On June 24, 2009, the UN Subcommittee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods voted 10-2 in favor of proposal to require nickel metal hydride batteries shipped by sea to be offered as fully-regulated Class 9 Miscellaneous dangerous goods. The proposal was filed with the UN Subcommittee by the vessel operators association (VOHMA), International Maritime Organization, Germany, France, and Belgium. PRBA will be working with VOHMA and Germany to develop the provisions for incorporation into the IMDG Code that limit the scope of the regulations to large consignments of cells and batteries.