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Aviation Security
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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 only countries that have been approved under this regulation are Croatia, Singapore, Kuala Lumpa International Airport in Malaysia, the USA and Canada.
Latest regulatory developments
The EU’s Aviation Security Regulatory Committee (AVSEC) reached a political agreement during its meeting on 18-19 November 2009 to lift all liquid restrictions at EU airports by 29 April 2013. 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 would have been allowed to freely transfer within any airport in the EU.
However, shortly before the deadline, the Commission announced that it was advising that the lifting of duty-free liquids restrictions be deferred as a number of EU airports would not have the necessary technology in place to screen liquids carried by transfer passengers and the regulation was eventually amended to delete the April 2011 deadline.
The April 2013 deadline for the lifting of all liquids restrictions remains in force and the Commission is working with all stakeholders to meet this date.
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