The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Governing Council has banned shipments of lithium ion (li-ion) batteries on passenger aircraft.

The ban comes into force on 1 April and will continue until a new packaging performance standard is brought in, which is expected by 2018. It will cover li-ion batteries shipped as cargo on passenger aircraft and will not include those contained in personal electronic equipment of either passengers or crew. The ban comes after reviews by the ICAO Air Navigation Commission, and the United Nation’s agency’s Dangerous Goods, Flight Operations, and Airworthiness panels.

ICAO council president, Olumuyiwa Bernard Aliu says: “Safety is always our most fundamental priority in international civil aviation. This interim prohibition will continue to be in force as separate work continues through ICAO on a new lithium battery packaging performance standard, currently expected by 2018.”