The European Union's executive body on Friday agreed to publish the list of objects which passengers are banned from carrying on board aircraft, ahead of an expected ruling from the European Court on the issue.

The European Commission has decided to publish the list, and it will appear in the EU's official journal "in a matter of days," officials in Brussels said.

The list ranges from firearms, harpoon guns and hand grenades to ice picks, skateboards and fishing rods.

Poisons, pepper sprays and all kinds of liquids in quantities of more than 100 millilitres are also on the list.

The EU rule which established the list is currently facing a challenge in the European Court because the list itself was declared secret.

In April the court's advocate general said the rule should be declared void because passengers had not been given full information about the banned objects.

Such legal opinions are not binding, but are taken as a good indication of how the court might eventually decide.