The rules limit the amount of liquids people may take on board planes and reflect efforts to standardise measures put in place in Europe after London authorities said in August that they had foiled a plot to bomb flights bound for the US.
The rules will apply throughout the 25-nation EU, and Norway, Iceland, and Switzerland. New limits to the size of carry-on bags are expected to enter into force next year.
Passengers may bring on board one resealable plastic bag that is a maximum size of 1 litre in which contact lens solution, creams, and gels are stored.
The liquids must be placed in separate, 100 ml containers that fit into the transparent bag, which passengers must then present at security checkpoints.
"The new rules do not limit the liquids that you can buy at shops located beyond the point where you show your boarding pass or on board an aircraft operated by an EU airline," said a flyer by the European Commission and airline and airport groups.
Liquids included water and drinks, creams, oils, perfumes sprays, deodorants, foams, toothpaste, mascara and other items of similar consistency, it said.
The rules were agreed on by EU states based on studies of what would be required to make a liquid explosive. Similar restrictions are in place in the United States.
Passengers will be allowed to carry medicines and "dietary requirements" such as baby foods in their hand luggage but may be asked to prove that the exceptional items are needed.
Passengers must also remove jackets and coats at security checkpoints and take laptop computers and other large electrical devices such as DVD players out of their hand luggage to be screened separately.
The new rules will be compulsory across the EU, although nations can impose further measures if they choose.