National Security Framework of Antarctica (NSF-A)

Article 1 — Purpose & Scope

1.1 This Policy governs the lawful handling, certification, disposition, transport, and memorialisation of human remains within the NSF-A jurisdiction.

1.2 It safeguards public health, environmental protection, cultural respect, and evidentiary integrity in an extreme environment.

1.3 Domestic compliance only: Foreign or international certificates may inform practice but are not substitutes for NSF-A authorisations under the Domestic Compliance Framework (DCF).

Article 2 — Core Rule (Current Standard of Disposition)

2.1 Cremation-only. The sole authorised domestic disposition is cremation at an NSF-A licensed facility.

2.2 Transport exception. Remains may be transported to a foreign jurisdiction only if:

a) the cause of death is clarified and certified by the Coroner/Medical Examiner (post-mortem where required), and

b) a deposit sufficient to cover authorised preparation, custody, and international transit costs is lodged with the Authority or a bonded operator.

Article 3 — Definitions

3.1 Human remains: The body of a deceased person and any surgically recovered tissue retained for evidentiary or public-health reasons.

3.2 Clarified death: Formal determination of cause and manner of death by the Coroner/Medical Examiner, with release for disposition/transport.

3.3 Authorised Person: Next-of-kin, legally appointed representative, or public officer acting under statute.

3.4 Disposition: Cremation or (future) approved alternatives under Article 11 pilots.

3.5 Custody chain: Time-stamped, identity-bound custody record anchored in Certified Digital Democracy (CDD).

Article 4 — Licensing & Facilities

4.1 Crematoria Licence (CRL). Required for any cremation facility; includes emissions controls, cold-region safety, and contingency fuel/energy.

4.2 Mortuary Services Licence (MSL). For body recovery, storage, preparation, and viewings.

4.3 Transport & Repatriation Licence (TRL). For air/sea shipment, documentation, and custody-chain compliance.

4.4 Digital Infrastructure Licence (DIL). For systems handling identity, bookings, payments, or telemetry tied to remains.

Article 5 — Process & Records (All Cases)

5.1 Notification & recovery. Report death; secure scene; recover remains under Coroner authority.

5.2 Identification. Multi-factor ID (visual when permissible, biometrics, documents).

5.3 Certification. Physician certifies death; Coroner issues Clarification & Release or orders post-mortem.

5.4 Consent & instructions. Verify lawful instructions (will, next-of-kin); record in CDD.

5.5 Custody & logs. All movements logged with MPSL-attested devices on the Civilian DMZ; cold-chain metrics recorded.

5.6 Final act. Cremation (or transport per Art. 8); ashes release according to Article 9.

Article 6 — Public Health, Biosecurity & Environment

6.1 Cold-chain standards. Storage temperatures, time limits, and backup power mandated; alarmed monitoring.

6.2 Infectious disease controls. Category-based handling, PPE, and decontamination; Coroner may restrict viewing/embalming.

6.3 Environmental protections. Emission scrubbing, ash handling, and strict prohibition of ground burial pending environmental approvals.

6.4 Tissue/implant handling. Explant pacemakers/pressurised devices; hazardous materials disposed under permit.

Article 7 — Prohibitions (Current)

7.1 No ground burials, mausolea, or open-air exposure in Antarctica.

7.2 No private cremation equipment or unlicensed handling.

7.3 No unapproved religious/cryonic practices outside pilots in Article 11.

7.4 No display of foreign flags at funerals (see Emblem Policy).

7.5 No unfranchised media broadcasts from funerals (MIM applies).

Article 8 — International Transport (Repatriation)

8.1 Preconditions: Clarified death; deposit paid; receiving country acceptance documentation; sanitary sealing and accredited casket/airtray.

8.2 Chain of custody: Sealed, tamper-evident tracking; route geofenced; handovers recorded in CDD.

8.3 Denial grounds: Unclear cause of death, public-health risk, improper documentation, sanctions or conflict with criminal investigations.

