Passengers travelling through European Union airports have just one week left before new regulations on hand luggage come into effect.
Starting September 1, all travellers will be prohibited from carrying any liquids, gels, or aerosols in containers exceeding 100ml in their hand luggage. The only exceptions to this rule are baby food and prescribed medicines.
This regulation, which has been in place for nearly 20 years, was initially introduced in 2006 following a foiled terrorist plot to detonate liquid explosives disguised as soft drinks on transatlantic flights.
While many airports across the EU continued to enforce the 100ml limit on liquids, some began introducing new scanning technology aimed at easing these restrictions.
The new-generation C3 scanning equipment, also known as Explosive Detection Systems for Cabin Baggage (EDSCB), is designed to efficiently scan hand luggage in 3D, allowing passengers to carry larger quantities of liquids through security without needing to remove them from their bags.
Dublin Airport has been gradually rolling out these scanners over the past year, but despite the new technology’s potential to streamline security procedures, the EU has decided to maintain the strict 100ml limit.
The decision to uphold the liquid restriction comes after the European Union reviewed the performance of the new scanners and concluded that they did not meet the required standards for which they were initially approved.
As a result, starting September 1, passengers across all EU airports will have to adhere to the 100ml rule, ensuring all liquids, gels, and aerosols are placed in a single small, resealable plastic bag when passing through security checkpoints.
A spokesperson for the European Commission told Devon Live: “The Commission has not changed its opinion on the quality of this new generation of scanners and their performance has not been called into question.”
However, the decision to enforce the longstanding liquid restrictions may come as a surprise to travellers who have become accustomed to more lenient security measures at airports equipped with the latest scanning technology.
Passengers are advised to check local regulations at each airport as security scanner systems may vary across the UK and Europe.
As the September 1 deadline approaches, travellers are encouraged to prepare accordingly and ensure all liquids in their hand luggage comply with the 100ml limit to avoid delays and potential confiscations at airport security.