MONTREAL — Airline passengers around the world are now banned from carrying e-cigarettes in checked baggage because of risks that the heating elements will catch fire.

The International Civil Aviation Organization says it has amended rules governing the transportation of dangerous goods to prohibit both passengers and crew from putting e-cigarettes and other battery-powered portable electronic smoking devices in checked bags.

The change also bars recharging the devices in aircraft cabins.

The Montreal-based ICAO says several incidents have been reported where heating elements were accidentally activated and resulted in fires.

The aviation agency recommended in December that airlines take action and require passengers to carry the devices in the airplane cabin, but has only now adopted a formal amendment to its technical instructions.

Air Canada and WestJet already prohibited e-cigarettes in checked bags and their use on board.