8.4 Refunds: Unused portion of deposit reconciled and returned post-transport audit.

Article 9 — Ashes (Cremated Remains)

9.1 Release. To Authorised Person or designated custodian; identity verified.

9.2 Scattering/placement.

a) Indoor/columbarium: permitted at licensed sites.

b) Outdoor scattering: permitted only in designated zones with environmental approval; GPS log required; no waterways without permit.

9.3 Shipment abroad. Allowed with documentation and destination acceptance; custody chain maintained.

Article 10 — Cultural & Pastoral Care

10.1 Access. Families may request chaplaincy/imam/faith representative or secular pastoral care.

10.2 Accommodation. Rituals that do not breach safety, biosecurity, or emissions law may be accommodated at licensed sites.

10.3 Information. All public notices, livestreams, or memorial media must carry MIM licences (ARL scope).

Article 11 — Investment & Pilot Tracks (Under Development)

11.1 Islamic Funeral Pilot (IFP).

1. Objective: Assess feasibility of shrouded burial alternatives or accelerated cremation accommodations consistent with faith, without environmental compromise.
2. Controls: Sealed shroud modules, deep-freeze prior to disposition, ritual wash facilities with wastewater treatment, designated memorial grounds (no interment) until burial standards pass environmental review.

11.2 Christian Funeral Pilot (CFP).

1. Objective: Provide Christian rites with chapel/columbarium infrastructure; explore ossuary/urn garden models.
2. Controls: Certified chapels, columbaria with traceable niche registers, MIM-compliant services.

11.3 Cryonics Pilot (CRP).

1. Objective: Evaluate cryopreservation as a research-class service under biosecurity and energy-resilience constraints.
2. Controls: Research-only licence; explicit consent; escrowed perpetual-care fund; N+2 power/cooling; de-identification/reporting; prohibition on marketing as “reversal.”
3. Note: Cryonics does not replace death certification or coroner authority.

11.4 Funding posture. Pilots are investment-gated, risk-assessed, and time-boxed; public participation opens only after standards and environmental method statements are approved.

Article 12 — Pricing, Deposits & Aid

12.1 Transparent tariffs for recovery, storage, certification, cremation, and repatriation.

12.2 Deposit schedule for international transport set annually; indexation published.

12.3 Hardship aid available for low-income families under the Social Protection Code.

Article 13 — Technology, Identity & Security

13.1 Identity rails: State ID + liveness; next-of-kin authority verified in CDD.

13.2 Device trust: Mortuary, crematoria, and logistics systems must pass MPSL attestation; operate on the Civilian DMZ.

13.3 Records: Immutable audit (time, handler, temperature, location); retention per law (min. 10 years for medicolegal cases).

Article 14 — Inspections, Audits & Enforcement

14.1 Audits: Risk-tiered inspections of CRL/MSL/TRL sites; unannounced drills permitted.

14.2 Violations: Unlicensed handling, falsified records, improper disposal, emissions breaches → fines, licence suspension/revocation, criminal referral.

14.3 Appeals: Decisions appealable within 15 working days to the Funeral Practices Review Panel; emergency orders are not stayed.

Article 15 — Transitional & Final Provisions

15.1 Transition: Existing operators must obtain CRL/MSL/TRL and complete DMZ/MPSL/CDD integration within 180 days.

15.2 Review clause: The Authority will publish pilot outcomes and any proposed expansion of disposition methods within 24 months.

15.3 Supremacy: Conflicting guidance is superseded by this Policy on and after the effective date.

Contacts

1. Coroner & Certification: coroner@nsf-antarctica.org
2. Crematoria & Mortuary Licensing: funerals-licensing@nsf-antarctica.org
3. Transport & Repatriation: repatriation@nsf-antarctica.org
4. Pilots (Islamic/Christian/Cryonics): pilots-funerals@nsf-antarctica.org
5. Complaints & Appeals: ombuds-funerals@nsf-antarctica.org

This Policy balances dignity, safety, and environmental stewardship by mandating cremation or controlled repatriation today—while developing rigorously governed pathways for faith-based rites and research-class cryonics tomorrow.

Effective 1 October 2025