Amended EU and Singapore OSS arrangement limits duty free purchases
Singapore Changi Airport
Starting November 14, passengers traveling through Singapore Changi Airport to the European Union (EU) are no longer able take liquids, aerosols and gels purchased duty free on an earlier leg of their journey into the EU.
A Changi Airport Group spokesperson tells Global Travel Retail Magazine (GTRM) today that this move is an update to the existing One-Stop Security (OSS) arrangement between the European Union and Singapore government, which was originally signed February 6, 2018. The agreement serves to facilitate seamless air travel through mutual recognition of the validated aviation security measures, the Group spokesperson says.
The original 2018 agreement between the European Union and Singapore government
"This agreement allows passengers with cabin bags and security tamper-evident bags (STEBs) originating from Changi Airport in Singapore to transfer onto a connecting flight at EU airports without going through security checks a second time. To fulfill the requirements of the OSS, airlines operating flights to EU countries from Changi Airport are tasked to ensure STEBs not originating from Singapore are not brought to the cabin.
Ground staff at the gate hold-room will help direct passengers to the airline staff on duty for assistance. The EU-Singapore OSS arrangement is similar to existing arrangements already in place that the EU has with other countries such as the United States and Canada. The EU-Singapore agreement for OSS covers all the airports within the EU," the spokesperson tells GTRM.
The amended arrangement will likely have major implications for any duty free retailers that passengers would usually purchase from before transiting through Changi. Only duty free items purchased at Changi or inflight from Changi can be brought into the EU and must be done so in STEBs.
Singapore Airlines issued a news alert warning passengers of the updated OSS on arrangement November 12
Singapore Airlines (SIA) published a news alert on the updated arrangement on November 12, notifying passengers of the "restrictions on carriage of duty-free alcohol, liquids, aerosols, and gels from Singapore to European Union destinations."
In the statement, SIA said, "Passengers transiting to European Union destinations via Singapore will not be allowed to carry duty-free liquids, aerosols, and gels (LAGs) purchased from previous sectors. This is to comply with the European Union security requirements.
Only duty-free alcohol, liquids, aerosols, and gels purchased on board flights from Singapore to EU destinations, or at duty-free shops in Changi Airport’s transit area with security tamper-evident bag and proof of purchase, will be allowed to be brought into these destinations."
