July 16, 2026
Key Points
- UL Solutions shared safety science expertise at a WTO session on lithium-ion batteries, explaining the role of regulatory frameworks in supporting safety, innovation and global trade.
- The prevalence of lithium-ion batteries in industrial and consumer applications, such as e-bikes and electric vehicles, prompts stakeholders to focus on safety science, compliance and efficient market access.
- UL Solutions provides evaluation, testing and certification services to help battery and device manufacturers demonstrate compliance with UL Standards and key international, regional and national requirements.
The rapid rise of lithium-ion batteries is transforming industries, and continued demand for this technology has become foundational to the global energy transition. Global lithium-ion battery deployment was six times higher in 2025 than in 2020, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).
Advances in battery technology have made lithium-ion-powered products more affordable, more energy-dense, faster to charge and lighter, accelerating their adoption across consumer, commercial and industrial applications. These factors have contributed to the global proliferation of such devices. Today, lithium-ion batteries power a wide range of products, including mobile phones, laptops, smart watches, video game controllers, e-bikes and electric vehicles.
UL Solutions contributed its safety science expertise during a World Trade Organization (WTO) technical session on July 7 on regulatory cooperation for lithium-ion batteries, highlighting how effective regulatory frameworks can simultaneously advance safety, innovation and international trade.
Christian Roatta, lead for trade and multilateral affairs, represented UL Solutions during the WTO Technical Barriers to Trade Committee thematic session, joining government officials and industry experts from Europe, Asia and South America to discuss the future of lithium-ion battery regulation.
The aim of the session was “to explore the evolving regulatory landscape for lithium-ion batteries and their alternatives across all stages of the product life cycle, from design to use and end-of-life, as well as the role of regulatory cooperation in facilitating their trade,” according to the WTO website. The session was streamed live to a global audience and can be viewed online.
Roatta’s presentation, “Making Trade in Lithium-Ion Batteries Safe and Scalable: Why Regulatory Compatibility Matters Now,” highlighted how robust conformity assessment frameworks strengthen safety, build confidence in emerging technologies and enable more efficient access to global markets.
UL Solutions’ participation in the WTO event reflects the company’s broader commitment to advancing safety science and supporting internationally compatible regulatory approaches that strengthen supply chains, promote innovation and help protect consumers worldwide.
UL Solutions is a global leader in battery safety testing, providing services that can help manufacturers of batteries and battery-operated products streamline their market access activities. UL Solutions offers services to evaluate, test and certify batteries and products to UL Standards and applicable international, regional and national regulatory requirements.
Additional information about lithium-ion batteries and UL Solutions’ services is available on the Battery Safety Testing and Certification page at UL.com.
Photo caption: UL Solutions shared expertise on regulatory compatibility during a July 7 session on lithium-ion batteries at the World Trade Organization in Geneva. (Credit: © WTO)