Introductory text

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^f1 and in particular Article 4(2) and (3).

Whereas:

In accordance with Article 4(2) of Regulation (EC) No 300/2008, the Commission is required to adopt general measures designed to amend non-essential elements of the common basic standards laid down in the Annex to that Regulation by supplementing them.

Article 4(3) of Regulation (EC) No 300/2008 further provides that the Commission must adopt detailed measures for implementing the common basic standards on civil aviation security laid down in the Annex to that Regulation, as supplemented by the general measures adopted by the Commission on the basis of Article 4(2).

In particular, Commission Regulation (EC) No 272/2009^f2 supplementing the common basic standards on civil aviation security provides for general measures in respect of methods of screening allowed for passengers as laid down in Part A of its Annex.

In order to allow the use of security scanners as method for the screening of passengers, provisions on this use, minimum detection performance standards and minimum operational conditions shall be set.

Commission Regulation (EU) No 185/2010^f3 should therefore be amended accordingly.

Security scanners shall be deployed and used in compliance with Council Recommendation 1999/519/EC of 12 July 1999 on the limitation of exposure of the general public to electromagnetic fields (0 Hz to 300 GHz)^f4 and Directive 2004/40/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 on the minimum health and safety requirements regarding the exposure of workers to the risks arising from physical agents (electromagnetic fields) (18th individual directive within the meaning of Article 16(1) of Directive 89/391/EEC)^f5.

By laying down specific operational conditions on the use of security scanners and by providing passengers with the possibility to undergo alternative screening methods, this Regulation respects fundamental rights and observes the principles recognised in particular by the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, including respect for human dignity and for private and family life, the right to the protection of personal data, the rights of the child, the right to freedom of religion and the prohibition of discrimination. This Regulation must be applied according to these rights and principles.

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

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: