UPDATE 1-U.N. agency bans lithium-ion batteries on passenger aircraft

(Adds context and comment from dangerous goods expert)
By Allison Lampert
MONTREAL, Feb 22 (Reuters) - The U.N. aviation agency on
Monday prohibited shipments of lithium-ion batteries as cargo on
passenger aircraft, following concerns by pilots and plane
makers that they are a fire risk.
Lithium metal batteries, which are used in watches, have
already been banned on passenger planes globally. Lithium metal
batteries, used in watches, are not rechargable while
lithium-ion batteries, used in cell phones and laptops, can be
recharged.
The International Civil Aviation Organization's 36-state
governing council said the prohibition would be in effect as of
April 1, and would be maintained until a new fire-resistant
packaging standard is designed to transport the batteries.
Lithium-ion batteries can still be transported on cargo planes.
The new packaging standard is expected by 2018, ICAO Council
President Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu said in a statement.
The ban would be mandatory for ICAO member states.
Pilots and aircraft manufacturers are concerned that
existing standards are not strong enough to contain lithium
battery fires.
A 2015 working paper by an organization representing plane
makers like Boeing (N:BA) Co BA.N found current firefighting systems
on airliners could not "suppress or extinguish a fire involving
significant quantities of lithium batteries."
But one dangerous goods expert familiar with ICAO's thinking
questioned whether a ban on lithium-ion batteries would really
make passenger planes safer. He said instances of such battery
fires usually involved deliberate mislabeling by shippers.
"When the industry banned the shipment of lithium-metal
batteries, we saw instances of them being passed off as lithium
ion batteries," said the expert, who was not authorized to speak
publicly. "Those people who are not complying now won't comply
with a prohibition."