Selling products with lithium batteries online: shipping, certifications and button cell warnings

A power bank looks like the simplest product to list: a box, a cable, a capacity. Behind it sit transport rules for hazardous materials, a separate review on Amazon before the listing goes live, and, for anything with a coin cell, a federal warning law, Reese's Law. Lithium batteries are one of the categories where the listing is the easy part and the paperwork decides whether it goes live.

This page covers shipping, button and coin cells, the certifications marketplaces ask for, and what Amazon, Walmart, Etsy, eBay and the EU add.

What this page covers: power banks, battery packs, devices with lithium batteries, e-bikes, e-scooters, hoverboards, and products with button or coin cells.

The short version

• Lithium cells and batteries are hazardous materials in transport, with packing, marking and testing rules (UN 38.3).
• Products with button or coin cells need child-resistant battery compartments and warnings on the product, package and instructions.
• Amazon reviews lithium battery products as dangerous goods and asks for a safety data sheet or exemption sheet.
• Walmart asks for UL 2849 on e-bikes, UL 2272 on e-scooters and UL 2271 on standalone batteries, and specific details in e-bike listings.
• Etsy prohibits loose lithium-ion batteries and electric mobility devices with their batteries.

Are lithium batteries hazardous materials in shipping?

Yes. Lithium cells and batteries are hazardous materials in US transport. They have packing, marking and testing rules, including the UN 38.3 tests, and the US Postal Service sets limits on what it carries. Some batteries cannot go by air at all, and eBay asks the listing to state any shipping restriction that applies.

Before you list, know how you will ship: which carrier, by ground or air, and in what packaging.

What does Reese's Law require?

Since 19 March 2024, Reese's Law has required products with button or coin cells to have child-resistant battery compartments, and warnings on the product, the package and the instructions. Remote controls, kitchen scales, key finders and light-up toys often use them.

For your listing, show the battery compartment closed and the warning on the package. Our page on toy rules covers the extra rules when the product is also a toy.

Does Amazon review lithium battery products?

Yes. Amazon sends lithium battery products through a hazmat review. Expect to provide a safety data sheet or an exemption sheet, and to meet IATA packing instructions 965 to 970. The listing can wait in review until the documents are accepted, so have them ready before you upload.

Which certifications does Walmart ask for on e-bikes and batteries?

Walmart asks for UL 2849 on e-bikes, UL 2272 on e-scooters and UL 2271 on standalone batteries, and prohibits loose 18650 cells. An e-bike listing must state its wattage, top speed and class.

What do Etsy and eBay ask of lithium battery products?

Etsy bars loose lithium-ion batteries, and eBay asks for shipping restrictions in the listing:

• Etsy prohibits loose lithium-ion batteries and electric mobility devices with their batteries.
• eBay asks the listing to state any shipping restriction, as some batteries cannot go by airmail.

What rules apply to batteries in the EU?

Batteries sold in the EU follow the Batteries Regulation, with new labelling duties phasing in over the next few years.

How Commicorn helps

• Your labels, as printed. On the Untouched product route your photo's pixels are never redrawn, so the capacity, certification marks and warnings on your product stay exactly as printed.
• Your specs in the copy. The listing copy is written from the details you give us. For an e-bike, include the wattage, top speed and class, so the copy can state them as Walmart asks.

Questions sellers ask

What is UN 38.3?

UN 38.3 is the set of tests lithium cells and batteries must pass for transport, part of the US rules for hazardous materials.

Which products does Reese's Law cover?

Products with button or coin cells, such as remote controls, kitchen scales, key finders and light-up toys, since 19 March 2024.

What does Amazon need for a power bank listing?

A safety data sheet or an exemption sheet for its hazmat review, and packing that meets IATA packing instructions 965 to 970.

Can I sell 18650 batteries on Walmart?

Not as loose cells: Walmart prohibits loose 18650 cells.

What must a Walmart e-bike listing state?

Its wattage, top speed and class, and the e-bike needs UL 2849.

Before you list

Have the safety data sheet or exemption sheet for Amazon's hazmat review, the UL certification Walmart names for your product, and your shipping plan (carrier, ground or air, packaging that meets the UN 38.3 and IATA rules) ready before the listing goes live. On a borderline product, 49 CFR 173.185 and Amazon's dangerous goods review settle how it ships, and Reese's Law (16 CFR 1263) settles anything with a button or coin cell.