Malta airport to screen liquids as part of EU pilot project

The Malta International Airport has been selected by the European Commission to participate in a pilot project for the screening of liquids, aerosols and gels.

The project will seek to assess the viability of screening liquids that passengers are currently banned from carrying past security checkpoints.

Security staff will still be entitled to confiscate most liquids of over 100 millilitres, but passengers who are carrying such liquids “under special conditions” will now be subjected to further screening.

Testing exercises for the pilot project will be conducted randomly throughout May and June in the MIA – along with the Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, Budapest International Airport, Alicante International Airport, and Dublin International Airport.

Current EU security screening regulations require passengers to store non-medical or non—special dietary liquids, aerosols and gels in containers with a capacity of 100ml or less.

They must all be carried in a one litre transparent re-sealable bag and presented to the security officers at the routine security check.

Liquids, aerosols or gels over 100ml which do not fall under the category of medicines or special dietary products other than duty free in Security Tamper Evident Bags (STEBS), or which are non-declared may be confiscated by security personnel.