New security procedures for screening liquids carried in hand baggage will be implemented in MIA effective 01 March

To mitigate the treat of a terrorist act against civil aircraft using liquid explosives, the Civil Aviation Authority of Macao SAR (AACM) will implement new security procedures for screening liquids, gels and aerosols carried in hand baggage with effect from 01 March 2007. All departing and transit/transfer passengers of the Macau International Airport are required to comply with the new procedures.

The new procedures are applicable to liquids such as water, soups, syrups, juices and other drinks, as well as to gels, pastes, lotions, and the contents of aerosols such as  toothpaste, shaving cream, hair gel, lip gloss, facial creams, mascara and liquid lip balms and any other solutions of similar consistency.

Effective 01 March 2007, except for hold baggage, all liquids carried in hand baggage must be carried in containers with a capacity not greater than 100 ml. Containers must be placed in a transparent re-sealable plastic bag of a maximum capacity not exceeding 1 litre (or 20cm x 20cm). The containers must fit comfortably within the transparent plastic bag, which must be completely closed. The plastic bag must be presented for examination at the screening point.  Only one transparent plastic bag per passenger is permitted. To facilitate screening and avoid a cluttered x-ray image, such plastic bags containing liquid containers must be presented apart from other cabin baggage, coats and jackets or laptops for separate x-ray screening.

Exemptions are made for medications under prescription, baby milk/foods and special dietary requirements.  However, an appropriate and proportionate means of verifying the nature of such liquids must be available and presented to the security personnel for inspection before such liquids can be taken on board.

Further exemptions are made in respect of liquids purchased either at airport duty free shops, or on board aircraft, on the condition that the liquid is packed in a sealed plastic bag that is both tamper-evident and displays satisfactory proof of purchase at airport duty free shops, or on board aircraft, on the day(s) of the journey for departing as well as transfer passengers.

Taking into consideration the terrorist plot against civil aircraft involving a liquid explosive that took place in the Heathrow Airport, London, in August 2006,  the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), with the aim of enhancing global aviation safety, issued a recommendation to all contracting states urging them to implement the above measures with effect from 01 March 2007. To cope with such recommendation, the Facilitation and Security Committee, responsible for devising the aviation security strategies of Macao’s aviation, decided to put the measures into force on the same day. Other Asian countries or areas which have announced the implementation of the respective procedures on 01 March 2007 include Japan, Republic of Korea and Taiwan and so on.  

To ensure the safe and healthy development of Macao’s aviation, AACM guarantees to strictly follow the standards and recommendations of ICAO as well as makes certain that the industry operators comply with all regulations. Aiming at a smooth implementation of the new procedures, the airport operators and the airlines have shown collaborative efforts, for example, the security personnel have undergone appropriate training to cope with the screening procedures.