By - 12th September 2006
The European commission is set to propose new limits on the amount of liquids air passengers can take on board flights.
European transport commissioner Jacques Barrot said the measures would also restrict the size of hand luggage authorized on flights out of EU airports.
“We believe we have found a good balance between the need for more security and the need to keep air transport fairly easy and smooth, which is in the interest of the passengers and the air transport industry,” he told reporters on Wednesday.
An alleged August 10 terror plot, said to involve disguised liquid explosives concealed in soft drinks bottles, has put EU and US airports on high-alert.
Brussels, along with many in the air industry, is looking for a “solid assessment” of risk before permanent air security measures are required across the EU.
Technical and scientific work on the destructive explosive potential of possible liquid devices are ongoing as UK police investigations continue and intelligence is gathered on the August plot.
Debate at a meeting of EU aviation experts last week focused on either a “categorical ban or prohibitions on the amounts of liquids” carried by passengers.
The work is ongoing to define the minimum or maximum limits, to assess the impact of more random searches on baggage and the impact on duty free purchases, up to a third of revenue for EU airports.
“We need analysis for where to put minimum of maximum amounts of liquids,” said a commission official last week.
“You have to do tests, preparing items to measure strength within different circumstances. These tests take time.”
After agreement among national experts from the 25 EU governments measures can be introduced by a commission decision without reference to MEPs or councils of ministers.
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