Air passengers will face strict limits on the amount of liquids they can carry through airport security and on to aircraft from early November, the European Commission said yesterday.
However, they will still be allowed to buy larger containers of liquids, including drinks, at airport shops beyond the security checkpoints and bring these on board the aircraft.
They will have to take laptops and other large "electrical items" out of their bags for screening at airport security and face new compulsory limits on the size of hand luggage.
The new rules were agreed at a meeting of EU aviation experts yesterday in Brussels and will be enforced at airports throughout all EU member states, including Ireland. They are being introduced to combat the threat posed by terrorists, who last month were caught planning to use liquids explosives on British aircraft.
From early November passengers will only be allowed to take liquids, gels, baby formula, medicines and pastes in containers of a maximum size of 100 ml (about a third the size of a can of soda) through airport security.
They can place up to four or five of these containers into a transparent re-sealable plastic bag that can hold a maximum of one litre. Passengers will be required to present the bag for inspection at the security checkpoints.
The new rules would limit the size of carry-on bags to a maximum of 56 cm by 45 cm by 25 cm, the commission said, although exceptions could be made for musical instruments and some other items. The rules on carry- on bag size would come into force later to allow the industry time to prepare. Some airlines such as Ryanair already enforce similar restrictions.