New year brings changes: batteries in airplanes

I heard from Canon camera forums yesterday, that U.S. Department of Transport (DOT) has given new regulations to air travel regarding batteries, especially those with lihtium metals.

It is unclear to me whether these rules will affect flights in Europe, but they sure will staring on 1st of January, 2008 in the USA. Maybe Europe follows later, I'd think. In any case, the basic rule is that lithium metal batteries, but not the normal lithium ions used for example in cameras are forbidden in checked backage, meaning the one that you won't carry with you to the cabin. Also, you are permitted to take such batteries into the cabin in carry-on baggage, so no real harm seems to be done with the new rule -- you just have to be more careful in what to pack and where.