Funeral Industry News

  • Funeral Sector Register

    28th March 2025 by

    The Funeral Sector Register (“the Register”) will go live on 1st April 2025, and will act as a single point of information about the funeral sector in Scotland. The Register is being introduced to support The Burial and Cremation (Inspection) (Scotland) Regulations 2025 which came into force on 1st March 2025, and grants powers to...

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  • Repatriation to Scotland: Changes to the medical requirements in England and Wales – Cremation Application Forms

    6th September 2024 by

    Repatriation For any burial or cremation in Scotland, a death must first be registered in accordance with the Births, Deaths and Marriages (Scotland) Act 1965. Such requirement in Scotland will not change following the introduction of the new medical examiner system in England and Wales.  The legal requirements for Scottish purposes are set out in...

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  • Funeral Sector Inspectorate and Funeral Director Licensing

    23rd May 2022 by

    We are progressing implementation of the Burial and Cremation (Scotland) Act 2016 and the related regulations, codes of practice and guidance which will impact the funeral sector. Please look out for our postcard requesting you to provide us with some information about your business. Why we need your information We are setting up the Funeral...

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  • GUIDANCE TO FUNERAL DIRECTORS’ BUSINESSES, CREMATION AUTHORITIES AND BURIAL AUTHORITIES ON EXEMPTIONS FROM COVID SELF-ISOLATION

    23rd December 2021 by

    Critical workers exemption   The Scottish Government has confirmed that businesses and organisations providing vital public services and Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) industries can apply an exemption to allow critical / essential workers to volunteer to leave self-isolation and return to work, in certain limited circumstances, to allow vital services to continue.   Businesses and...

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  • COVID-19: Updates on Regulations and Guidance, Face Coverings and Supplementary Form for Cremation

    16th December 2021 by

    Regulations and guidance: On 14 December the First Minister outlined new measures and guidance that will come into effect tomorrow, 17 December, in order to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19 and to support staff and those arranging funerals. Businesses have a duty to manage workplace risks under existing health and safety legislation, in addition to...

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  • Main Guidance Documents Updated In Advance Of Monday 2 November

    30th October 2020 by

    Today (30 October) we have updated our 3 main guidance documents for the funeral industry: the funeral director guidance; funeral services guidance; and burial and cremation authorities guidance. Each has been updated to account for the new system of local protection levels, which will be introduced from Monday 2 November. Scotland’s Strategic Framework sets out the...

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  • Using Outside Speakers At Crematoriums

    19th October 2020 by

    Cremation authorities are respectfully asked to discontinue using speakers outside at crematoriums for all funerals. Funeral services are restricted to a maximum of 20 people attending a funeral service to protect public health. The use of speakers to broadcast a funeral service can mean others above the maximum number are more likely to gather together...

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  • Funerals And Wakes Exempt From New Restrictions

    9th October 2020 by

    The First Minister announced on 7 October some tightening of restrictions including for bars and restaurants across Scotland. In specific areas of Scotland: Greater Glasgow & Clyde, Lanarkshire, Ayrshire & Arran, Lothian and Forth Valley, those measures are even more restrictive. A funeral service, as well as a funeral reception/ wake are exempt from the...

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  • Carrying The Cords And Coffin

    7th October 2020 by

    Prior to the pandemic, family members could participate in the lowering or carrying of the coffin at the crematorium or the burial ground. They were routinely assisted and directed by funeral directors and/ or their staff, or at burial grounds, burial ground staff, in doing so. As experienced professionals, funeral directors, their staff, or the...

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  • Supplementary Form For Cremation Applications – Update

    17th September 2020 by

    On 3 April, we blogged about the introduction of the supplementary form that could be used by funeral directors when the signature of the applicant could not be obtained. The only reason for using the supplementary form is “unable to obtain a signature”.  It was always the expectation that the supplementary form would only be...

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