The Philippine Embassy in Cambodia informs the Filipino community in Cambodia of a Memorandum Circular issued by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) regarding small lithium battery-powered personal transportation devices (e.g., hover boards, self-balancing single or multi-wheels, and mini segways) that are being carried by air as cargo and by passengers in checked and/or carry-on baggage, some of which have caught fire.

            CAAP requires that said devices are to be carried by the passenger in the cabin, where an incident can be immediately mitigated, and not in checked baggage. 

            The following provisions shall apply when they are carried by passengers or crew and when they are transported as cargo:

a)         When carried by passengers or crew, devices containing lithium ion batteries having a Watt-hour rating of 100 Wh or less may be permitted under the provisions for portable electronic devices containing lithium metal or lithium ion cells or batteries contained in Part 8 of Doc 9284, provided all applicable criteria listed in the restrictions column of Table 8-1 are met. Devices containing lithium ion batteries having a Watt-hour rating exceeding 100 Wh but not more than 160 Wh may be carried subject to an approval by the operator. Those exceeding 160 Wh are not permitted to be carried by passengers or crew.

b)         When transported as cargo, devices containing batteries must be assigned to UN 3171 — Battery-powered vehicle and are subject to all applicable requirements of the Technical Instructions. Batteries not contained in the device must be   consigned as UN 3480 — Lithium ion batteries.