New security measures at European airports as from 1 March 2015 (Regulation No 2015/187)
Despite what would seem to be the case and how the news has been dealt with by the media, the amendments made to security measures on the screening of cabin baggage are aimed at making life easier for passengers, provided suitable detection equipment is available. Let’s have a look at the amendments:
Amended Regulation (Regulation (EU) No 185/2010):
4.1.2. Screening of cabin baggage
4.1.2.1. Before screening, portable computers and other large electrical items shall be removed from cabin baggage and shall be screened separately.
4.1.2.8. Any bag that is found to contain a large electrical item shall be screened again with the item no longer in the bag and the electrical item screened separately.
New Regulation in force as from 1 March 2015 (COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) No 2015/187 of 6 February 2015):
4.1.2.1. Before screening, portable computers and other large electrical items shall be removed from cabin baggage and shall be screened separately, unless the cabin baggage is to be screened with Explosive Detection Systems (EDS) equipment meeting standard C2 or higher.
4.1.2.8. Any bag that is found to contain a large electrical item shall be screened again with the item no longer in the bag and the electrical item screened separately, unless the cabin baggage was screened with EDS equipment meeting standard C2 or higher.
In other words, there is no need to remove portable computers and other electrical items from cabin baggage if the airport is equipped with EDS equipment meeting standard C2 or higher.
Additionally, in chapter 12, the following points 12.4.2.7 to 12.4.2.9 are added:
12.4.2.7. All EDS equipment designed to screen cabin baggage shall meet at least standard C1.
12.4.2.8. All EDS equipment designed to screen cabin baggage containing portable computers and other large electrical items shall meet at least standard C2.
12.4.2.9. All EDS equipment design to screen cabin baggage containing portable computers and other large electrical items and LAGS shall meet at least standard C3.
In other words, all airports should be equipped with EDS equipment meeting at least standard C1. If they wish portable computers and other electrical devices to be embarked, the equipment will have to meet standard C2 and, if they wish liquids, aerosols and gels (LAG) to be embarked, it will have to meet standard C3.
Hence, new minimum requirements have been established for this kind of screening equipment. All that remains is to find out when such equipment will be installed at airports and how this improvement affects security. In addition, we still have to see what these categories identified as standards C1, C2 and C3 – which had not been mentioned previously – actually refer to.
Link to the regulation in French and English:
FR: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/FR/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32015R0187&from=CS
EN: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32015R0187&from=CS
Authors:
Manuel T. Rodriguez
Ricardo Carrera
