Brussels, 28/09/2006 (Agence Europe) - The Regulatory Committee for Civil Aviation Security issued its opinion on 27 September on the legislative proposal by Transport Commissioner Jacques Barrot to restrict the quantity of liquid allowed to be carried by passengers on board aircraft and to improve the control procedures for hand luggage in airports (EUROPE 9264). During its meeting on Wednesday, the Commission decided that the new rules: (a) will limit the individual quantities of liquids allowed to be carried by passengers to 100 ml per container; (b) require that the number of containers fit in one transparent re-sealable plastic bag of a maximum size of 1 litre; (c) require passengers to present the plastic bag at security checkpoints; (d) limit the size of cabin baggage allowed to a maximum of 56 cm x 45 cm x 25 cm (with possibilities for some exemptions such as musical instruments); (e) require passengers to remove coats and jackets at security checkpoints; and (f) require laptops and large electrical items to be removed from bags at security checkpoints. The new rules will still allow passengers to buy under certain conditions larger quantities of liquids at airport shops beyond the point where boarding passes are controlled. “Thanks to this positive opinion of the Committee, I will now submit a proposal to the College to formally incorporate these rules into Community law”, Jacques Barrot said, hoping that these measures will be adopted “in the course of next week”. The new rules are due to take effect twenty days after their publication in the Official Journal and this should therefore be the case early November, except for rules on hand baggage which will be implemented at a later date to allow operators to make the necessary preparations.