Changes to shipment regulations of ‘dangerous goods,’ such as lithium batteries, became effective Jan. 1, according to the United Parcel Service (UPS) website.

Shippers must alter the preparation of these shipments if they want to continue using UPS or FedEx, according to a WSU news release.

Lithium batteries are a widely-used power source despite the dangers for the consumer.

After international regulations for shipping lithium batteries by air changed in April 2016, UPS and FedEx passed changes for transport of ‘dangerous goods’ to comply with the new International Air Transport Association (IATA) regulations.

“Shippers will need to enter a UPS Dangerous Goods service agreement before shipping lithium ion or lithium metal batteries without equipment by air,” according to the UPS website.

While UPS ground shipments must meet all applicable dangerous goods regulations, they do not require a dangerous goods service agreement.

FedEx requires compliance regardless of the package if the transported by air or by ground, according to the FedEx website.

The IATA requires specific guidelines to be followed, demonstrated through their website.

Shippers must be trained as a Dangerous Good/Hazardous material shipper to send a package containing lithium batteries, the WSU news release said.

Reporting by Rosemarie Blume

Editor’s note: This article has been revised to reflect that UPS ground shipments must follow applicable dangerous goods regulations.