Amazon Requires Lithium-Ion Battery Compliance Data by May 2025 or Risk Ground-Only Shipping
Amazon is requiring FBA sellers to submit lithium-ion battery compliance data by May 31, 2025. Non-compliant products will be restricted to ground-only shipping, impacting delivery speed and Prime eligibility.
Overview
Amazon is introducing updated compliance requirements for products containing lithium-ion batteries shipped via air transportation. Starting June 1, 2026, sellers using FBA must ensure their battery-containing products meet new ICAO-aligned safety standards. Sellers who fail to provide required battery compliance information by May 31, 2025 risk having their products restricted to ground-only fulfillment, which could significantly impact delivery speeds and customer satisfaction.
Key Points
- New ICAO compliance standards — Products packaged with lithium-ion batteries must meet updated International Civil Aviation Organization safety requirements for air transportation, effective June 1, 2026
- Battery compliance questionnaire required — Sellers must complete battery compliance questions when listing or re-listing any product that ships with a lithium-ion battery through FBA
- May 31, 2025 deadline — All required battery information must be submitted by this date to maintain eligibility for air shipment fulfillment
- State of charge limits — Lithium-ion batteries exceeding 2.7 Wh that are packed with products must maintain 30% or less state of charge
- Ground-only penalty — Products that cannot be confirmed as compliant will be restricted to ground transportation until seller resolves the compliance issue
Understanding the Requirements
- ICAO alignment rationale — New rules align Amazon's fulfillment practices with international aviation safety standards to prevent thermal runaway fires in aircraft cargo holds
- State of charge explained — Batteries above 2.7 Wh (includes most smartphones, tablets, portable chargers, Bluetooth devices, consumer electronics) must ship at 30% charge or less to reduce energy available during potential battery malfunction
- Supplier coordination needed — Sellers sourcing products with pre-charged batteries must coordinate with manufacturers to ensure batteries arrive at Amazon fulfillment centers within charge threshold
- — Includes obvious electronics plus less obvious products like LED flashlights, electric toothbrushes, heated apparel, and children's toys with rechargeable components
Analysis & Recommendations
Why This Matters
Sellers with battery-containing products risk losing air shipping eligibility and Prime delivery speeds if they don't submit compliance data by the deadline. Ground-only restrictions could reduce Buy Box competitiveness and sales velocity.
Key Takeaways
- All FBA products with lithium-ion batteries must have compliance data submitted by May 31, 2025
- Batteries exceeding 2.7 Wh packed with products must be at 30% charge or less for air transport
- Non-compliant products will be restricted to ground-only fulfillment, affecting delivery times and Prime eligibility
- New requirements align with ICAO international aviation safety standards effective June 1, 2026
Recommended Actions
- →Audit your product catalog immediately to identify all SKUs that include lithium-ion batteries
- →Gather battery watt-hour ratings and state of charge specifications from your manufacturers or suppliers
- →Complete the battery compliance questionnaire in Seller Central for every affected listing before May 31, 2025
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