Brussels, 26/03/2008 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 26 March, European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) Peter Hustinx adopted an opinion in which he recommends further exemptions from giving fingerprints, particularly for children and the elderly. The EDPS opinion is based on the Commission proposal to revise the 2004 regulation that sets minimum standards for security features and biometrics in passports and travel documents. Currently, the proposal is that children under the age of six should not have their fingerprints taken. Hustinx says that such exemptions are “insufficient” to remedy the imperfections of biometrics. To ensure more stringent safeguards, the EDPS recommends, inter alia, that the proposed age six limit should be provisional or brought into line with international practice (14 years of age). After three years, the age limit should be reviewed and defined by an in-depth study, the EDPS says. He also believes that an age limit for the elderly, based on similar practices already in place (79 years), should be introduced as an additional exemption. The EDPS opinion is available at: http: //http://www.edps.europa.eu . (B.C.)