China air travellers caught off guard after regulator grounds some mobile power banks
Passengers told to give up recalled or uncertified devices at airports following a series of incidents involving lithium battery products
An emergency ban on some power banks imposed by China’s aviation regulator over the weekend caught travellers off guard, many of whom arrived at airports only to be told that such portable devices could not be taken onto their flights.
The products are not allowed in either carry-on or checked luggage for domestic flights. International flights are not affected for the time being.
Lithium batteries without China Compulsory Certification (3C) safety certifications would be barred from domestic flights, the spokesperson said. The certification applies to products that could impact health, safety and environmental protection.
According to the notice, several leading portable battery manufacturers recently recalled batches of products due to safety risks such as overheating and fire hazards. China’s market regulators have also revoked or suspended 3C certification for several battery manufacturers.