UN 38.3 Test Certificate for Lithium Batteries
Every lithium cell and battery design must pass the UN 38.3 tests before it can be shipped as cargo by air or sea, and the manufacturer and later distributors must make a UN 38.3 test summary available. The tests are done by an accredited lab. We coordinate the lab, the samples and the paperwork, and line up the other approvals your batteries need in India.
What it is
UN 38.3 is a set of safety tests for lithium cells and batteries in Part III, sub-section 38.3 of the UN Manual of Tests and Criteria. The tests check that a battery survives the pressure, temperature, vibration, shock and electrical abuse it may face in transport. A battery design that passes gets a test report and a UN 38.3 test summary.
What people call a “UN 38.3 test certificate” is really that lab report and test summary. No government body in India issues it. Airlines, shipping lines and freight forwarders ask for it because the ICAO Technical Instructions, the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations and the IMDG Code all require tested designs. In India, the Aircraft (Carriage of Dangerous Goods) Rules, 2003 make the ICAO Technical Instructions binding for air cargo.
Who it applies to
Battery and cell makers
Manufacturers and assemblers of lithium-ion and lithium-metal cells and battery packs, including e-rickshaw, e-scooter, inverter and energy-storage packs.
Device makers and brands
Companies shipping phones, power banks, laptops, tools, medical devices or wearables with lithium batteries packed with or inside the equipment.
Importers, exporters and traders
Distributors who ship batteries onward. The test summary duty applies to subsequent distributors too, so you need the maker’s summary on file.
Why it matters
No test summary, no booking
Airlines and forwarders check the test summary before they accept lithium battery cargo. Without it, the shipment stays at the cargo terminal.
The shipper carries the liability
Under Rule 8 of the Aircraft (Carriage of Dangerous Goods) Rules, 2003, the shipper must classify, pack, mark and label correctly and give a signed declaration. A wrong declaration falls on you.
It feeds other approvals
Buyers and courier companies may ask for the UN 38.3 summary along with a safety data sheet before they accept your goods.
Documents required
About the product
- Cell or battery model numbers and datasheet
- Chemistry, nominal voltage, capacity and watt-hour rating
- Mass and physical description
- Circuit and protection details for packs
Test samples
- Cells and batteries in the quantity the lab specifies
- Charger or charging profile for rechargeable types
- Component cell test reports, for packs built from tested cells
Company details
- Manufacturer name, address and contact
- Importer Exporter Code, if you ship abroad
- Name and title of the person signing the test summary
How it works
Define the design to be tested
We list each cell and battery model, its watt-hour rating and its UN number, and check whether any design already has a valid test report you can rely on.
Choose an accredited lab and send samples
We shortlist accredited labs with the right scope, get quotes and arrange dispatch of the samples the lab asks for.
Run tests T.1 to T.8
The lab runs the tests that apply to your product and issues a test report listing each test with a pass or fail result.
Prepare the test summary
The UN 38.3 test summary is prepared from the report with the details the regulations require, and kept ready for every buyer, airline and forwarder who asks.
The eight UN 38.3 tests
| Test | What it simulates |
|---|---|
| T.1 Altitude simulation | Low pressure in an unpressurised cargo hold |
| T.2 Thermal test | Rapid swings between hot and cold |
| T.3 Vibration | Vibration during transport |
| T.4 Shock | Impacts while handling |
| T.5 External short circuit | A short across the terminals |
| T.6 Impact / crush | Mechanical damage to cells |
| T.7 Overcharge | Charging beyond limits (rechargeable batteries) |
| T.8 Forced discharge | Reverse driving of cells |
Not every test applies to every product. Cells go through T.1 to T.6 and T.8. Non-rechargeable batteries go through T.1 to T.5. Rechargeable batteries go through T.1 to T.5 and T.7.
Timelines
Before the first shipment
Testing must be complete before a design is offered for transport. Book the lab well ahead of your first export order. Picture a Faridabad pack assembler with a Dubai order due in three weeks and no test summary on file.
