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

Sekundarni členi 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 the Amendment 1 to the European standard covering secondary cells and batteries containing alkaline or other non-acid electrolytes, with a specific focus on secondary lithium cells and batteries for portable applications. This part addresses prismatic and cylindrical lithium secondary cells and batteries, guiding manufacturers, suppliers, and stakeholders in marking, safety, and information requirements. Developed by the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization (CLC), this standard ensures clarity, traceability, and safety across the portable lithium battery supply chain.

Key Topics

The amendment introduces significant updates regarding the marking and information requirements for prismatic and cylindrical secondary lithium cells and batteries, including:

• Required Battery Markings:
  Every cell or battery must carry clear, durable information, such as:

  • Type (secondary/rechargeable Li or Li-ion)
  • Battery or cell designation
  • Polarity (with exceptions for specially designed batteries)
  • Date of manufacture
  • Manufacturer or supplier identification
  • Rated capacity and nominal voltage

• Digital Information Access:
  For batteries not classified as coin cells and specifically designed for certain products, required markings can be provided via a QR code. This QR code:

  • Must be directly on the product
  • Should encode the information itself or link to a public, permanent, easy-to-understand website
  • Must comply with ISO/IEC 18004 (QR code standard)
  • Recommended informational sites should follow ISO/IEC/IEEE 23026 and ISO/IEC 40500 guidelines

• Safety Symbols:

  • The caution symbol (ISO 7000:0434) and information source symbol (IEC 60417:6222) must be displayed with the QR code
  • Additional caution markings are required for swallowable batteries, per IEC 60086-4

• Accommodating Small Batteries:

  • If the battery’s surface is too small for all markings, essential information can be placed on product instructions, specification sheets, or immediate packaging

• Exceptions and Manufacturer Agreements:

  • Certain batteries and cells, such as those assembled into batteries precluded from end-user replacement or marked exclusively for a particular end product, may omit some direct markings by agreement among manufacturers

Applications

This amendment applies primarily to portable applications using prismatic or cylindrical lithium secondary cells and batteries, such as:

• Consumer electronics (smartphones, tablets, laptops)
• Handheld power tools
• Portable medical devices
• Personal mobility devices
• Small appliances

Manufacturers and suppliers benefit through:

• Enhanced traceability and compliance
• Better end-user communication via accessible digital information
• Improved market acceptance by meeting up-to-date European regulatory requirements

End users and regulators gain:

• Reliable and consistent labeling for safety and recycling
• Easier access to battery information and manufacturer details
• Improved clarity on battery ratings and handling instructions

Related Standards

To achieve full compliance with EN 61960-3:2017/prA1:2025, familiarity with related standards is recommended, including:

• ISO/IEC 18004 – Information technology - Automatic identification and data capture techniques - QR code bar code symbology specification
• ISO/IEC/IEEE 23026 – Systems and software engineering - Website engineering
• ISO/IEC 40500 – Web content accessibility guidelines (WCAG) 2.0
• IEC 60417:6222 – Graphical symbols for use on equipment - Information source symbol
• ISO 7000:0434 – Graphical symbols for use on equipment - Caution symbol
• IEC 60086-4 – Primary batteries - Safety of lithium batteries

Stakeholders are encouraged to review these standards for comprehensive best practices and to ensure battery products are safe, accessible, and appropriately documented for the European market.

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:
...