EN 61960-3:2017/prA1:2025

Amendment 1 - Secondary cells and batteries containing alkaline or other non-acid electrolytes - Secondary lithium cells and batteries for portable applications - Part 3: Prismatic and cylindrical lithium secondary cells and batteries made from them

Accumulateurs alcalins et autres accumulateurs à électrolyte non acide - Accumulateurs au lithium pour applications portables - Partie 3: Eléments et batteries d'accumulateurs au lithium, parallélépipédiques et cylindriques

Sekundarne celice in baterije z alkalnimi ali drugimi nekislinskimi elektroliti - Sekundarni litijevi členi in baterije za prenosne naprave - 3. del: Prizmatični in cilindrični litijevi sekundarni členi in baterije, narejene iz njih - Dopolnilo A1

General Information

• Status: Not Published
• Publication Date: 21-Mar-2027
• ICS: 29.220.99 - Other cells and batteries
• Technical Committee: CLC/TC 21X - Secondary cells and batteries
• Current Stage: 4060 - Enquiry results established and sent to TC, SR, BTTF - Enquiry
• Start Date: 21-Nov-2025
• Completion Date: 21-Nov-2025
• Ref Project: SIST EN 61960-3:2018/oprA1:2025 - Amendment 1 - Secondary cells and batteries containing alkaline or other non-acid electrolytes - Secondary lithium cells and batteries for portable applications - Part 3: Prismatic and cylindrical lithium secondary cells and batteries made from them

Relations

• Amends: EN 61960-3:2017 - Secondary cells and batteries containing alkaline or other non-acid electrolytes - Secondary lithium cells and batteries for portable applications - Part 3: Prismatic and cylindrical lithium secondary cells, and batteries made from them
• Effective Date: 08-Apr-2025

Overview

EN 61960-3:2017/prA1:2025 is an important amendment to the existing standard focusing on secondary lithium cells and batteries used in portable applications. Published by CLC and anticipated to be stable by 2026, this amendment specifically addresses prismatic and cylindrical lithium secondary cells and batteries made from them. The document provides updated guidelines on marking, product identification, and safety information, ensuring improved clarity and safety for manufacturers, suppliers, and end-users alike.

This standard is vital for manufacturers and stakeholders involved in producing or handling lithium secondary batteries containing alkaline or other non-acid electrolytes, stabilizing global market consistency and safety protocols.

Key Topics

• Scope of Amendment: Focuses on prismatic and cylindrical lithium secondary cells and batteries designed for portable devices.
• Marking Requirements:
  • Cells and batteries must carry clear, durable markings including:
    • Type (secondary rechargeable Li or Li-ion)
    • Battery/cell designation or product code
    • Polarity (except for batteries designed to prevent wrong connections)
    • Date of manufacture (including coded formats)
    • Manufacturer/supplier identification
    • Rated capacity
    • Nominal voltage
  • QR Code Integration:
    • Marking information can partially or wholly be provided via QR codes for batteries (excluding coin cells and those designed for specific products).
    • Mandatory marking of type and polarity remains outside the QR code.
    • QR codes must comply with ISO/IEC 18004 and link to publicly available, easy-to-understand websites, recommended by standards such as ISO/IEC/IEEE 23026 and ISO/IEC 40500.
    • Accompanied by caution and information source symbols per ISO and IEC requirements.
• Swallowable Batteries: Additional caution labels are mandatory for batteries considered swallowable to comply with IEC regulations.
• Flexibility in Marking:
  • When space constraints occur, information can be provided in accompanying documentation or packaging.
  • Cells in battery assemblies or batteries not replaceable by end-users may be exempt from individual markings by agreement between manufacturers.

Applications

This standard applies extensively to the design, manufacturing, labeling, and handling of lithium secondary batteries used in:

• Portable consumer electronics such as smartphones, tablets, and laptops.
• Portable medical devices requiring reliable and safely marked rechargeable batteries.
• Industrial portable tools and devices that utilize prismatic or cylindrical lithium rechargeable batteries.
• Battery manufacturers aiming to ensure compliance with international marking and safety regulations.
• End-product designers and manufacturers integrating secondary lithium batteries into their portable devices.

