AMAZON PLC FOUND GUILTY, FINED £65,000, AT SOUTHWARK COURT OF ATTEMPTING TO SHIP DANGEROUS GOODS BY AIR JUST WEEKS AFTER IATA LAUNCH MAJOR LITHIUM BATTERY AWARENESS CAMPAIGN

Amazon plc has been found guilty of attempting to ship dangerous goods by air, including lithium-ion batteries and flammable aerosols between the years 2014 and 2015. The firm was fined £65,000 at Southwark Crown Court . 

It was found guilty earlier today at Southwark Crown Court of causing dangerous goods to be delivered for carriage in an aircraft in breach of air navigation rules.


The prosecution had been brought by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) under the Air Navigation (Dangerous Goods) Regulations 2002.

The goods were scheduled for flights both in and outside the UK, comprising four shipments between January 2014 and June 2015.


During a Royal Mail routine screening they were discovered when the cargo was seized before departure, and before they were loaded on board the aircraft.


Southwark Court heard that Amazon had tried to ship a lithium-ion battery to Jersey on a day before 7 January 2014, and a flammable gas aerosol to Romania on a similar date.


Another shipment, destined for Ireland on a day before 17 July 2014, contained another aerosol, while Amazon illegally tried to send two more lithium-ion batteries to Northern Ireland between 12 May and 3 June 2015.


The CAA's general counsel, Kate Staples, said: "There are important international and domestic restrictions to prohibit the shipping of certain goods that pose a flight safety risk.


"We are constantly working to further improve and will continue to work with the CAA in this area."


Julian Bray aviation expert comments: It was only in August this year, reported by this blog, that IATA launched a major campaign to raise awareness of the hazards of lithium battery shipments, more particularly ones they term 'rogue shippers'


Governments must urgently clamp down on Rogue Lithium Battery Shippers says IATA

Airline and battery manufacturers call for stricter enforcement coupled with stiffer penalties  Geneva – The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has partnered with leaders of the lithium battery supply chain to demand stricter enforcement of international regulations regarding the transport of lithium batteries. In a joint letter to Ministers of Trade, Industry and Transport, and Directors of Civil Aviation in the world’s largest lithium battery manufacturing and export countries, IATA, PRBA, the US Rechargeable Battery Association, RECHARGE, the European Advanced Rechargeable and Lithium Battery Association, the Global Shippers Forum (GSF) and the International Air Cargo Association (TIACA) have called for lithium battery safety regulations to be enforced at the point of origin including the initial shipper and the battery manufacturer. The letter also called for implementation of cooperative enforcement initiatives between jurisdictions to address situations, where lithium batteries manufactured in one state are driven over a border to be flown from another state. The global associations also called for significant fines and custodial sentences to be imposed on those who circumvent the regulations. "Safety is aviation’s top priority. Airlines, shippers and manufacturers have worked hard to establish rules that ensure lithium batteries can be carried safely. But the rules are only effective if they are enforced and backed-up by significant penalties. Government authorities must step up and take responsibility for regulating rogue producers and exporters. In addition, flagrant abuses of dangerous goods shipping regulations, which place aircraft and passenger safety at risk, must be criminalized," said Tony Tyler IATA CEO. "The actions of a minority threaten to undermine confidence in legitimate battery and product manufacturers. This a matter of deep concern for our members," said George A. Kerchner, Executive Director of PRBA which represents most of the world’s largest manufacturers of lithium ion and lithium metal batteries and manufacturers of products powered by these batteries. IATA and the PRBA have repeatedly called upon governments to address the danger posed by the wilful disregard of the international regulations by rogue manufacturers and shippers and to close existing legal loopholes that prevent prosecutions of serial offenders. Lack of enforcement is increasing pressure on airlines and regulators to unilaterally ban all forms of lithium battery shipments from aircraft. This would add to the cost of global supply chains and consumer goods, and encourage those who flout the law to increase mislabelling of batteries, further increasing safety and security risks. "A ban on the shipment of lithium ion batteries aboard aircraft would put lives at risk by slowing delivery of life-critical and life–enhancing medical equipment and jeopardize the security of many countries because a large number of military applications are powered by lithium batteries," said Kerchner.

JULIAN BRAY +44(0)1733 345581 Aerospace & Incident Management Expert, Journalist & Broadcaster, Aviation Security & Airline Operations, Travel / Maritime & Cruise Industry, NUJ, EQUITY, LIVE ISDN LINK, Broadcast ISDN COOBE ++44 (0)1733 345020 e&oe Old faithful NOKIA: 07944 217476 www.aviationcomment.com