Environmental permits required for all activities in Antarctica

The Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment FPS delivers environmental permits required for any activity organized from or in Belgium, held in or on board of infrastructures or vesssels build or placed under Belgian law in Antarctica.

These permits are required under the act of 21 July 2017 (FR and NL only). They are signed by the Federal Minister or Secretary of State for environmental policy.

Scientific activities could pertain to the collection of Antarctic marine organisms and seabed mapping, studying the impact of climate change on biodiversity, etc.

In 2016-2017, 9 permits were issued including 7 for non-governmental activities.
In 2018-2019, 8 permits were issued including 4 for non-governmental activities.

• Application for a permit to authorise a Belgian governmental activity in Antarctica.
• Application for a permit authorising Belgian land-based non-governmental activity in Antarctica
• Application for a permit to authorise the entry of a non-governmental Belgian-registered vessel in Antarctica

 Special permits are required in two situations:

a). acces to  protected areas of Antarctica

• Application for a special permit authorising a Belgian activity in Antarctic protected areas (Annex V of the protocol)

b.) capture or nharmful interference with native antarctic fauna and flor or introduction of non-native species

• Application for a special permit authorising a Belgian activity to take or to have harmful interference with native antarctic fauna &flora (Annex II of the protocol)