IATA White Paper Highlighted Air Cargo Battery Risks
Online sellers and shippers face pressure to declare lithium batteries to avoid cargo safety incidents.
Updated on Oct. 3, 2026 in Transportation
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The International Air Transport Association published a white paper detailing safety risks associated with e-commerce lithium battery shipments. Undeclared dangerous goods accounted for 81 percent of reported air cargo safety incidents in the first half of 2025.
Why it matters
The rise in e-commerce shipments, often managed by small sellers lacking regulatory knowledge, has created significant safety gaps in air transport. Inaccurate product descriptions on online platforms frequently hide the presence of lithium batteries, complicating compliance and cargo safety.
Undeclared items comprised 81 percent of reported air cargo incidents between January and June 2025. Additionally, over 80 percent of all dangerous goods occurrences reported to IATA involved undeclared shipments.
The players
International Air Transport Association
An international trade association representing roughly 330 airlines and setting global standards for air transport safety.
The details
E-commerce logistics rely on complex networks of manufacturers, marketplaces, and fulfillment centers where lithium batteries in power banks or electronics are often mislabeled. The IATA report notes that independent sellers, whether operating from home or small retail outlets, frequently lack the training required to classify these items under aviation safety standards. This leads to dangerous goods entering the air cargo stream without necessary hazardous-materials checks.
Timeline
January-June 2025: Undeclared goods accounted for 81 percent of safety incidents.
October 3, 2026: The International Air Transport Association published the white paper.
Market Landscape
This white paper highlights persistent non-compliance issues within the global supply chain that directly undermine the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations. It underscores a growing tension between the decentralized nature of e-commerce retail and the strict safety standards required for air cargo.
Operators must ensure all battery-powered inventory is correctly classified, as inaccurate descriptions on sales platforms increase the risk of shipment rejection or safety violations. Businesses should audit their shipping protocols to confirm that fulfillment partners adhere to established dangerous-goods requirements.
The takeaway
The prevalence of undeclared dangerous goods in e-commerce underscores the critical need for stricter vetting of product descriptions before they reach the cargo supply chain. Operators should review their current lithium battery packaging and labeling procedures to prevent safety incidents and potential logistics disruptions.
Further reading
For more on the logistical challenges facing global supply chains, see our section on Transportation.
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Do you trust online marketplaces to effectively identify and label hazardous products before they are shipped?
