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Since its first publication in 2002, the IEC 62133 series of standards has enabled international harmonization of safety testing of small cells and batteries. Since then, the standard has undergone major revisions in 2012 and most recently a major change in 2017. This article will detail these latest changes and their impact on compliance activities. The scope of the first and second editions of the IEC 62133 standard included nickel and lithium-ion battery chemicals. As technology has evolved, secondary lithium options in both lithium-ion and lithium-polymer forms have overtaken nickel batteries in most portable applications. As production of lithium batteries increased, the cost of lithium plummeted and the economics and safety of lithium batteries changed dramatically. In recognition of this fact, the latest version of the IEC 62133 standard is divided into two distinct parts. Part 1 deals with nickel chemistry and Part 2 focuses on lithium. This has led to some confusion as the pre