EN Official Journal of the European Union L 77/8

COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) No 246/2013

of 19 March 2013

amending Regulation (EU) No 185/2010 as regards the screening of liquids, aerosols and gels at EU airports

(Text with EEA relevance)

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Regulation (EC) No 300/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2008 establishing common rules in the field of civil aviation security and repealing Regulation (EC) No 2320/2002 (1), and in particular Article 4(2) thereof,

Whereas:

(1) In accordance with Article 4(3) of Regulation (EC) No 300/2008, the Commission should adopt detailed measures for the implementation of the common basic standards on civil aviation security laid down in Annex I to that Regulation.

(2) Commission Regulation (EC) No 272/2009 (2) supplementing the common basic standards on civil aviation security, as amended, lays down methods, including technologies for the detection of liquid explosives, for liquids, aerosols and gels (LAGs) to be permitted to be taken into security restricted areas and on board an aircraft.

(3) The Commission may make proposals for revision, in particular taking into account the operability of equipment and passenger facilitation and in light of the Report (3) from the Commission to the European Parliament and to the Council on the assessment of the situation in respect of the security screening of liquids, aerosols and gels at EU airports. The Commission considers it appropriate to introduce the mandatory screening for liquid explosives of airport and air carrier sales of LAGs sealed in security tamper-evident bags (STEBs), as well as of LAGs to be used during the trip for medical purposes or a special dietary requirement, including baby food.

(4) The Commission is committed to the full lifting of restrictions on the carriage of liquids, aerosols and gels. On the basis of the experience gained from the implementation of screening as of January 2014, the Commission should review the situation by the end of 2014 and define, in close cooperation with all parties concerned, one or more next steps to reach this objective, if possible within the next two years following the first step.

(5) The Commission should follow closely the technological development of liquid explosives detection systems with a view to possibly allow airports to deploy in the future screening systems which are capable of addressing more threats (such as solid and liquid explosives) efficiently at the same time and of simplifying divesting procedures.

(6) Commission Regulation (EU) No 185/2010 of 4 March 2010 laying down detailed measures for the implementation of the common basic standards on aviation security (4) should therefore be amended accordingly.

(7) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee on Civil Aviation Security,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

The Annex to Regulation (EU) No 185/2010 is amended as set out in the Annex to this Regulation.

Article 2

By 30 June 2013, airports or the entity responsible for screening shall report to the appropriate authorities on the state of the implementation of the rules concerning the deployment and the use of liquid screening equipment. By 1 September 2013, Member States shall report to the Commission thereof.

Article 3

This Regulation shall enter into force on the day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Point 2 of the Annex shall apply from 31 January 2014.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States. Done at Brussels, 19 March 2013. For the Commission The President José Manuel BARROSO

(1) OJ L 97, 9.4.2008, p. 72.

(2) OJ L 91, 3.4.2009, p. 7.

(3) COM(2012) 404, 18.7.2012, not published.

(4) OJ L 55, 5.3.2010, p. 1.