The National Secure Credentials Agency (ANTS), the body responsible for passports in France, has awarded Atos Origin and Sagem Sécurité with a biometric passport contract.

The contract will see Atos and Sagem manage the implementation and deployment of a new biometric passport system throughout France. The new passport is being developed under a new European Union directive to reinforce passport reliability and personal security whilst combating their fraudulent use.

Nearly 5,000 data acquisition and processing systems will be deployed in 2,000 French town halls and 350 prefectures and sub-prefectures before June 2009, making it possible to include fingerprints on passports.