Antarctic Quarantine Management: Australia's Framework and Practice

The Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty (Protocol) requires that parties to the Antarctic Treaty do not introduce animals or plants to the Antarctic Treaty area other than for specified purposes. The manner by which this requirement is preactically achieved has yet to be collectively agreed. So, to date, parties have individually developed and applied measurew they consider will provide the Antarctic with an appropriate level of protection. The Australian Antarctic Division has developed a quarantine management system for Australia's Antarctic Program. This paper describes the principles underpinning those quarantine practices currently in place.