From Next Month, European Airports Reinstate '100ml Limit on In-Flight Liquid Containers'... EU Regulation Reintroduced

Partial Import Restrictions Lifted After Introduction of Advanced Equipment
Revived Due to Subsequent Technical Capability Issues

The regulations on carrying liquids onboard will be reintroduced at all airports within the European Union (EU).

Travelers are carrying luggage and moving at Fiumicino Airport in Rome, Italy.
Photo by Yonhap News

On the 26th (local time), the EU Commission announced on its website that starting from the 1st of next month, the maximum capacity of liquid containers allowed onboard will again be limited to 100mL, even at airports equipped with advanced security screening equipment.

Currently, some airports have installed advanced equipment called Explosive Detection System for Cabin Baggage (EDSCB), which allows passengers to carry liquids exceeding 100mL. However, the Commission decided to temporarily restrict the allowed capacity at these airports as well, to address "temporary technical issues."

The EDSCB is an advanced security screening device capable of automatically detecting various explosives without opening electronic devices or liquids. Products certified by the EU for performance are called "C3 EDSCB."

According to the European branch of the International Air Transport Association (ACI), C3 certified equipment has been installed at some airports in Germany, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Malta, the Netherlands, and Sweden.

However, EuroNews reported that the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC) submitted a technical report to the Commission stating that the reliability cannot be guaranteed when inspecting liquid containers larger than 330mL with this equipment, raising doubts about the technology.

Regarding this measure, the Commission explained that it is temporary and preventive rather than a response to a new threat, but the industry claims that airports that had already introduced state-of-the-art equipment certified by the EU are inevitably facing losses.

Olivier Jankovec, Secretary General of ACI Europe, said, "Aviation security is non-negotiable and the top priority for European airports," but added, "The Commission’s recent measure raises questions about the reliability of the EU’s aviation security equipment certification system."