• Confirm the lab is recognized by the carrier for the destination.

6. Watt-hour limits and small-battery exceptions

Air carriers accept lithium batteries under specific watt-hour and lithium-equivalent limits. Under IATA, lithium-ion batteries under 100 Wh and lithium-metal batteries under 2 g of lithium content can usually travel under Section II provisions without a full dangerous goods declaration, while larger cells and batteries require Section I handling with a shipper declaration and stricter packaging.

The exact limit and the documentation required depend on whether the battery is contained in equipment, packed with equipment, or shipped by itself. Watt-hour ratings are printed on the cell or available from the manufacturer. Without the watt-hour rating, the freight forwarder and the carrier cannot classify the shipment.

7. UN38.3 documents checklist for an inquiry

Send these items to your freight partner at the inquiry stage:

• Cell or battery model, manufacturer, chemistry and watt-hour or lithium-content rating.
• Number of cells per product and number of products per carton.
• UN38.3 test summary for the exact model being shipped.
• Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for the cell or battery.
• Outer carton dimensions, gross weight and pallet count if applicable.
• Origin city in China and destination city/country.
• Mode preference (air, sea, express) and any delivery deadline.

ANELGO reviews lithium battery inquiries individually and verifies acceptance conditions with the intended carrier. Acceptance is subject to written confirmation from the carrier and the documents listed above.

ANELGO reviews each lithium battery request against the available carrier options and the current UN38.3 documentation for the specific cell or battery model. Acceptance, packaging and routing are subject to written confirmation by the carrier.

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