TSA approves tamper-evident bags for duty free liquids

The
Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has approved security tamper-evident bags for the
transportation of duty-free liquids, purchased post-TSA security, on flights
departing the United States for international destinations.
Tamper-evident bags must meet International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
guidelines. “The use of tamper-evident bags is another step in harmonizing
security measures with our international partners,” said TSA Administrator
Kip Hawley. Tamper-evident bags are for passengers departing the United States who have purchased duty-free
liquids in the secure area of U.S. airports. Tamper-evident bags
will not be accepted in the United States at security checkpoints. International
travelers arriving in the United States are reunited with their checked
bags and have the opportunity to store liquid duty-free items before their next
flight. Travelers exiting the United States, arriving at a non-U.S.
international airport, and continuing on to a final international destination
may not be provided this same opportunity as their bags go directly to their
final destination.

The use
of tamper-evident bags on U.S.-departing flights is an additional security
measure that will align with European Union security protocols and will reduce
the number of passengers who surrender duty-free liquids when transferring to
European or other international airports. This is part of ongoing TSA efforts
to harmonize security measures with transportation security partners around the
world. Vendors of duty free liquids will voluntarily begin using these bags
during the coming days and weeks.

The European travel-retail
organization welcomed TSA announcement regarding tamper-evident bags. The European Travel Retail
Council (ETRC) said the announcement is the result of an “active and sustainedcampaign” by the travel-retail industry but added that it is still unclearabout the immediate effects of the decision as the U.S. security
standards have not been formally approved by the European Union. “The ETRC andits partners across the EU will continue to lobby the European Commission and Member States to speed up
the process of security recognition between the EU and US, in order to ensureas swift a return to normal trading as possible,” it said in a statement. ETRC chairman Frank O’Connell said: “I am delighted with
this move by the TSA. We have been working hard with our colleagues in the US to achieve this for some time. Our immediate problem now
is to attain recognition of this move by the EU as quickly as possible, and
ensure business as normal for EU-bound passengers by the summer.”