4. PASSENGERS AND CABIN BAGGAGE

Other than as referred to in point 3 below, all departing passengers (i.e. originating and transfer passengers, unless previously screened to the standard detailed in this Annex), shall be screened to prevent prohibited articles from being introduced into the security restricted areas and on board an aircraft. Passengers shall be screened by the following methods: searched by hand; or screened by Walk-Through-Metal-Detection equipment. Where Walk-Through-Metal-Detection equipment is used there shall also be a continuous random hand search of screened passengers. Such hand searches shall be carried out on all passengers who cause the equipment to alarm, as well as a continuous random search which shall be carried out on those passengers who do not cause the equipment to alarm, and if: the alarm is activated, the person shall be required to be screened again with Walk-Through-Metal-Detection equipment; or searched by hand where the support of a hand held metal detector may be employed. Where Walk-Through-Metal-Detection equipment is used, it shall be calibrated to such a level as to reasonably ensure that small metallic items are detected. Appropriate authorities may create categories of persons that shall be subject to special screening procedures or exempted from screening. Security provisions shall be developed for potentially disruptive passengers. Screened departing passengers shall not mix with arriving passengers who may not have been screened to the standard detailed in this Annex. Where these passengers cannot be physically separated then the security objective shall be achieved by the application of compensatory measures in accordance with the assessment of the risk by the competent authority. The cabin baggage of all departing passengers (i.e. originating and transfer passengers, unless previously screened to the standard detailed in this Annex), shall be screened prior to being allowed into security restricted areas and on board an aircraft. Any prohibited articles shall be removed from the passenger's possession or the passenger denied access into the security restricted area or the aircraft as appropriate. Cabin baggage shall be screened by one of the following methods: a full hand search of the content of each bag, with each bag being examined for suspicious signs such as inconsistent weight etc; or screened by conventional x-ray equipment with hand searching of screened bags also being conducted on a continuous random basis, where the percentage of persons so searched is not less than 10 %, including those about which the operator has concerns; or screened by High Definition x-ray equipment fitted with TIP installed and employed. Only those bags about which the operator has concerns need be searched by hand but the hand search may be supported by use of Trace Detection Equipment. Cabin baggage of those parties listed under point 4.1 paragraph 3 may be subject to special screening procedures or exempted from screening. Subject to the provisions of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, diplomats and other privileged persons and their personal baggage, except ‘diplomatic bags’, shall be liable to screening for security purposes. Air carrier staff responsible for receiving diplomatic bags shall make sure that they have, in fact, been sent by duly-appointed officials of the missions concerned. Diplomatic couriers and their personal baggage are not exempted from screening.

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Source: EUR-Lex (Cellar) · retrieved 2026-11-10 · Text as adopted (Official Journal); later amendments are not incorporated in this text.