We are now in the peak renewal period of the Battery Regulation for cross-border sellers. Apart from complying with requirements under the Battery Regulation, sellers exporting lithium battery products need to take note of another key point:

The 2026 Lithium Battery Sea Transport Condition Identification Report will expire on December 31, 2026. A new report must be obtained for 2027!

If you sell products with built-in lithium batteries such as power banks, Bluetooth earbuds, smart watches, power tools and energy storage power supplies, we recommend arranging the application in advance to prevent disruptions to your ocean shipments.

Why do we need to renew the sea transport identification report?

Lithium batteries are classified as Class 9 dangerous goods. Ocean exports must comply with the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code (IMDG Code).

The Sea Transport Condition Identification Report (commonly known as the DGM report in the industry) verifies the transport classification of goods by sea. It is a mandatory document reviewed by shipping lines and freight forwarders. Please note: once the 2026 report expires, you need to submit a new application following the applicable 2027 standards. Even if you already hold a valid report this year, prepare for the renewal ahead of time.

Documents required for the sea transport identification report

Generally, the following documents are needed:

• UN38.3 Test Report

• Complete 16-section MSDS/SDS

• Lithium battery specification sheet

• Product manual and product photos

• Photos of inner and outer packaging

If you do not yet have a UN38.3 report, you may contact Zhuoxi for testing and one-stop compliance solutions.

Closing

As the year-end approaches, sellers shipping lithium batteries overseas, while renewing for the Battery Regulation and sorting compliance documents, should schedule the 2027 sea transport identification report early to avoid shipment delays caused by incomplete paperwork.