IEC 62281:2012 specifies test methods and requirements for primary and secondary (rechargeable) lithium cells and batteries to ensure their safety during transport other than for recycling or disposal. Requirements specified in this standard do not apply in those cases where special provisions given in the relevant regulations, listed in 7.3, provide exemptions. This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition, published in 2004, and constitutes a technical revision. This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous edition: - distinction between small and large cell or battery by gross mass rather than by lithium content or Watt-hour rating ("nominal" energy); - combination of the no mass loss (NM) and no leakage (NL) criteria into one criteria (NL); - extension of an acceptable mass loss of 0,2 % from 5 g to 75 g mass of a cell or battery; - reduction of large batteries to be tested under tests T-1 to T-5 and T-8 from 4 to 2 samples; - reduction of test samples required for small battery assemblies (5.2.2); - reduction of the vibration amplitude to 2 g for large batteries in T-3 vibration test method; - replacement of the impact test by the crush test for prismatic, pouch, button, and coin cells as well as cylindrical cells with no more than 20 mm in diameter. Keywords: safety during transportion, primary and secondary (rechargeable) lithium cells and batteries