European nations are divided as to whether to deploy them in airports.  Officials from some countries, like Germany have cited health and privacy issues. Meanwhile the Netherlands and Britain have announced they will install scanners in the coming weeks. 

Barbara Hellfferich, a European Commission spokesperson, says there are currently no European Union rules preventing member states from introducing body scanners and the European commission's position is clear.

In Britain, the heads of airport security are meeting with government officials to discuss rolling out new security measures.  The prime minister's announcement  this week that scanners will be in UK airports in the next three weeks has sparked protest from civil liberties campaigners.