European Parliament set to ease restrictions on LAGs

Nicole Mezzasalma

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Resolution claims LAGs regulation may not be proportionate to its costs

The European Parliament is to vote tomorrow on a resolution calling for an easing of anti-terrorism rules limiting the amount of liquids, aerosols and gels (LAGs) that can be taken as carry-on baggage on EU-bound flights. In July the European Commission informally approved a new ruling allowing passengers from select non-EU countries to retain their duty-free liquids while transferring at EU airports, and now lawmakers want to make the slackening of restrictions official.

The resolution, submitted by the parliament’s Committee on Transport and Tourism and expected to be approved, says: "The European Parliament is concerned that the cost [of] the regulation may not be proportionate to the added value in terms of additional security." It adds that the restrictions have led to “substantial inconvenience and disruption caused to passengers and operators.”

Strict limits on LAGs were introduced last November after UK police foiled a terrorist attempt to detonate liquid explosives aboard several US-bound flights departing from London Heathrow. Since then, a limit of 100 millilitres was imposed on all LAGs with the exception of baby food and medicines.

Once approved by the European Parliament, the resolution would need to be ratified by all 27 EU member states in order to come into force. According to the Associated Press, the European Commission has said possible relaxation of the rules could start at the end of this year on a country-by-country basis.