TSA has updated and clarified its list of liquids and gels that are not subject to the 3.4-ounce per bottle, 1 bag per customer rule at airport security, but the most common items, such as shampoo, perfume, mouthwash and sunscreen are still subject to the rule.
That may be changing soon, as more and more airports are equipped with CT scanners that can identify and analyze liquids. The original rule, imposed nearly 20 years ago, was based on the idea of keeping the quantity of any potential explosive too small to bring down a plane, since there was no way to accurate identify what the liquid was.
The new scanners are already in place at the three busiest U.S. airports—Atlanta, New York JFK and LAX—as well as in many of the largest airports in Europe. However, it is unlikely that the rules will be changed for other liquids until the new scanners are nearly universal. An attempt last year in the UK to relax the rules led to confusion because of the possibility of passengers leaving from an airport that permitted larger bottles and then returning from one that didn’t.
Here’s the updated list of exempt liquids and gels
- Over-the-counter medications
- Prescription medications in gel, liquid or aerosol form
- Ice packs or gel packs for medically necessary items
- Food and drink for infants and toddlers
- Wet batteries
- Live fish transported in water
- Biological specimens
- Breast milk or baby formula
- Liquid-filled teethers
- Duty-free items sealed in a tamper-evident bag
- Fresh eggs
