Aviation Security
Created on 16th of August 2007 Last Modified on the 24th of August 2009
Stringent new security requirements were introduced at all airports following the UK terrorist plot of 10 August 2006, and the current rules were first introduced on Monday 6 November 2006. However the situation is subject to frequent change and hence the latest information on aviation security is provided by the links at the foot of this page to the websites of the key organisations involved. A brief resumé of developments is given here, but for the latest information, visitors to this site are strongly recommended to use one or more of the links provided.
The current security rules were introduced on 6 September 2006 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 purchases will be placed in sealed tamper evident bags, as will purchases at airports with retailing situated airside but before security checks.
However, it is important to note that, currently, travellers arriving in the EU / EEA from a third country airport and transferring to another flight 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 be confiscated at security points, including duty free purchases made at their originating airport, even if they are sealed in a tamper evident bag.
On 01 December 2006, the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) issued a State Letter to its 189 member countries, recommending the introduction of similar rules to those adopted in the EU as from 01 March 2007. On 30 March 2007, the ICAO issued a second State Letter that provides a global standard specification for a security tamper evident bag (STEB), together with proposed principles for securing the supply chain, necessary to validate security standards between states. It is expected that a further State Letter will be issued in the near future on the application of a globally recognised validation process to maintain the integrity of security procedures.
Many countries outside Europe have now implemented the ICAO recommendations. However, without agreement from the EU that recognises their retail operations as being secure, there will be no change to the rules applied to transfer passengers arriving in the EU from these countries.
Details of the rules that apply to passengers arriving, departing and transferring at airports in countries that have implemented the ICAO recommendations are provided in a 'LAGs Regulation Tracker', developed by the European Retail Council (ETRC). This is a key document, updated regularly which can be viewed from the link shown below.
In addition there has recently been significant progress regarding a solution to the EU transfer passenger problem. On 31 July 2007, the European Commission formally adopted a new regulation that allows for the recognition of liquids bought in selected third country airports; 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 considers the security measures applied in third countries in relation to liquids as equivalent and the country also applies satisfactory overall standards of aviation security, the Commission will decide to grant exemptions. The first country to be approved under this process was Singapore; the new arrangements for Singapore came into effect on 3 January 2008.
On 8 August 2008 Croatia became the second country to be approved by the European Commission and from 20 August 2008, travellers from six Croatian airports (Dubrovnik, Rijeka, Pula, Split, Zadar and Zagreb) were able to carry their duty-free liquids, aerosols and gels on to connecting flights when transferring at an EU airport. Some sixteen other countries currently have applications pending with the European Commission; approvals have also since been agreed for South Korea and for a one-way arrangements with the USA (travellers from the US to Europe would be able to transfer within the EU with their purchases, but not vice versa). However in both cases the new transfer arrangements have yet to be implemented, despite being approved in principle. Other approvals are expected shortly.
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