1. A. Upon completion of the natural organic reduction process, insofar as is possible:

   1. (1) All of the recoverable soil remains shall be:

      1. (a) Removed from the vessel;
      2. (b) Except for medical devices remaining after reduction, pulverized; and
      3. (c) Placed in a soil remains container; and

   2. (2) The identification disc required by Health Occupations Article, §7-411, Annotated Code of Maryland, shall be:

      1. (a) Removed from the vessel; and
      2. (b) Placed in the soil remains container with the soil remains.
2. B. Medical devices which remain after the completion of the natural organic reduction process shall be treated as medical waste and disposed of accordingly.
3. C. After pulverization, all soil remains, together with the identification disc, shall be placed in a soil remains container or containers adequate to accommodate the soil remains.

4. D. A registered reduction operator is responsible for the label or labeling or providing on a written invoice or shipping statement indicating the soil remains containers, and a person may not use or dispose of soil remains produced by natural organic reduction:

   1. (1) On public or private property without the prior written permission of the owner or surviving owner of the property;
   2. (2) By using the soil remains to grow food for consumption by humans or livestock;
   3. (3) By selling or reselling the soil remains to a third party; or
   4. (4) By combining or incorporating the soil remains into compost offered for sale to consumers or for commercial or agricultural purchasers.
5. E. If a soil remains container is to be shipped, the soil remains container shall have the name of the decedent contained therein legibly written on the outside of the soil remains container.

6. F. If soil remains have been in the possession of a permit holder without instructions for disposition for a period of 90 days or more from the date of reduction, the permit holder may arrange for disposition in any legal manner, provided the entity:

   1. (1) Attempts to contact the authorizing agent for disposition instructions by certified mail to the last known address;
   2. (2) Informs the authorizing agent at the time of authorization the procedures that will be followed if disposition instructions are not received;
   3. (3) Informs the authorizing agent at the time of authorization that disposition will occur in a manner at the permit holder’s discretion if disposition instructions are not received within sixty days of the first attempt to notify the authorizing agent of the completion of natural organic reduction;
   4. (4) Informs the authorizing agent that recovery of the soil remains after disposition may not be possible; and
   5. (5) Maintains a permanent record of the location of disposition.
7. G. A permit holder making disposition arrangements of unclaimed soil remains will not be liable for the disposition or nonrecoverability of the soil remains.
8. H. Bodily fluids, blood, tissues, and waste removed from human remains must be kept with the body in the vessel.
9. I. All containers and liners used to receive solid or fluid materials removed from human remains must be cleaned and disinfected immediately after use and disposed of in accordance with local ordinances and other applicable laws and rules for infectious waste.

Authority: Business Regulation Article, §5-204, Annotated Code of Maryland

Effective date: March 30, 2026 (53:6 Md. R. 287)