Chinese drone giant DJI has clarified that its drone batteries are not subject to new regulations imposed by China’s civil aviation authority concerning power banks. This means that the existing security check requirements for DJI drone batteries remain unchanged.

The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) recently issued an urgent notice, effective June 28, 2025, prohibiting passengers from carrying power banks on domestic flights if they lack a clear CCC certification mark, or if they are part of recalled models or batches. The CCC certification is a mandatory product certification system in China for various goods.

DJI confirmed that its drone batteries are not classified as power bank devices and do not fall under the scope of newly added lithium-ion battery products requiring CCC certification. Furthermore, according to the CAAC notice and public media responses, the new regulations specifically target power banks and do not alter the security check requirements for camera lithium batteries.

Despite the clarification, DJI advised users to check with local airports regarding any temporary restrictions or requirements. Management rules may differ by location.

🔗 Source: Huxiu

🧠 Food for thought

1️⃣ Global aviation authorities have progressively tightened lithium battery regulations since 2016

DJI’s response to CAAC regulations reflects a pattern of evolving lithium battery oversight in aviation globally, not just in China.

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) first restricted lithium-ion batteries in 2016, prohibiting them from passenger aircraft and limiting their state of charge to 30% for air cargo shipments 1.

This trend continued with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) issuing a Safety Information Bulletin in May 2025 specifically addressing lithium battery risks, highlighting an increase in safety incidents and urging stricter passenger communication 2.

These restrictions demonstrate how aviation authorities worldwide have responded to safety concerns by implementing detailed classifications and handling requirements for lithium batteries.

The regulations have evolved from broad restrictions to more nuanced approaches that distinguish between different battery types and applications, explaining why DJI can confidently state their products fall outside the power bank classification.

2️⃣ Regulatory frameworks distinguish between different lithium battery applications

The distinction DJI makes between drone batteries and power banks aligns with how aviation regulations classify lithium batteries worldwide.

Lithium batteries are categorized under different UN numbers depending on their type and application: UN 3090 (standalone lithium metal batteries), UN 3091 (lithium metal batteries in equipment), UN 3480 (standalone lithium-ion batteries), and UN 3481 (lithium-ion batteries in equipment) 3.

These classifications determine how batteries are regulated during transport, with different safety requirements for batteries installed in devices versus standalone power banks.

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