Health and safety

Health, safety and
international participants infographic

Travel to France

The rules for travel to and from France depend on the country from which or to which you wish to travel, the reason for which you are travelling and your vaccination status.

Please note that the French authorities have created a comprehensive infographic explaining the health and safety measures and the conditions required to enter France.

Health, safety and
international participants infographic

For more information, please visit the following webpage:

French Interior Ministry

For additional travel information, please visit the Travel to and around Marseille page.

At Congress

Health pass

To access the event, the French authorities will require to obtain a health pass following the rules described in the heath pass section on the French Government website.

If you do not have a health pass, the above website has steps you can take to get one before your visit.

You must have a French health pass to access:

• long distance transportation (domestic flights, high-speed trains, interregional trains);
• bars and restaurants;
• cultural places: cinemas, theatres, museums, etc.;
• leisure places: discos, amusement parks, etc.;
• department stores and shopping centres of more than 20,000m2;
• hospitals and health facilities, except for emergencies;
• trade shows (including the IUCN World Conservation Congress).

The French health pass is based on the presentation of a French or EU compatible QR code to prove:

• a complete vaccination scheme with one of the vaccines recognized in France (last dose + 7 days, or + 28 days for Johnson & Johnson);
• an RT-PCR or antigenic test of less than 72 hours;
• a positive RT-PCR or antigenic (immunity) test of more than 15 days and up to a maximum of 6 months after the test.

The QR Code can be presented either on a paper certificate or uploaded to the French TousAntiCovid App, available from the Apple Store and Google Play Store.

Since the implementation of the EU Digital Covid Certificate, the QR codes of the European Union countries as well as Andorra, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway, Switzerland, England and Wales are recognized by the TousAntiCovid App and will therefore enable the use of the health pass in all required places.

Access to places requiring the French health pass will not be guaranteed for other countries that do not have a TousAntiCovid App or EU Digital Covid Certificate compatible QR code and showing a certificate issued in their country.

• At the entrance of the Congress, reception staff will consider paper or digital evidence in order to grant you access to the Congress.
  This evidence must be clearly readable and indicate, at least, in the Roman letters :
  • the name/surname of the person;
  • the name of the vaccine or test;
  • the number of doses;
  • vaccination or test dates;
  • the test result.

In case of doubt or unclear information, the participant will be invited to do an antigenic or RT-PCR test at the Congress test centre located at Gate A.

• You might be denied access to all other places requiring a French health pass. Some places will agree to consider your paper evidence without a QR code, others will only accept a French or EU compatible QR code. In order to avoid these inconveniences as much as possible, several options are available:
  • Do an antigenic or RT-PCR test in France. A French QR code will then be issued that you can upload to the TousAntiCovid App. It will be valid for 72 hours. These tests can be done either by appointment in one of the laboratories (antigenic test or RT-PCR) listed here, or without an appointment at the test tents arranged in front of pharmacies (antigenic test).
  • For those vaccinated with a vaccine approved in France, ask now for a compatible QR Code in France following the procedure described here. As this procedure is recent and in high demand, we cannot guaranteed that you will receive your QR code before or during the Congress but we strongly advise you to request it anyway.

On-site precautions

IUCN and the French government, in collaboration with local authorities, are closely monitoring the health situation and will implement the necessary measures to ensure maximum safety for participants, in compliance with applicable regulations.

These measures incorporate the recommendations of the most recent health protocols and may evolve until the event takes place, in order to adapt to the situation and to new scientific recommendations. The Congress' health protocol was validated by the French health authorities on 13 July 2021.

The main measures planned to date include:

• Access to the Congress upon presentation of an electronic (TousAntiCovid notebook) or paper health pass (or European health certificate / “green pass”), or equivalent document (proof of vaccination, antigenic or RT-PCR test of less than 72h, proof of immunity / Covid-19 recovery certificate) for all delegates and general public participants over 18 years old, as well as for all staff involved (organisers, service providers, exhibitors).
• On-site antigenic or RT-PCR tests for non-vaccinated delegates (French and international), exhibitors and staff involved in the opening of the Congress.
• Incentive to download and activate the TousAntiCovid app. 
• Reminder of social distancing at the entrances to the Congress venue and in all spaces (billboards, digital screens, voice messages).
• Face mask mandatory at the entrance of the whole Congress venue and throughout the event (both inside and outside). 
• Protective screens installed on the Congress reception banks and counters.
• Hydroalcoholic gel terminals and dispensers at the entrances of the Exhibition Centre, in all buildings, as well as in the main aisles, conference rooms and shared spaces. 
• Enforcement of the distancing measures applicable to the different types of space: 1 seat out of 2 in the conference rooms; 1 m between each person in traffic areas, service spaces and offices; 6 pers. / table + 2m between tables for catering spaces. 
• Regular natural ventilation of the premises and/or mechanical ventilation 100% outdoor air working continuously. Periodic CO2 levels measurements.
• Limitation of contact surfaces and objects, including the dematerialization of communication supports, payment terminals, etc.
•  Individualization of containers and dishes in restauration and catering services. 
• Regular disinfection of the most utilized contact surfaces, especially in catering areas, conference rooms and stands. 
• Specific bins for Covid-19 hazardous waste (masks / handkerchiefs / gloves). 
• Adapted and thorough cleaning protocol. 
• Procedure for the management and isolation of symptomatic cases, with dedicated premises. 

COVID Test Center at Congress

The Congress antigenic/RT-PCR testing centre will be dedicated to delegates, exhibitors and staff involved in the opening of the Congress, who are not vaccinated and who need to renew their antigen or RT-PCR test in order to access the Congress.

It will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. from 01/09/21 to 10/09/21, and will be open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on 11/09/21.

The centre will carry out antigenic tests, the results of which will be available within 30 minutes. On request, the centre can perform RT-PCR tests, the results of which will be available within 12h to 24h.

The results of the tests will be communicated by email as well as by the SI-DEP system for beneficiaries of French health insurance, allowing automatic updates of the TousAntiCovid app.

The tests will be free for French people and for a fee for foreign visitors, around EUR 22 for an antigen test and EUR 44 for an RT-PCR test.

In order to facilitate operational management, an online appointment will be open from August 23 on the site www.provence.synlab.fr , click on the red insert "RDV COVID-19", then in the form, select the place "Test Center - IUCN Congress - Marseille.

In order to facilitate operational management, an online appointment system will be available from 23/08/21 through this link. Select “Centre de test - Congrès UICN – Marseille” or “Test Center – IUCN Congress – Marseille” when filling in the form. People with appointments will be given priority.