§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his policy over implementation of the 1993 EC baggage reconciliation directives.
§ Mr. Steven Norris[holding answer 11 January 1993]: Council regulation (EEC) No. 3925/91 and Commission regulation (EEC) No. 1823/92 concern the elimination of Customs controls and formalities applicable to the cabin and hold baggage of persons taking an intra-Community flight or making an intra-Community sea crossing. One of the detailed rules laid down in the Commission regulation was that hold baggage registered in a Community airport was to be identified by means of a green edged tag with specified technical characteristics. The Commission regulation also required each member state to provide the Commission with a list of airports approved for air traffic with third countries—"international community airports". The regulations are binding in their entirety and are directly applicable in all member states. They applied from 1 January 1993.
The Commission discussed its detailed proposals about baggage tags with the International Air Transport Association and other organisations, and Customs and Excise and my Department discussed the implementation of the rule with United Kingdom airlines and airports. Customs and Excise have notified the Commission of 34 international Community airports in the United Kingdom and have subsequently added Ronaldsway, Isle of Man, to the list. My Department has recently written to all airlines operating in the United Kingdom to remind them of the baggage tagging requirement.