UK airport authorities drop cosmetics ban

The ban had caused confusion for many passengers and is also said to have affected sales for a number of high-end cosmetic players, who all rely heavily on airport retail sales to sell fragrances and premium cosmetic lines.

Although the UK Department of Transport (DFT) stresses that significant restrictions remain in place, it says that passengers travelling from 6 November onwards, are allowed to take one item of hand luggage, that can contain liquid products such as fragrances and liquid cosmetic products purchased in airport lounge areas, after passengers have been through airport security points.

However, restrictions still exist for those liquids. According to the DFT, after this date passengers carry liquids through security checkpoints must ensure that they are contained in a single re-sealable plastic bag, measuring 20cm by 20cm.

Further to this each of the liquid respeticles must have a maximum capacity of 100ml for each separate container. The DFT re-inforced that its definition of liquids takes in all pastes, gels, oils, creams, lotions, mascara and pressurized spray deodorants.

Restrictions have now been in place for the best part of three months, causing both confusion and doubt as to what cosmetics and fragrances could be taken through security and what passengers could buy at airport retail outlets once they had passed the security restrictions.

Some cosmetic companies claim that this doubt could impact sales, causing two leading cosmetic players, Elizabeth Arden and Estee Lauder, to sound alarm bells over fears over the restrictions, which were implemented in all European and North American airports.

The terror threat to light 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.