Ryan Paquet, an industry veteran, explores shifting UN, DOT, and IATA standards that influence the secure transport of battery-driven medical equipment, in this session.
Our goal with this session is to help manufacturers get ahead of these changes instead of reacting to them.”— Ryan Paquet, President of HazMat Safety Consulting
HazMat Safety Consulting (HSC), which operates as a part of Americase International, has confirmed that its President Ryan Paquet will deliver a talk titled "The Global Logistics of Lithium Battery-Powered Devices" during MEDevice Boston 2026, aimed at assisting medical device producers in getting ready for shifting global rules regarding the safe shipment of lithium battery-powered medical equipment.
As an increasing number of life-saving and life-sustaining medical devices rely on lithium-ion technology, manufacturers now face more complicated international shipping requirements. According to data from the Federal Aviation Administration, U.S. airlines reported 93 lithium battery incidents involving smoke, fire, or extreme heat on aircraft in 2025 — a 4.5% jump from the previous year. This highlights why regulators and companies alike are hastening to tighten transport rules for battery-powered devices. Staying current with evolving regulations is critical to preventing shipping delays, protecting patient safety, and bringing products to market efficiently. Those attending will get an early preview of proposed international changes and actionable advice for preparing their organizations before new mandates come into force.
For medical device makers, transportation compliance has become a strategic business concern that can shape product launch schedules, worldwide distribution, recall preparedness, and market entry within an ever-more-regulated global supply chain.
Paquet offers firsthand knowledge of international regulatory development through his role as Deputy Director of the Medical Device Transport Council (MDTC), an organization that holds observer status with the United Nations Subcommittee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods.
Over the 45-minute session, Paquet will cover the latest efforts underway at the UN Subcommittee, detail proposed regulatory changes, and discuss their implications for medical device manufacturers. Participants will leave with practical steps to maintain compliance, lower risk, and ready their organizations for future regulatory shifts.
Session details include:
Session Title: The Global Logistics of Lithium Battery-Powered Devices
Presenter: Ryan Paquet, President, HazMat Safety Consulting; Deputy Director, MDTC;
Paquet previously served as Director of Approvals and Permits (and earlier as Assistant Director of International Standards) at the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA); he also represented the United States as a delegate to the UN Sub-Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods and the International Maritime Organization. He remains actively involved in international standards development through ongoing industry participation.
Date & Time: Thursday, August 26, 2026, 12:30 PM – 1:15 PM ET
Location: Innovation Spotlight Theater 1.0, Boston Convention & Exhibition Center
Format: In-person, part of MEDevice Boston 2026 / MedTech Innovation Expo
“Regulatory change at the UN level doesn’t stay at the UN level. It flows straight into product design, packaging, and time-to-market for every company shipping lithium-powered medical devices,” said Ryan Paquet, President of HazMat Safety Consulting and former Director of the Approvals and Permits Division at the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA). “Our goal with this session is to help manufacturers get ahead of these changes instead of reacting to them.”
Key topics include:
– Updates from the UN Subcommittee and MDTC working groups
– Proposed changes affecting lithium battery testing, classification and transportation
– Packaging,
