Learn mandarin - U.S. eases rules for medicine on planes

WORLD / America

U.S. eases rules for medicine on planes
(AP)
Updated: 2006-08-14 08:58

WASHINGTON - Air travelers were handed new rules Sunday, given permission
to carry small amounts of liquid nonprescription medicine onto a plane
and instructed to remove their shoes during security checks.

A plane is seen taking off from Gatwick Airport, where passengers have
been delayed following new security measures brought into force after
authorities uncovered an alleged terror plot to blow up US-bound planes.
Britain has downgraded its security threat from "critical" to
"severe".[AFP]

The shoes have to be placed on an X-ray belt for screening before
passengers can put them back on.

The eased restrictions on medicine and the mandatory shoe removal were
among several measures the Transportation Security Administration ordered
Sunday in response to the thwarted terror plot in Britain involving
U.S.-bound airplanes.

TSA had previously banned all liquid medications; now it will allow up to
4 ounces of liquid nonprescription medicine.

The alleged conspirators had planned to blow up as many as 10 planes
flying from Britain to the U.S. using liquid explosives, which TSA's
security equipment can't detect in carryon luggage.

In other measures, TSA said it would let flyers carry on low blood sugar
treatments including glucose gel for diabetics; solid lipstick; and baby
food. But it said all aerosols are prohibited.

On Saturday, the TSA added mascara to the list of banned items, which
includes baby teethers with gel or liquid inside, children's toys with
gel inside and gel candles.

Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff reassured people things
would only go so far.

"I don't see us moving to a total ban on hand baggage at this point," he
told ABC's "This Week" on Sunday.

Chertoff said the government was putting "less emphasis on the nail
clippers and the nail scissors" and more on training additional screeners
"specifically to look for modern-type detonation equipment that might be
concealed in baggage."

TSA said it wanted to remove any ambiguity from its procedures,
particularly over the handling of shoes.

Until now, the agency has strongly suggested removing shoes for the
screening belt, but hasn't required that.

Now, travelers must take them off before walking onto airplanes. Flyers
can continue to wear shoes containing gel heels, but they must remove any
sort of gel sole insert and put those into checked baggage.

Airport travelers also should expect to see broader use of police-trained
sniffing dogs, TSA said, along with random gate inspections and bag
searches. But the TSA is limited by law to 45,000 screeners at the 450
commercial airports.

TSA chief Kip Hawley said the latest changes were based on feedback from
security officers and the public.

"We are maintaining the same level of security while clarifying
interpretations in the field," he said Sunday. "These tweaks are aimed at
making a smoother process at the checkpoint."

The changes offer the same level of security that has been in place since
last Thursday, but is intended to minimize the impact on travelers,
officials said.

Screeners have begun searching more carryon luggage by hand. They also
are randomly checking passengers at airport gates to make sure that they
haven't bought toothpaste or drinks at airport shops after going through
a security checkpoint.

Passengers are asked to arrive at least two hours early to allow for the
additional screening. Those traveling to the United Kingdom should find
out from their about any extra security measures or precautions that
might be required. Laptop computers, mobile phones and iPods were among
items banned on British flights.

The nation's threat level remains the highest possible, "severe," or
"red," for U.S.-bound commercial flights originating in Britain. All
other flights operating in or destined for the United States remain at
"high," or "orange."

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