China’s emergency power bank ban catches domestic fliers off guard

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 Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) began enforcing the strict ban on lithium-based power banks over safety risks on Saturday, two days after issuing the notice. The ban applies to devices without proper safety and quality certifications or those that have been associated with product recalls.

The products are not allowed in either carry-on or checked luggage for domestic flights. International flights are not affected for the time being.

A CAAC representative told People’s Daily on Wednesday that the decisions followed reports of several incidents globally this year involving lithium battery products overheating on planes.

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.