A number of ICAO Member States have begun to set out new restrictions on electronic items which can be carried on board passenger flights originating from other States.
The international aviation security requirements in this area are contained primarily in Annex 17 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago Convention), which stipulates that passengers and all their baggage must be screened.
In line with States’ responsibility to keep the level of threat to civil aviation under constant review, and to adjust relevant aviation security provisions accordingly, ICAO is constantly assessing threat and risk, and adjusting Annex 17 to address new and emerging threats.
Additional and related aviation safety concerns have also been identified through ICAO’s work on the carriage of dangerous goods. In this regard, ICAO will continue to work with the relevant safety and security authorities on the carriage of dangerous goods, including electronic devices containing lithium batteries in checked baggage, to support a safe, efficient and secure air transport system.
Finding an effective balance between safety and security approaches is always a priority in global aviation. While ICAO supports global standards to ensuring the facilitation of international mobility and connectivity, the extent to which the facilitation aspect is optimized is at the discretion of sovereign ICAO Member States. ICAO and its Member States will continue to review the evolving aviation security environment in the coming weeks.
?Montréal, 22 March 2017