Effective May 16, 2012 until further notice, USPS will prohibit outbound international mailing of lithium metal or lithium-ion batteries and devices containing lithium batteries.
This change is required by standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the Universal Postal Union (UPU). Under the rules of these international agencies, lithium metal or lithium-ion batteries cannot be sent as mail matter on international commercial air transportation, including to or from APO (Army Post Office), FPO (Fleet Post Office) and DPO (Diplomatic Post Office) locations.
This prohibition does not apply to lithium batteries when mailed within the United States.
Customers sending electronic devices containing removable lithium batteries must remove the lithium batteries before tendering international shipments for mailing. Electronic equipment with non-removable lithium batteries may not be sent by international or military mail.
