This is off the DX website, presumably same applies to KD and all other overseas suppliers.
I expect that they will eventually make alternative arrangements via sea freight rather than loose business.

Dear Customers,

Due to the tighter security measures in air cargo service recently, all mail items entering the Air Mail Centre now are subjected to X-ray screening which leads higher risk on the refusal of the packages that contain lithium batteries. The airmail packages to all over the world are supposed to be delayed because of more frequent custom inspection.

In DX, batches of packages that included lithium batteries have been returned while some of them are still on the way on return. As not to cause further delay on the shipment, we are advised to cancel and fully refund for such orders. So if you ordered products with lithium batteries and there is no update on the airmail tracking website yet, please wait for a few more days and see if it is returned. We will contact you once your packages arrive at our warehouse.

At the same time, the inquiries for tracing packages have increased dramatically which causes backlog of tickets now. Please trace your order through the following links if it hasn’t arrived at you yet.
http://cs.dx.com/FAQ/Detail/135 

If you have done the tracking already and your ticket remains unanswered. Please allow us for few more days to catch up and we will always be your side to solve the problems for you.

We sincerely apologize for all these inconvenience caused to you. And thank you very much for your understanding and patience.

Best regards
DX Team

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Hi Roy,
Trust you enjoyed yourself 'up North'.
I see under the new Post Office guidelines you are not supposed to send batteries through the post.
Presumably this does not apply to private carriers
So perhaps there is a general concern about these items?
.

Royal Mail are OK with Li Ion, NiCad, NiMH etc as long as in manufacturers original sealed packaging.
Batteries contained within goods such as laptops and mobile phones are also OK.
No lead acid batteries of any type at all allowed.

The issue relates to air transit.
Common sense tells us that certain types of battery contain a charge and short circuits can cause a fire. Obviously protected Li Ion or Li Ion inside a consumer product contains short circuit protection. You can put a screwdriver accross any of my battery packs but dont hold your breath waiting for something to happen.

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This was the accident that ultimately has led to tighter restrictions on sending LiIon batteries:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UPS_Airlines_Flight_6 

The Royal Mail has adopted new guidelines on LiIon recently, but at the same time as restricting all sorts of other items... Spillable lead-acid batteries, solvent based paints etc.

Royal Mail's guidelines for personal customers here:
http://www.royalmail.com/personal/help-and-support/Tell-me-about-Restricted-Goods 

http://www.royalmail.com/sites/default/files/DangerousGoods_Leaflet_July2013.pdf 

LiIon through Royal Mail in a nutshell... Blanket ban on sending batteries by themselves UK and international. It is permissible to send electric devices fitted with LiIon batteries or packed alongside LiIon batteries subject to limits, packaging guidelines and labelling requirements - within the UK but NOT internationally.

Similar but subtly different restrictions apply to LiPo etc.

If you're posting batteries or posting equipment with batteries it pays to read and understand the guidelines. If the RM find non-disclosed restricted goods the entire package will be destroyed.

Carriers... Some will take them, some won't. It's easier if sending by road rather than air.

I now use TNT for certain UK and all international deliveries for CapLamps. I've had to register as a sender of dangerous good and am awaiting an inspection of what I'm sending. With the slight irony that the bulk of it is Oldham kit with L16 batteries... That are ATEX rated and certified for airfreight.

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I bought a load of ultrafire 18650's recently and the supplier shoved em in the post no problem at all. worked out a shade over a quid a piece including shipping.

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Royal Mail are OK with Li Ion, NiCad, NiMH etc as long as in manufacturers original sealed packaging.

No restriction on NiCad, NiMH or Alkaline etc. BUT you cannot send lithium batteries of any type through RM if they are not inside or connected to an electronic device, and there are restrictions on capacity, weight and actual weight of lithium (lithium metal batteries)

http://www.royalmail.com/sites/default/files/DangerousGoods_Leaflet_July2013.pdf 

No lead acid batteries of any type at all allowed.

Sealed lead-acid fine (up to certain weights). Same for gel cell. Labelling requirements apply. UK only via RM, no international.

Blanket ban is on spillable lead-acid.

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I bought a load of ultrafire 18650's recently and the supplier shoved em in the post no problem at all. worked out a shade over a quid a piece including shipping.

The supplier got away with it. As I suspect many will!

Senders can be prosecuted for breaking the new regulations., and more importantly for the buyer the package could be destroyed in part or whole.

I imagine many, many sellers of batteries will flout the regulations, particularly from abroad.

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The supplier got away with it. As I suspect many will!

Senders can be prosecuted for breaking the new regulations., and more importantly for the buyer the package could be destroyed in part or whole.

I imagine many, many sellers of batteries will flout the regulations, particularly from abroad.

they did come from china so no surprises there that 'rules' don't get complied with. To be honest I didn't know that you couldn't send Li batteries through the post. I may sound dim here (hence the need for new batteries!) but what is the thought process behind the no Li batteries in the post rule?

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China has been stopped hence my posting.
Regs appear contradictory as this pasted from the dangerous goods leaflet:

Electronic devices sent with lithium batteries
(including mobile phones, digital cameras, etc) where the battery is not connected to the device.
Packaging guidelines: The maximum number of lithium batteries allowed in each parcel is the minimum number required to power the device plus two spares. For lithium ion/polymer batteries the Watt-hour rating must not exceed 20Wh per cell or 100Wh per battery. For lithium metal/alloy batteries the lithium content must not be more than 1g per cell or 2g per battery. The maximum net quantity of cells or batteries is 5kg per parcel. Each cell and battery must be of a type proven to meet the requirements of each test in the UN Manual of Tests and Criteria, Part III, section 38.3. Cells or batteries that are defective or damaged are forbidden. Cells and batteries must be packed in inner packagings that completely enclose the cell or battery and protect them from short circuit. The equipment sent with cells or batteries must be packed in strong rigid packaging and must be secured against movement within the outer packaging and packed to prevent accidental activation. Must be presented at the counter. Sender’s name and address must be visible on the parcel.

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