From 1 January 2026
Under the IATA DGR 67th edition, lithium-ion batteries packed with equipment (PI 966) must ship at no more than 30% state of charge, as UN 3480 batteries already do.
When the design changes
The tests apply to a design type. A change in cells, chemistry or construction can need fresh testing, so check with the lab before you switch suppliers.
What happens if you ship without it
Cargo refused or offloaded
Carriers reject lithium battery consignments that cannot show a tested design, and you pay for the delay and storage.
Breach of the dangerous goods rules
Under Rule 3(2) of the Aircraft (Carriage of Dangerous Goods) Rules, 2003, an operator cannot carry dangerous goods except as the Technical Instructions allow. Rule 15 lets the authorities suspend or cancel approvals for breaches. In practice, untested batteries do not get past the airline.
Defective batteries cannot fly
Batteries identified as defective for safety reasons, or damaged with a risk of heat or fire, are forbidden by air altogether.
Frequently asked questions
Is UN 38.3 a government certificate in India?
No. UN 38.3 is a set of tests in the UN Manual of Tests and Criteria, and the result is a lab test report and a test summary, not a government licence. It is still compulsory in practice, because the dangerous goods rules for air and sea require every lithium battery design to pass it. We help you get the UN 38.3 test certificate, meaning the report and summary, from an accredited lab and keep them ready.
What is the UN 38.3 test summary?
The test summary is a short document that records the manufacturer, the lab, the test report number and date, the battery description and watt-hour rating, and the pass or fail result of each test. Manufacturers and subsequent distributors of cells and batteries made after 30 June 2003 must make it available. Keep it ready to share with any buyer or forwarder who asks.
Which tests does my battery need?
It depends on the product. Cells go through T.1 to T.6 and T.8. Non-rechargeable batteries go through T.1 to T.5, and rechargeable batteries go through T.1 to T.5 and T.7. The lab confirms the exact tests and sample count for your design. We share your product details with the lab upfront so the quote and the sample plan are right first time.
Do I need UN 38.3 if I only import batteries?
Yes, in practice. The test summary duty covers subsequent distributors, and your carrier will ask for it when you move the goods by air. For imports into India you also need an IEC, BIS registration under IS 16046 for notified lithium cells and batteries, and Battery Waste EPR registration. We handle these together so the goods are not held at the port.
What changed for lithium battery shipping in 2026?
From 1 January 2026, the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations 67th edition require lithium-ion batteries packed with equipment under PI 966 to ship at no more than 30% state of charge, matching the earlier rule for UN 3480. For batteries contained in equipment (PI 967), 30% is recommended but not mandatory. Your UN 38.3 summary stays the same; your packing instructions change.
Does a battery pack need its own UN 38.3 test if the cells are tested?
Usually, yes. UN 38.3 applies to each cell type and each battery type, so a pack built from tested cells is a battery design of its own. We collect your cell supplier’s test summary first, as it is needed either way and often saves time.
Does UN 38.3 apply to sodium-ion batteries?
Sodium-ion batteries with an organic electrolyte are now dangerous goods in their own right, classified as UN 3551 when packed alone and UN 3552 when packed with or inside equipment. IATA’s 2026 battery guidance covers them alongside lithium batteries. If you are moving to sodium-ion, we check the test plan with the lab before samples go out.
What does Taxhint do, and what does the lab do?
The accredited lab runs the tests and issues the test report; we never test in-house. We define the designs, shortlist labs, arrange samples, check that the test summary carries the required details, and handle the related IEC, BIS and EPR registrations. You deal with one team for the paperwork.
What it costs
Our fee plus the government fee that applies to your case, quoted before you commit. Tell us the situation and we will price it exactly.
There is no government fee for UN 38.3. The lab charges for testing based on the number of designs and samples, and we quote you the lab’s charge separately.
Ready to begin?
Send us your battery models and where you plan to ship them, and we will line up the lab and your UN 38.3 test certificate paperwork.