In line with new global security guidelines issued by the International Civil Aviation Organisation, all passengers flying through most airports around the world will be subjected to restrictions on the carriage of certain items in their hand baggage, effective June 1, 2007.

The new security screening measures mean all liquids (even water), gels, pastes and aerosols must be placed in re-sealable transparent plastic bags of certain dimensions.

Key features of the new guidelines are:

- Liquids, aerosols, and gels, such as water, drinks, cream, lotion, oil, perfume, spray, hair gel, bath gel, various types of foam, toothpaste, deodorant, or any product of similar substance that is carried in carry-on baggage must be placed in a container not over 100 milliliters (or equivalent amount of measure, i.e. ounces). Substances totaling more than 100 milliliters will not be allowed on board, regardless of how little the amount of liquid, aerosol, or gel it may contain.

- These items must be placed in a transparent re-sealable plastic bag of a maximum capacity not exceeding 1 litre. These must fit comfortably within the transparent plastic bag, which must be completely closed.

- The size of the plastic bag must not exceed 20cm x 20cm (8 inches x 8 inches).

- The plastic bag must be presented for visual examination at the airport security screening point. Only one transparent plastic bag per passenger will be permitted to be carried.

- Exemptions will be made for medication, for which prescriptions / medical certificates are required. Baby milk / food and special dietary foods are also exempt.

To facilitate screening and to avoid a cluttered X-ray image, transparent plastic bags with 100ml containers must be presented separately from other cabin baggage, coats, jackets and laptop computers for X-ray screening at all screening points.

Passengers are warned that items exceeding the allowed limits will not be permitted to be carried within the hand baggage. The implementation of the new screening measures may differ slightly from airport to airport.