site.btaState Agency for National Security to Collect, Process Air Passenger Data

State Agency for National Security to Collect, Process Air Passenger Data

Sofia, February 10 (BTA) - Bulgaria's Parliament Wednesday conclusively passed amendments to the State Agency for National Security Act, establishing a National Unit for Air Passenger Data Collection and Processing.

Under the revisions, the information will be provided to the National Unit by the air carriers or a service provider authorized by them, and the National Unit will immediately relay the data to the competent authorities under established criteria or when approached for a specific check.

Air carriers must transmit the information to the National Unit 48 hours before the published departure time or immediately before the flight.

Air passenger data may be processed for the purpose of prevention, detection, investigation and criminal prosecution of terrorism and other serious offences also in respect of Advance Passenger Information (API), which is part of air passenger data and is gathered for the purposes of border control. API refers to a passenger's identity such as full name, date of birth and nationality.

The National Unit will retain air passenger data for five years after their receipt.