For security reasons, only a limited quantity of liquids and gels is allowed in your hand luggage. On this page you'll find what counts as a liquid, what you can take with you and which exceptions apply.
What counts as "liquids and gels"?
The following products are considered liquids or gels:
Drinks: water, soft drinks, soup, syrup …
Personal care products: creams, lotions and oils, shampoo, perfume, shaving foam, hairspray, hair and shower gels, toothpaste, mascara, lipstick, lip gloss, deodorant …
Food products: runny cheeses, chocolate spread, jam, yoghurt, peanut butter …
Liquid medicines, such as cough syrup
Liquid-solid mixtures, such as food in sauce
Pressurised spray cans, such as deodorant and hairspray
Sprays, such as eau de toilette and perfume
Gels, such as hair gel and cooling gel
Pastes, such as chocolate spread, peanut butter and toothpaste
Any other product with a similar consistency
What you can take in your hand luggage
The following items are allowed on board:
Liquids and gels up to 100 ml per container, packed together in a single transparent, re-sealable plastic bag of no more than 1 litre. The bag must close completely.
Items purchased in shops after the security check, at airports or in bars and restaurants beyond the checkpoint. These are packed in a sealed bag that you must not open until you reach your final destination. If you open the bag earlier, the contents may be confiscated at a later check.
Baby food (both formula milk and jars) for use during the flight. The security agent may ask you to taste the product to prove that it is indeed baby food.
Medication and dietary food for the duration of your trip.
Reference to the official regulations
Under Commission Regulation (EU) No 2015/1998, liquids, aerosols and gels (LAGs) carried by passengers may be exempt from screening if they meet one of the following conditions:
a) Packaged in individual containers of no more than 100 ml, together in one transparent, re-sealable plastic bag of no more than 1 litre. The contents must fit comfortably in the bag and the bag must be completely closed.
b) Intended for use during the trip and required for medical reasons or a special dietary requirement, including baby food.
c) Purchased airside at Brussels Airport, beyond the boarding pass check, from outlets with approved security procedures. Condition: the LAG is packed in a STEB containing a valid proof of purchase from the same day.
d) Purchased in the security restricted area from outlets with approved security procedures.
e) Purchased at another EU airport, provided the LAG is packed in a STEB containing a proof of purchase from that airport on the same day.
f) Purchased on board an aircraft of a Community air carrier, provided the LAG is packed in a STEB containing a proof of purchase on board that aircraft on the same day.
If a LAG does not meet any of these conditions, it will be confiscated and cannot be recovered afterwards.
Definitions
LAG: liquids, aerosols and gels, including pastes, lotions, liquid-solid mixtures and the contents of pressurised containers. Examples: toothpaste, hair gel, drinks, soups, syrups, perfume, shaving foam and other items with a similar consistency.
STEB: a security tamper-evident bag is a sealed bag that complies with the security control guidelines of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).