EC president backs mutual recognition campaign

O’Connell told RavenFox.com: "It is highly significant that the president of the EC is committed to dealing with the problem quickly. He understands that EU citizens are being inconvenienced and has asked his officials to include the issue on the agenda for meetings leading up to the EU–US Summit in April.

"It was impressive how well briefed on the subject he was, and I was encouraged by his positive response," added O’Connell.

Frankfurt, Amsterdam Schiphol and Madrid Barajas airports report that they are confiscating more than 1,000 litres of duty-free liquids, aerosols and gels every day.

O’Connell and Barroso also discussed how some countries are negotiating their own bilateral agreements without a coordinated policy, as exemplified by Australia’s talks with New Zealand, Japan, Hong Kong and South Korea. There are concerns that this will become a growing trend the longer a global mutual recognition protocol is not in place.

"All the pieces needed to solve the problem are on the table," said O’Connell. "The question is how to pull them together and have protocol put in place between key countries. We effectively agreed to try to put in place a number of agreements that become a model for everybody."

The mutual recognition issue will be discussed at EU meetings leading up to the EU–US Summit on April 30, with a view to resolving the problem of confiscations before the summer tourist season begins.

Last month the Asia Pacific Travel Retail Association issued a release to its members urging them not to sell liquids, aerosols and gels to passengers transferring at European airports, because of the persistent problem of confiscation even after several Asian countries introduced the restrictions recommended by the International Civil Aviation Organization on March 1.