|
|
Aviation Security
|
|
|
Background
Following the 10 August 2006 terrorist plot in the UK, as from 6 November 2006, new security rules were implemented for travellers taking a flight from EU, Norwegian, Icelandic and Swiss airports, regardless of destination. These rules allow airport retailing after security checks to be business as usual with no new restrictions, except for travellers transferring at another EU airport. Their liquids, aerosols and gel (LAGs) purchases will be placed in a sealed tamper evident bag, as will purchases at airports with retailing situated airside but before security checks.
However, it is important to note that, at present, travellers arriving in the EU / EEA from a non-EU country airport and transferring to another flight, unless arriving from an approved airport (see below), will not be allowed to carry larger quantities than the permitted personal allowances (max. 100 ml. containers) on board their next flight and these liquids, gels, etc. will have to be forfeited at security points, including duty free purchases made at their originating airport, even if they are sealed in a tamper evident bag.
Many countries outside Europe have also implemented the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) recommendations on the security of liquids on board of aircraft and the supply chain for LAGs and STEBs at airports. For more information, access the news on the ICAO website.
Third country recognition
On 31 July 2007, the European Commission formally adopted a regulation that allows for the recognition of liquids bought in selected third country airports and the European Union will now be able to agree to accept duty free liquids from 'recognised' countries as being secure, thereby allowing transfer passengers to continue their journeys without having to surrender their goods.
If the Commission is satisfied that the security measures applied in a third country in relation to liquids meets ICAO standards, the Commission can decide to grant exemptions. The first country to be formally approved was Singapore on 14 December 2007 and as from 03 January 2008 travellers from Changi Airport have not had to forfeit their duty free LAGs when passing though transfer security screening points at EU airports.
Croatia became the second country to receive EU approval and as from 20 August 2008 travellers with LAGs arriving from the six Croatian airports are now free to transfer at EU airports.
An agreement was finally reached with the US in January 2009 in a somewhat controversial move, as this decision is only one-way - limited to those passengers travelling from the United States into the EU. For outbound passengers from the EU to the United States, current restrictions on liquid purchases will continue to apply. The new arrangement for EU bound travellers from international airports in the US came into effect on 19 February 2010. Negotiations were also finalised between the EU and Transport Canada in early 2010 and travellers to the EU from Canadian Airports transferring to another flight are free to carry their duty free LAGs with them from the same date.
As from 25 May, travellers from Malaysia’s Kuala Lumpa Airport will also be allowed to transfer freely at EU airports and became the final third country to have its airport approved by the Commission. No further countries will have their airports approved before the entry into force of Regulation 297/2010 (see below)
Latest regulatory developments
The EU’s Aviation Security Regulatory Committee (AVSEC) reached a political agreement during its meeting on 18-19 November to lift all liquid restrictions at EU airports by 29 April 2013. Following intensive lobbying by ETRC it was also agreed to lift restrictions on transfer passengers carrying liquids, aerosols and gels arriving in the EU from any departure country from April 29, 2011.
Under the agreement, from 29 April 2011 any traveller arriving in the EU carrying duty free liquids, aerosols and gels sealed inside a tamper-evident bag (that meets ICAO specifications) with a receipt that shows it was purchased within the last 36 hours can freely transfer within any airport in the EU.
Following approval by the European Parliament, the formal Regulation 297/2010 was published in the OJ on 10 April 2010.
| |
| |
|
