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Virginia Administrative Code
Title 18. Professional And Occupational Licensing
Agency 65. Board of Funeral Directors And Embalmers
Chapter 20. Regulations Governing the Practice of Funeral Services
12/22/2024

18VAC65-20-435. Registration of crematories.

A. At least 30 days prior to opening a crematory, any person intending to own or operate a crematory shall apply for registration with the board by submitting a completed application and fee as prescribed in 18VAC65-20-70. The name of the individual designated by the ownership to be the crematory manager shall be included on the application. The owner of the crematory shall not abridge the authority of the crematory manager relating to compliance with the laws governing the practice of funeral services and regulations of the board. The designated crematory manager may be the manager of record of a funeral establishment colocated on the same premises.

B. Every crematory, regardless of how owned, shall have a manager who has (i) achieved certification by the Cremation Association of North America (CANA); the International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association (ICCFA); or other certification recognized by the board and (ii) received training in compliance with standards of the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) for universal precautions and bloodborne pathogens.

C. The manager shall be fully accountable for the operation of the crematory as it pertains to the laws and regulations governing the practice of funeral services, to include but not be limited to:

1. Maintenance of the facility within standards established in this chapter;

2. Retention of reports and documents as prescribed by the board in 18VAC65-20-436 during the period in which he serves as crematory manager; and

3. Reporting to the board of any changes in information as required by 18VAC65-20-60.

D. All persons who operate the retort in a crematory shall have certification by the Cremation Association of North America (CANA); the International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association (ICCFA); or other certification recognized by the board. Persons receiving training toward certification to operate a retort shall be allowed to work under the supervision of an operator who holds certification for a period not to exceed six months.

E. A crematory providing cremation services directly to the public shall also be licensed as a funeral service establishment or shall be a branch of a licensed establishment.

F. When a crematory application is pending and the conduct of a cremation is necessary to ensure the proper function of retort equipment, the board may authorize the crematory to conduct a test cremation prior to registration. Once the crematory equipment is deemed functional and an initial crematory inspection is completed, the board may issue the crematory a registration to operate.

G. The board may take disciplinary action against a crematory registration for a violation of § 54.1-2818.1 of the Code of Virginia or for the inappropriate handling of dead human bodies or remains.

Statutory Authority

§§ 54.1-2400 and 54.1-2803 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from Virginia Register Volume 16, Issue 7, eff. January 19, 2000; amended, Virginia Register Volume 25, Issue 20, eff. July 8, 2009; Volume 27, Issue 10, eff. March 3, 2011; Volume 29, Issue 25, eff. September 26, 2013; Volume 37, Issue 12, eff. March 3, 2021.

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