Sub-Committee B considered this draft Regulation at its meeting on Monday 9 July. The Committee was content to lift scrutiny.

  However, we would be grateful for further clarification of paragraph 14 of your EM in which you refer to `the development of technologies and operational procedures capable of physical screening of potential threat liquids'. Could you tell us what testing of such technologies is taking place, and when you expect such screening devices to be installed in Member State airports? We understand that they are already operational in some countries outside of the European Union.

11 July 2007

  Thank you for your letter of 11 July requesting further information about the development of technologies and operational procedures around the screening of liquids.

  The main thrust of this work is directed towards identifying a means of routinely screening for possible threat liquids, to obviate the need for the present close limit on the amount of liquids which may be taken through airport screening points, and for such liquids to be presented separately. No such equipment is yet in operational use, here or overseas, but much intensive research and development work is going forward, including in Europe under the aegis of the European Civil Aviation Conference's (ECAC) Technical Task Force, and in the USA under that of the Transportation Security Administration. The Department's own technical experts are closely involved in the work being led by ECAC, and we and ECAC naturally maintain a continuing dialogue with the US agencies about their own work. This enables results to be shared, and prevents duplication of effort. There is also a close engagement with equipment manufacturers, so that product development can be properly informed.

  A number of technologies of potential value are being explored, including in particular special x-ray applications, electromagnetic analysers, and trace and vapour systems. Some are technically innovative, yielding novel methods of detection, whilst others are modifications and enhancements of current methods. All are intended to address the considerable operational and detection challenges of this specific problem. You will understand that the detail of this research and development is sensitive, and not made public in order to avoid compromising the effectiveness of any resulting applications.

  There are encouraging signs, as some of these technologies move towards a reasonably mature stage of investigation or approach the operational trial stage, that a viable solution for routine liquids screening will be found. It is still however too soon to say when one or more may be judged sufficiently mature, and proven through trialling, to be sanctioned for front line deployment at EU airports. In the meantime we and our opposite numbers overseas are also looking, within this mass of research effort, for processes and equipment which, while not suitable for mass screening, may have value in smaller scale or niche applications to address particular problems, and which may be available sooner. Trials of such applications are typically not publicised, once again in order to avoid putting information about possible future counter-measures into the wrong hands.

10 August 2007