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News article28 June 2022Joint Research Centre

Commission publishes performance requirements for X-ray equipment used to protect public spaces

New harmonised European performance requirements will pave the way for the use of high-quality X-ray scanners, reinforcing protection from security threats in public spaces across the EU.

Illustration of detection equipment
Until now, there were no harmonised European performance requirements for detection equipment outside aviation security.
© tiurin1 - stock.adobe.com 2022

On 23 June 2022, the Commission adopted a Recommendation on voluntary performance requirements for X-ray equipment used in public spaces. These performance requirements will encourage the procurement of high-quality, X-ray scanners, and will establish a benchmark for a high level of protection from security threats in public spaces across the Union.

X-ray scanners are used in many places, including – but not limited to – law enforcement, border security, customs, post services, transport, prisons, government buildings, and large sports and entertainment events. Until now, however, there were no harmonised European performance requirements for detection equipment outside aviation security.

The Commission Recommendation is addressed to Member States, who should use the X-ray performance requirements as technical specifications in future national procurement procedures. Member States are also recommended to require a written self-declaration of conformity from equipment suppliers during as part of the procurement tender documentation.

This way, the Recommendation aims to create a strong incentive for manufacturers of X-ray detection equipment to comply with these requirements in future production, thereby enhancing the European security market.

The mandate for this Commission Recommendation stems from the EU Counter-Terrorism Agenda (COM(2020)795) which sets out the objective to reinforce early detection capacities in public spaces. Based on this mandate, a Technical Working Group on detection performance requirements was established in December 2020.

The Technical Working Group is composed of Member State experts, manufacturers of detection equipment, and Commission services, with DG HOME and JRC playing a leading role.

This Recommendation for X-ray equipment is the first ever set of harmonised European requirements for threat detection equipment outside aviation, and it is anticipated that additional Commission Recommendations will follow for other categories of detection equipment used by frontline security personnel, such as metal detectors and handheld detectors of chemicals and explosives.

 

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Details

Publication date
28 June 2022
Author
Joint Research Centre