- Contributes to EC priorities:
Threat detection equipment is used in a wide range of sectors, including – but not limited to – law enforcement, border security, customs, post services, transport, prisons, government buildings and large sports / entertainment events. Despite the enormous market, however, there are no harmonised European performance requirements or test methods for detection equipment outside aviation security (where EU requirements were established in 2002). Consequently, the equipment used in public areas can be of unknown and varying efficacy.
In cooperation with expert groups comprising stakeholders and equipment manufacturers, JRC is helping to develop detection performance requirements for various categories of detection equipment intended for protecting public spaces, including:
conventional x-ray scanners
metal detection equipment (handheld & walk-through)
handheld detectors for explosives and chemicals (e.g. Raman, infrared, trace detection)
After defining performance requirements, JRC will help develop harmonised testing methods to verify the capability of the detection systems to fulfil all, or some, of the performance requirements.
The policy work is led by the Commission’s Directorate General for Migration and Home Affairs (DG HOME), and the mandate for this work is stems from the EU Counter-Terrorism Agenda (COM(2020)795).
So far, this work has led to the following deliverables:
-
Commission Recommendation (EU) 2022/1341 of 23 June 2022 on voluntary performance requirements for X-ray equipment used in public spaces (outside aviation)
-
Commission Recommendation (EU) 2023/1468 of 10 May 2023 on voluntary EU performance requirements for metal detection equipment used in public spaces
