European airports reimpose 100ml hand luggage liquids rule

Airports across the EU have reimposed the 100ml rule on liquid containers being taken onboard aircraft, following instructions from the European Commission.

Some airports in countries such as Ireland, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Sweden, had been able to lift the longstanding limit on liquids in hand luggage, after installing new security equipment, known as Explosive Detection Systems for Cabin Baggage (EDSCB) or C3 scanners.

But those airports were forced to reimpose the 100ml rule from Sunday (1 September) as part of a “precautionary measure”, announced by the European Commission last month. As well as EU members, the decision also applies to airports in Iceland, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Norway.

The commission has stressed that the restoration of the rule was “not in response to any new threat but addresses a temporary technical issue”. It has yet to give any guidance about how long this reimposition of the 100ml regime will last.

The UK government made a similar decision in June, which forced six airports in the country to restore the 100ml limit on liquids this summer. 

Gary McLean, managing director of Dublin airport, said: “These changes, which apply to all airports in Ireland and Europe with C3 scanners, are being introduced at a time when the roll-out of new C3 scanners is ongoing at Dublin airport.

“That roll-out is at different stages in Terminal 1 and Terminal 2, which means the guidance for passengers is slightly different depending on what terminal they are departing from.”