Brussels, 15/06/2010 (Agence Europe) - Security scanners may be considered as offering a reliable and effective screening method which detects metallic and non-metallic objects carried by a person, concludes the communication on the use of body scanners in EU airports, adopted by the European Commission on Tuesday 15 June after a four-month impact assessment study on this technology in relation to passenger privacy, health and safety (EUROPE 10078). The report will be forwarded to the European Parliament and to the Council (on 24 June) and, on the basis of consultation with both these institutions, the Commission will decide whether or not there is need to legislate on the matter. It is nonetheless in favour of adopting a European approach aimed at ensuring that deployment and use of security scanners, where necessary, are based on common standards, which would be the only way to ensure equal protection of fundamental rights and of health.
“It is for each member state to decide to authorise the use of scanners in national airports”, but, when scanning technology is used, it should be covered by “EU-wide standards on detection capability as well as common safeguards to ensure compliance with EU health and fundamental rights provisions”, said Transport Commissioner Siim Kallas, in charge of the report. Having closely examined, at the request of the European Parliament, all the scanning methods currently accessible, the report published on Tuesday rules out health risks (except for scanners based on ionising radiation) and risks relating to the protection of fundamental rights entailed by scanning technology. On the contrary, the Parliament states, this technology, if used with caution, can improve the quality of security checks by strengthening detection capacity for products such as liquid or plastic explosives. In line with the legislation in force, member states are free to introduce scanners either invoking the use of security measures that are more stringent than the minimum European requirements, or as a trial for new technologies. Their use, which has become increasingly widespread after a failed terrorist attack on the Amsterdam-Detroit flight last December, is therefore governed by national rules, independently of European security standards. At the present time, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, France, Finland and Italy are testing scanners in airports. Rome is even planning to introduce the technology in railway stations. At world level, the United States plans to deploy up to 1,800 scanners by 2014 and to make body scanning its most important security screening method. Canada currently uses 15 body scanners and 44 are to be installed by 2011. Scanners have also been installed in Russian airports since 2008 and Russia hopes to extend their use. Australia, Nigeria, India, South Africa and Kenya plan to use scanners, while China (including Hong Kong) and South Korea are studying the possibility. (A.By./transl.jl)