BAA bans passengers from taking cosmetics onboard

In a statement, BAA said that it had reacted to a recent reduction in security levels at UK airports by re-emphasising the fact that tough security measures are still in place. Indeed some of these measures relate directly to cosmetics items that can be carried in hand luggage.

The security measures have caused widespread confusion for passengers, many of whom have been puzzled over what type of personal care products they can take on board aircraft in their hand luggage, and what they cannot.

The new BAA guidelines, issued on 22 August, are very clear. They state that only one item of hand carry luggage can be taken on board, which cannot contain any cosmetic and toiletry items whatsoever. Such items should be packed into checked-in luggage, the authority says.

BAA says that the list of personal care items that it has banned includes toothpaste, hair gel, lotions, perfume, deodorant, shaving foam and any types of aerosol.

In particular passengers have been confused over whether or not they can take cosmetic and toiletry items onboard if they have been purchased from airport retail outlets.

Although the situation has varied from airport to airport in the UK, BAA says that any item bought at airport departure lounges can be taken on board an aircraft unless passengers are destined for the US.

Any passengers heading form the UK to the US will not be allowed to hand carry any kind of liquid, which includes most cosmetic and toiletry items, that have been purchased at airport departure lounges.

However, reports have indicated that, despite the clear guidelines, individual airports in the UK are taking different stands with regards the safety measures. Birmingham airport, for example, said it was still allowing passengers to take lipstick on board flights.

Last week cosmetics giant Estee Lauder issued a warning that the current quarter may well be affected by the impact of airport closures and delays that crippled international airports last week.

Estee Lauder pointed out that 7 per cent of its annual $6bn sales are attributable to purchases made at travel retail outlets, primarily in airports.

The company and many other leading cosmetic players, believes that last week's airport disruption may well have a noticeable impact and brought attention to this when financial results covering the current quarter are published.

The UK terror threat came about after British intelligence intercepted an alleged bomb plot which led to the arrest of 24 suspects on August 10.

According to reports a group of politically-motivated terrorist had plotted to blow up a number of airplanes in mid-flight from the UK to the US using liquid explosives.

Evidently these liquid explosives can be concealed in hand luggage and are also difficult to detect as an explosive using standard security measures.

What's more, they can be easily disguised as every day cosmetic items, from a bottle of shampoo, to a fragrance bottle or even toothpaste.