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Administrative Code

Virginia Administrative Code
12/9/2024

Part IV. Registration

18VAC65-20-400. Registration of surface transportation and removal services.

All persons applying to own or operate a surface transportation and removal service, according to requirements of § 54.1-2819 of the Code of Virginia, shall submit an application package for registration which shall include:

1. A completed and signed application;

2. The fee prescribed in 18VAC65-20-70 A 3;

3. Additional documentation as may be required by the board to determine eligibility of the applicant, including evidence of training of the service manager and staff in compliance with standards of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for universal precautions and bloodborne pathogens, and proof of bonding or liability insurance coverage related to the operation of the service; and

4. The name of the manager for the service.

Statutory Authority

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

Historical Notes

Derived from VR320-01-2 § 7.1, eff. October 24, 1990; amended, Virginia Register Volume 8, Issue 25, eff. October 7, 1992; Volume 11, Issue 14, eff. May 3, 1995; Volume 15, Issue 7, eff. January 20, 1999; Volume 20, Issue 8, eff. January 28, 2004; Volume 29, Issue 25, eff. September 26, 2013; Volume 31, Issue 26, eff. September 23, 2015; Volume 37, Issue 12, eff. March 3, 2021.

18VAC65-20-410. (Repealed.)

Historical Notes

Derived from VR320-01-2 § 7.2, eff. October 24, 1990; amended, Virginia Register Volume 8, Issue 25, eff. October 7, 1992; Volume 11, Issue 14, eff. May 3, 1995; repealed, Virginia Register Volume 15, Issue 7, eff. January 20, 1999.

18VAC65-20-420. Misrepresentation.

A person employed or operating a surface transportation and removal service shall not in any manner misrepresent himself to the public as being an official of any local jurisdiction, the Commonwealth, federal, or any other governmental body unless granted such authority. This shall include the name and title of the company or service, uniforms, equipment, vehicles, and any other instruments used or proffered by the services or its agents.

Statutory Authority

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

Historical Notes

Derived from VR320-01-2 § 7.3, eff. October 24, 1990; amended, Virginia Register Volume 8, Issue 25, eff. October 7, 1992; Volume 11, Issue 14, eff. May 3, 1995; Volume 24, Issue 24, eff. September 3, 2008.

18VAC65-20-430. (Repealed.)

Historical Notes

Derived from VR320-01-2 § 7.4, eff. October 24, 1990; amended, Virginia Register Volume 8, Issue 25, eff. October 7, 1992; Volume 11, Issue 14, eff. May 3, 1995; repealed, Virginia Register Volume 15, Issue 7, eff. January 20, 1999.

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.

18VAC65-20-436. Standards for registered crematories or funeral establishments relating to cremation.

A. Authorization to cremate.

1. A crematory shall require a cremation authorization form executed in person or electronically in a manner that provides a copy of an original signature in accordance with § 54.1-2818.1 of the Code of Virginia.

2. The cremation authorization form shall include an attestation of visual identification of the deceased from a viewing of the remains or a photograph of the remains signed by the person making the identification. Visual identification may be made by viewing unique identifiers or markings on the remains. The identification attestation shall either be given on the cremation authorization form or on an identification form attached to the cremation authorization form.

3. In the event visual identification is not feasible, a crematory may use other positive identification of the deceased in consultation with law enforcement, a medical examiner, or medical personnel as a prerequisite for cremation pursuant to § 54.1-2818.1 of the Code of Virginia.

B. Standards for cremation. The following standards shall be required for every crematory:

1. Every crematory shall provide evidence at the time of an inspection of a permit to operate issued by the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ).

2. A crematory shall not knowingly cremate a body with a pacemaker, defibrillator, or other potentially hazardous implant in place.

3. A crematory shall not cremate the human remains of more than one person simultaneously in the same chamber of the retort or cremation unit, unless the crematory has received specific written authorization to do so from the person signing the cremation authorization form.

4. A crematory shall not cremate nonhuman remains in a retort permitted by DEQ for cremation of human remains.

5. Whenever a crematory is unable to cremate the remains within 24 hours upon taking custody thereof, the crematory shall maintain the remains in refrigeration at approximately 40° Fahrenheit or less, unless the remains have been embalmed.

C. Handling of human remains.

1. Human remains shall be transported to a crematory in a cremation container and shall not be removed from the container unless the crematory has been provided with written instructions to the contrary by the person who signed the authorization form. A cremation container shall substantially meet all the following standards:

a. Be composed of readily combustible materials suitable for cremation;

b. Be able to be closed in order to provide complete covering for the human remains;

c. Be resistant to leakage or spillage; and

d. Be rigid enough for handling with ease.

2. No crematory shall require that human remains be placed in a casket before cremation nor shall it require that the cremains be placed in a cremation urn, cremation vault, or receptacle designed to permanently encase the cremains after cremation. Cremated remains shall be placed in a plastic bag inside a rigid container provided by the crematory or by the next of kin for return to the funeral establishment or to the next of kin. If cremated remains are placed in a biodegradable container, a biodegradable bag shall be used. If placed in a container designed for scattering, the cremated remains may be placed directly into the container if the next of kin so authorized in writing.

3. The identification of the decedent shall be physically attached to the remains, and appropriate identification placed on the exterior of the cremation container. The crematory operator shall verify the identification on the remains with the identification attached to the cremation container and with the identification attached to the cremation authorization. The crematory operator shall also verify the identification of the cremains and place evidence of such verification in the cremation record.

D. Recordkeeping. A crematory shall maintain the records of cremation for a period of three years from the date of the cremation that indicate the name of the decedent, the date and time of the receipt of the body, and the date and time of the cremation and shall include:

1. The cremation authorization form signed by the person authorized by law to dispose of the remains and the form on which the next of kin or the person authorized by § 54.1-2818.1 of the Code of Virginia to make the identification has made a visual identification of the deceased or evidence of positive identification if visual identification is not feasible;

2. The permission form from the medical examiner;

3. The DEQ permit number of the retort used for the cremation and the name of the retort operator; and

4. The form verifying the release of the cremains, including date and time of release, the name of the person and the entity to whom the cremains were released, and the name of the decedent.

Statutory Authority

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

Historical Notes

Derived from Virginia Register Volume 25, Issue 20, eff. July 8, 2009; amended, Virginia Register Volume 27, Issue 18, eff. June 8, 2011; Volume 29, Issue 25, eff. September 26, 2013; Volume 30, Issue 22, eff. July 30, 2014; Volume 32, Issue 6, eff. December 16, 2015; Volume 32, Issue 6, eff. January 15, 2016; Volume 37, Issue 12, eff. March 3, 2021.

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