Samples sent to GD Animal Health Service must comply to the following requirements. The packagings must be of good quality, strong enough to withstand the shocks and loadings normally encountered during transport, including trans-shipment between transport units and between transport units and warehouses as well as any removal from a pallet or overpack for subsequent manual or mechanical handling. Packagings must be constructed and closed so as to prevent any loss of contents that might be caused under normal conditions of transport, by vibration, or by changes in temperature, humidity or pressure.

The packaging must consist of three components:

1. a primary receptacle;
2. a secondary packaging;
3. a rigid outer packaging.

Primary receptacles must be packed in secondary packagings in such a way that, under normal conditions of transport, they cannot break, be punctured or leak their contents into the secondary packaging. Secondary packagings must be secured in outer packagings with suitable cushioning material. Any leakage of the contents must not compromise the integrity of the cushioning material or the outer packaging.

Liquid substances

Solid substances

Attention:

• At least one surface of the outer packaging must have a minimum dimension of 100 mm x 100 mm.
• For transport, the mark illustrated below must be displayed on the external surface of the outer packaging on a background of a contrasting colour and must be clearly visible and legible.

Specific requirements

Refrigerated or frozen specimens; ice, dry ice and liquid nitrogen
When dry ice or liquid nitrogen is used to keep specimens cold, all applicable requirements above must be met. When used, ice or dry ice must be placed outside the secondary packaging or in the outer packaging or an overpack. Interior supports must be provided to secure the secondary packagings in the original position after the ice or dry ice has dissipated. If ice is used, the outside packaging or overpack must be leakproof. If carbon dioxide, solid (dry ice) is used, the packaging must be designed and constructed to permit the release of carbon dioxide gas to prevent a build-up of pressure that could rupture the packagings. 
The primary receptacle and the secondary packaging must maintain their integrity at the temperature of the refrigerant used as well as the temperatures ant the pressures, which could result if refrigeration were lost.