Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/449 of 27 February 2026 amending Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/1998 as regards certain detailed measures for the implementation of the common basic standards on aviation security

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Regulation (EC) No 300/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2008 on common rules in the field of civil aviation security and repealing Regulation (EC) No 2320/2002 (1), and in particular Article 4(3) thereof,

Whereas:

(1) Experience gained with the application of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/1998 (2) has shown that minor amendments are necessary with regard to the detailed measures for the implementation of certain common basic standards on aviation security.

(2) Certain detailed aviation security measures in the areas of access control, vehicle examination, aircraft security and air carrier security programmes, in-flight and airport supplies, as well as on explosive detection dogs, should be enhanced in order to meet the evolving threat and risk landscape.

(3) Furthermore, certain detailed aviation security measures should be clarified, harmonised or simplified in order to improve legal clarity, standardise the common interpretation of the relevant provisions and ensure an appropriate implementation of the common basic standards on aviation security.

(4) In addition, the deadline of 1 October 2025 laid down in the Annex to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/1998 for the upgrade of the algorithms for the detection of chemicals by explosive trace detection (ETD) equipment needs to be postponed by at least 12 months, as the on-going tests of such algorithms, performed by Member States laboratories under the Common Evaluation Process of the European Civil Aviation Conference, are not yet completed.

(5) As some of the measures in the area of screening of in-flight and airport supplies by means of x-ray, explosive trace detection (ETD) and explosive vapour detection (EVD) equipment require certain adjustments to the procedures currently implemented by airports and regulated suppliers, their application should be postponed by at least 6 months from the adoption of this Regulation.

(6) Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/1998 should therefore be amended accordingly.

(7) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee established by Article 19 of Regulation (EC) No 300/2008,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

The Annex to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/1998 is amended in accordance with the Annex to this Regulation.

Article 2

This Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. However, points 11 and 17 of the Annex to this Regulation shall apply from 1 October 2026.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

Done at Brussels, 27 February 2026.

For the Commission The President Ursula VON DER LEYEN

(1) OJ L 97, 9.4.2008, p. 72, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2008/300/oj.

(2) Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/1998 of 5 November 2015 laying down detailed measures for the implementation of the common basic standards on aviation security (OJ L 299, 14.11.2015, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2015/1998/oj).