New rules restrict passengers on carrying liquids, aerosols and gels past screening points, whether on their persons or in their hand luggage, with the following exemptions:
- liquids in individual containers with capacity no greater than 100 milliliters packed in one transparent one-liter re-sealable plastic bag
[18 KB] ; - liquids which are to be used during the trip for medical purposes or special dietary requirements, including baby food;
- EU duty free liquids which have been obtained at EU airports or on board of an aircraft of an EU carrier on condition that they are packed in packed in security tamper-evident bag (STEB), inside which proof of purchase at airside at that airport on that day is displayed, as recommended by International Civil Aviation Organization
; - duty-free liquids purchased at certain airports in Croatia, Malaysia, Singapore or at international airports in Canada or the U.S on condition that they are packed in a STEB inside which satisfactory proof of purchase at airside at that airport within the preceding 36 hours is displayed.
This ban was envisaged as a temporary restriction to be lifted when suitable technology to screen liquids for explosives became readily available.
The European Commission is working towards removing all restrictions on the carriage of liquids in hand luggage with the intention to apply screening as a method for controlling liquids, rather than imposing bans. Starting in January 2014, the Commission recommends that passengers should be able to carry on board all duty free LAGs provided that they are screened. To implement these recommendations, in autumn 2012, the Commission brought forward proposals to amend the existing legislation on LAGs. Those proposals are in the legal process in order to obtain the agreement of the Member States and the European Parliament. In the light of the experience gained and in close cooperation with its European and international partners, the Commission will then bring forward proposals for subsequent phases to achieve the final objective of screening all LAGs at the earliest possible date.