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Stephen Hogan of Rapiscan Systems |
BELGIUM. Security technology company Rapiscan Systems has urged European Union Transport Ministers to back a European Commission proposal to end the confiscations of liquids and gels (LAGs) from transferring air travellers, claiming that the liquid screening technology is now ready to be deployed at airports.
As reported, European Union Transport Ministers meet in Luxembourg tomorrow (9 October) to discuss a new proposal by the European Commission that, if adopted, would end the “fear and confusion” caused today by the confiscations of LAGs at European airports, Rapiscan’s Stephen Hogan said in a press release issued today.
Rapiscan said: “Security technology companies, including Rapiscan Systems, have at the request of the European Commission and EU Member States perfected liquid screening technology that will facilitate the removal of the EU liquids ban by April 2010. This technology is now ready, it works. Once deployed at airports, it will provide enhanced security, while allowing Europe’s travellers to carry liquids freely without fear of having their liquids confiscated.”
The European Commission proposal, which calls for a phased removal of the liquids ban starting from next April, is “a pragmatic solution that will not result in additional delays at security checkpoints nor result in significant operational changes at European airports”, Rapiscan said. The proposal is also designed to allow airports to invest in a range of available, cost-effective liquid screening solutions, it added.
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The LAGs restrictions, prompted by the August 2006 terror alert in the UK, limit air passengers (including, critically, transfer passengers) to a maximum of 100ml of liquids, aerosols and gels.
The industry body European Travel Retail Council (ETRC) has been lobbying hard on the LAGs issue. But an ETRC spokesman cautioned this morning: “We are currently lobbying Member States and the European Parliament to support the [transfer exemption] proposal, but we do have a battle on our hands.”
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Rapiscan Systems says it has the technological solution to hand |
MORE STORIES ON LAGS RESTRICTIONS
ETRC lobbies hard in advance of vital meeting as optimism mounts over transfer issue – 08/10/09
ETRC meets EU Commissioner to discuss LAGs – 15/07/09
South Korean agreement with EU Commission on duty free LAGs is suspended indefinitely – 18/06/09
UK airports to remove LAGS restrictions “within six months to a year,” claims The Times – 12/03/09