Adopting this standard helps ensure enhanced safety, traceability, and user information accessibility, supporting better product lifecycle management and risk mitigation related to battery misuse or mishandling.

Related Standards

• IEC 60086-4: Safety requirements for primary batteries, referenced for swallowable battery caution.
• ISO/IEC 18004: QR code standard, specifying the QR code requirements.
• ISO/IEC/IEEE 23026 and ISO/IEC 40500: Guidelines for accessible and user-friendly online information presentation.
• IEC 60417 and ISO 7000: Symbols for battery caution and information sources used alongside QR codes.
• Other parts of EN 61960 related to secondary cells and batteries containing alkaline or non-acid electrolytes.

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By adhering to EN 61960-3:2017/prA1:2025, manufacturers improve compliance with international safety, identification, and information standards essential for the lithium secondary battery market, positively impacting product reliability and user safety worldwide.

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-oktober-2025
Sekundarne celice in baterije z alkalnimi ali drugimi nekislinskimi elektroliti -
Sekundarni litijevi členi in baterije za prenosne naprave - 3. del: Prizmatični in
cilindrični litijevi sekundarni členi in baterije, narejene iz njih - Dopolnilo A1
Amendment 1 - Secondary cells and batteries containing alkaline or other non-acid
electrolytes - Secondary lithium cells and batteries for portable applications - Part 3:
Prismatic and cylindrical lithium secondary cells and batteries made from them
Accumulateurs alcalins et autres accumulateurs à électrolyte non acide - Accumulateurs
au lithium pour applications portables - Partie 3: Eléments et batteries d'accumulateurs
au lithium, parallélépipédiques et cylindriques
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN 61960-3:2017/prA1:2025
ICS:
29.220.30 Alkalni sekundarni členi in Alkaline secondary cells and
baterije batteries
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

21A/947/CDV
COMMITTEE DRAFT FOR VOTE (CDV)
PROJECT NUMBER:
IEC 61960-3/AMD1 ED1
DATE OF CIRCULATION: CLOSING DATE FOR VOTING:
2025-08-29 2025-11-21
SUPERSEDES DOCUMENTS:
21A/925/RR
IEC SC 21A : SECONDARY CELLS AND BATTERIES CONTAINING ALKALINE OR OTHER NON-ACID ELECTROLYTES
SECRETARIAT: SECRETARY:
France Mr Jean-Marie Bodet
OF INTEREST TO THE FOLLOWING COMMITTEES: HORIZONTAL FUNCTION(S):
TC 35
ASPECTS CONCERNED:
Digital content
SUBMITTED FOR CENELEC PARALLEL VOTING NOT SUBMITTED FOR CENELEC PARALLEL VOTING
Attention IEC-CENELEC parallel voting
The attention of IEC National Committees, members of
CENELEC, is drawn to the fact that this Committee Draft for Vote
(CDV) is submitted for parallel voting.
The CENELEC members are invited to vote through the
CENELEC online voting system.
This document is still under study and subject to change. It should not be used for reference purposes.
Recipients of this document are invited to submit, with their comments, notification of any relevant patent rights of which they are
aware and to provide supporting documentation.
Recipients of this document are invited to submit, with their comments, notification of any relevant “In Some Countries” clau ses to
be included should this proposal proceed. Recipients are reminded that the CDV stage is the final stage for submitting ISC c lauses.
(SEE AC/22/2007 OR NEW GUIDANCE DOC).

TITLE:
Amendment 1 – Secondary cells and batteries containing alkaline or other non-acid electrolytes – Secondary
lithium cells and batteries for portable applications – Part 3: Prismatic and cylindrical lithium secondary cells
and batteries made from them
PROPOSED STABILITY DATE: 2026
NOTE FROM TC/SC OFFICERS:
...