Everyday items like coffee, baby powder, protein mixes, and cosmetics could soon be banned from hand luggage on flights leaving the UK as part of new rules drawn up by the government.
New Zealand, Australia, and the US already imposed similar bans last month. Under new government plans, passengers could be forced to put cosmetics, protein powder and spices in the hold.
The new rules were adopted after Australian officials were rocked by a foiled plot to blow up an Ethiad flight from Sydney to Abu Dhabi last year. Last July, the attackers were seen trying to get an explosive onto the flight but were stopped at security.
Britain’s new rules would see all types of powder, including baby powder, coffee, and cosmetics, restricted to only 56 grams or 12 ounces. These products would also face further security checks.
Those rules were introduced a decade ago in the wake of 9/11 and other attempted terror attacks.
There are worries that the new rules will create longer queues and confuse passengers at airports. People also fear the new blue, non-EU, passports may cause havoc at border checks not only in the UK but also abroad.
“It is for each country to determine its own security measures based on its own assessments. We work closely with all our international partners to keep aviation security under constant review,” a spokesman said.
Mils Hills, an associate professor in risk, also added: “We were lucky that this plot was disrupted and doesn’t seem to have been too clever.
“In itself, these extra restrictions are not going to create a lot of disruption at airport security but it has the potential to feed into general concerns by the public about the safety of flying.”
What do you think about the new restrictions? Let us know in the comments section below!