 EU Aviation Security Committee agrees new rules for the EU
(27 September 2006)
Type : Latest news
Heading : Aviation Security
After detailed discussions today (27 September), the EU's Regulatory Committee for Civil Aviation Security (AVSEC) gave a positive opinion on the Proposal from the European Commission for additional EU aviation security rules.
In a press release issued this evening, the Commission announced that the new rules would:
- Limit the individual quantities of liquids allowed to be carried by passengers (from landside to airside) to 100 ml per container
- Require that the number of containers fit in one transparent resealable plastic bag of a maximum size of 1 litre
- Require passengers to present the plastic bag at security checkpoints
- Limit the size of cabin baggage to a maximum of 56 cm (22 ins) x 45 cm (17 ins) x 25 cm (10 in)
- Require passengers to remove coats and jackets at security checkpoints
- Require laptops and large electrical items to be removed from bags at security points.
More importantly for the trade, the new rules will permit passengers to buy under certain conditions larger quantities of liquids at airport shops beyond the point where boarding passes are controlled. This means that liquids, gels and pastes purchased from retail outlets beyond the point where boarding passes are controlled will not be affected by any new security measure. Separate rules are not required for retail outlets located after boarding card checkpoints but before security control. Passengers will be able to shop as normal in all airside shops.
Commission Vice-President, Jacques Barrot, commented: "Thanks to the positive opinion of the Committee, I will now submit a proposal to the College (of Commissioners) to formally incorporate these rules into Community law. I expect this to be adopted in the course of next week." He went on to note that the results "strike the necessary balance between a tough approach to security, the comfort of passengers and the needs of the industry".
The new rules will come into effect in early November after they have been published by the European Commission in the Official Journal.
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