Process before project activities commence
As a Chief Investigator, once you receive notification your project has been approved for inclusion in the Australian Antarctic Science Program, you must have the required environmental authorisations and permits (i.e. environmental approvals) in place before you commence project activity. Please refer to the Environmental approvals and permits page for further information. You should also be contacted by Supply Planning to discuss your cargo requirements, including special handling requirements for any samples returning to Australia. These requirements will be documented in a Sample Transport Agreement, which you must have finalised prior to commencing project activities.
If your proposed activities include collecting scientific samples, you will require an Import Permit to import your samples (back to Australia). Import Permits help manage Australia’s biosecurity risks and it is recommended you obtain an Import Permit before project activity commences. Please note an Import Permit is not an Environmental authorisation and permit. For AAD assistance with this process email import.permits@aad.gov.au before project activities commence.
What you need to know
Due to Australian customs and biosecurity requirements, scientific samples are classed as reportable cargo and cannot be carried from Antarctica, the Southern Ocean or sub-Antarctic islands as accompanied personal effects (carry-on baggage or checked baggage).
Contact the Science Coordinator and the Station Supply Officer at station about your samples, before cargo required by date for the nominated voyage/flight and agree in advance when you are going to deliver your samples to the station green store. Information regarding scientific samples must be reported in AAD's Econ System prior to the Cargo Required by Date for the relevant transport. All scientific samples must be handed over to the Station Supply Officer at station at least 10 days before scheduled transport arrival at the station unless otherwise agreed.
For information about the process of getting samples back to Australia, including documentation requirements, please refer to the Sample Transport Process webpage.