Ltd relaxation in liquid products by air passengers

New Delhi, Dec 12: Four months after a total ban was imposed on carrying of liquid products by air passengers to prevent possible terror attacks on aircraft, the government today said limited relaxation had been made for the convenience of travellers.

In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha, Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel said limited relaxation had been given to these procedures to facilitate the passengers, without jeopardising security.

Mr Patel said instructions were issued by the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) on August 11 this year, imposing restrictions regarding carrying of liquid products by passengers in their hand baggage or on their person.

This was done following the terror alert in Britain that terrorist outfits had devised a new modus operandi to smuggle in components of an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in liquid form, which could be kept in hand baggage, to evade normal airport screening procedure.

The minister said that in order to check misuse of the relaxation, BCAS had issued instructions allowing passengers to carry liquid items, gels, pastes or items of similar consistency ''in one clear transparent resealable one litre size plastic bag separately, in small quantity required for the duration of the journey.'' Each item, should, however not exceed 100 ml. in quantity. The contents of the plastic bag must fit comfortably in it and will be subjected to prescribed screening and security checks.

UNI