THE NEW REGULATIONS REGARDING LIQUIDS, AEROSOLS & GELS (LAGS) FOR INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS FROM SOUTH AFRICA.

Important: If pax are transiting at an EU airport they will have any LAGs bought at an SA airport confiscated on secondary screening at EU airport, as EU does not recognise the integrity of STEB security at SA airports.

The European Union (EU), the USA and some other countries have adopted new security rules that restrict the amount of Liquids, Aerosols and Gels (LAGS) that passengers can carry as hand-luggage through security screening points. This was a result of a threat targeted at some flights from the United Kingdom to the United States of America in August 2006. These new security restrictions have now become an International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) recommended standard to all member states.

The South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) has sent a directive to Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) to implement the same rules for all International Flights. ACSA security staff are currently undergoing awareness training on this new directive. The target date for implementation for this new directive is 1 June 2007. In order to implement this directive with minimal inconvenience to passengers, you are requested to communicate this directive to international passengers only.




The directive is as follows:

a) All LAG's should be carried in containers with a capacity not greater than 100ml each (or the equivalent in other volumetric measurements, eg. fluid ounces.)

b) Any LAGs carried in a container larger than 100ml are not to be accepted, even if container is only part-filled.

c) Containers with LAGs should be placed in a transparent resealable plastic bag of a maximum capacity not exceeding 1 litre. The containers must fit comfortably within the transparent plastic bag, which should be completely closed.

d) Each passenger is permitted to carry only one such bag which is to be presented separately for screening.

e) All conventional security controls and checks, including random hand searches of passengers and cabin bags, are applicable.

f) Exceptions are allowed for medication, baby milk/foods and special dietary or other medical requirements as enumerated above.

Examples of LAGs include but are not limited to:

• Water and other drinks, soups & syrups
• Creams, lotions and oils
• Perfumes
• Sprays
• Gels, including hair and shower gels
• Contents of a pressurised containers, including shaving foam, other foams and deodorants
• pastes, including toothpaste
• Liquid-solid mixtures
• Mascara
• Any other items of a similar consistency

IMPORTANT NOTE: Any item that does not fit into a transparent resealable plastic bag as per item C above will not be permitted beyond the security screening point.

ACSA will provide the bags for the LAGs for the first month free of charge at the check in areas, thereafter passengers can buy these bags at major stores throughout South Africa.

Click here for more on the Airport Company of South Africa