The European Commission on Thursday adopted new measures to improve aviation security, which limits the amount of carry-on liquids passengers can take on flights.

According to the rules, which come into effect from early November, gels, creams and other liquid items will be allowed to be taken on flights as hand luggage, provided they are in containers no bigger than 100 ml in size.

All items must also fit into a clear, re-sealable one-liter plastic bag, such as a freezer bag, which will soon be available in airport shops for passengers to purchase, the European Union (EU)'s executive body said.

Explosive experts, according to the commission, said that the amount of liquid that could be contained in the one-liter bag would not be enough to make an effective bomb.

The new rules will be applied to all flights departing from the EU, the commission said.

Drinks containers such as water bottles and soft drink cans will not be allowed on board, unless purchased after screening checks, though exceptions for certain medicines, baby food and special dietary requirements will apply.

The European Commission also set restrictions on hand baggage, which specify that carry-on bags can not exceed the maximum size of 56 cm x 45 cm x 25 cm. The restrictions will be fully implemented within six months.

Under the new rules, passengers must remove their coats and take laptops out of their cases during security checks.

The new rules are in the wake of a foiled terrorist plot to blow up transatlantic flights leaving Britain's Heathrow Airport, using liquid explosives.

The measures are in line with the new rules by the U.S. Transportation Security Administration.

"We hope this marks the dawning of a new age of cooperation between the European Commission and the Transportation Security Administration," said Jacques Barrot, EU Commission Vice-President in charge of transport.