Section 8 Permits required for introducing non-native animals and plants into Antarctica.

No United Kingdom national F1, and no non-national on a British expedition, may introduce into any part of Antarctica any animal of a species that is not indigenous to Antarctica, or any plant that is not a native plant, except in accordance with a permit granted under section 12 or under the written authorisation of another Contracting Party.

The keeping of—

shall not be regarded as a contravention of subsection (1).

Any person who contravenes subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence.

Nothing in this section prohibits the introduction of a microscopic organism.

In this section—

• “ plant ” means any terrestrial, marine or freshwater vegetation, including bryophytes, lichen, fungi and algae, and includes such vegetation at any stage of its life cycle (including seeds and other propagules of such vegetation);

• “recognised assistance dog” means a dog which has been trained to assist a disabled person by a person, or a person of a description, prescribed in regulations.