The European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC) has approved a new kind of explosive detection solution, which will allow passengers to include liquids containing up to 2 liters per container in their hand luggage. According to the European Commission, airports could start to implement the new rule over the coming days.
For a long time, the 100ml rule applied to all liquids, aerosols, and gels that were being transported inside hand luggage. Although exceptions were made for special diets, baby products, and medicines, most liquids that went over 100 milliliters per container were thus barred from hand luggage as traditional X-ray machines are unable to effectively detect liquid explosives.
However, as new machinery is being developed, the 100ml rule could very soon go out of the window. After the new liquid screening detection systems got temporarily restricted for technical reasons in 2024, the European Civil Aviation Conference has tested and approved the first screening solution – the Hi-Scan 6040 CTiX CT scanners manufactured by Smiths Detection – in June 2025. The Explosive Detection Systems for Cabin Baggage or so-called C3 scanners use computed tomography to scan more accurately, allowing for bigger containers, while items such as computers will no longer have to be retrieved from the luggage during the screening.
This means that other individual manufacturers can now submit their own machinery to be stamped for EU approval. The news was first reported by the Italian newspaper Il Corriere della Sera and was confirmed by the European Commission.
What will change?
While not all EU airpots are equipped with the newly-approved scanners, some are, including the Milan Linate and Milan Malpensa airports managed by the SEA Group. Following the news, the group made the following statement.
“Following the new regulations, liquids, aerosols, and gels in containers of up to 2 liters per container can once again be carried in carry-on luggage at Milan Linate and Malpensa,” SEA said.
— Milan Airports (@MiAirports) July 28, 2025
Across the EU, there will be no obligation for airports to be equipped with the new-generation scanners, costing significantly more than the older X-ray machines. At this moment, some airpots in Germany, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Malta, the Netherlands, and Sweden are already equipped with the C3 scanners.
🧴| Say goodbye to the 100ml rule.
— Edinburgh Airport (@EDI_Airport) July 7, 2025
Edinburgh Airport is Scotland's first airport to lift the 100ml liquid limit, thanks to new x-ray technology.
You can now keep liquids in your bag when going through security, and those liquid containers can be up to two litres each. pic.twitter.com/gqmYPRVrxL
Depending on the country or airport you’re travelling to, it is thus worth checking whether or not the 100ml limit still applies. Passengers are currently still advised to adhere to the 100ml rule, as different limits can apply to outbound and inbound flights, and as not all airports are clear about their equipment.
