New security measures at European airports from 1 March 2015 (Regulation 2015/187)
Despite what it may seem and the way the media have treated the news, the changes in security measures at cabin baggage checkpoints are going to be designed to make life easier for passengers, provided that the appropriate detection equipment. Let's look at the changes:
Remaining Regulation modified (Regulation (EU) No 185/2010):
4.1.2. Screening of cabin baggage
4.1.2.1 Before screening, laptops or other large electronic devices shall be removed from cabin baggage in order to be screened separately.
4.1.2.8. Any checked package containing large electrical apparatus shall be checked again after removal of the apparatus in question, which shall be scanned separately.
New regulation in force since 1 March 2015 (IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) 2015/187 OF THE COMMISSION of 6 February 2015):
4.1.2.1 Laptop computers and other large electronic devices shall be removed from cabin baggage for separate screening prior to screening, unless the cabin baggage is to be screened by explosive detection equipment (EDS) meeting C2 or a more restrictive standard.
4.1.2.8. Any bag containing a large electrical device shall be re-screened after removal of the item from the bag and the item shall be screened separately, unless the cabin baggage is to be screened by explosive detection equipment (EDS) to C2 or a more restrictive standard.
That is, if the airport has equipment detectors of type EDS standard C2 or higher it will not be necessary to extract of hand luggage, laptops and other electronic devices.
In addition to the above amendment, the following points 12.4.2.7 to 12.4.2.9 are added to Chapter 12:
12.4.2.7 All EDS equipment designed for cabin baggage screening shall comply with a minimum of C1.
12.4.2.8. All EDS equipment designed for the screening of cabin baggage containing laptops and other large electronic devices shall comply at least with the C2 standard.
12.4.2.9 All EDS equipment designed for the screening of cabin baggage containing laptops and other large electronic devices and liquids, aerosols and gels (LAGs) shall comply with a minimum of C3.
That is to say, all airports shall be equipped with EDS detection equipment at least C1 standard. If laptops and other electronic devices are to be carried, they must be C2 standard and if liquids (LAG) are to be carried, they must be C3 standard.
The following are therefore established new minimum requirements of this inspection equipment. It now remains to be seen when they will start to be implemented at airports and how this improvement in security will affect them. And it remains to be seen what these categories identified as standard C1, C2 and C3, which have not been mentioned to date, actually refer to.
Links:
- Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/187 of 6 February 2015 amending Regulation (EU) No 185/2010 as regards the screening of cabin baggage: http://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=DOUE-L-2015-80226
- Commission Regulation (EU) No 185/2010 of 4 March 2010 laying down detailed measures for the implementation of the common basic standards on aviation security: http://www.boe.es/buscar/doc.php?id=DOUE-L-2010-80425
Link to the standard in English and French:
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
