1. A. In COMAR 10.29.17 — COMAR 10.29.20, the following terms have the meanings indicated.

2. B. Terms Defined.

   1. (1) “Advertising” means the publication, dissemination, or circulation of any oral or written matter, including labeling, which directly or indirectly calls to the attention of the public the goods and services one has to offer.
   2. (2) “Alkaline hydrolysis” means the process of reducing human remains using water, alkaline chemicals, and heat inside a watertight vessel to accelerate decomposition.
   3. (3) “Authorizing agent” means an individual who has legal authority to arrange for and make decisions regarding the final disposition of human remains, including cremation or alkaline hydrolysis.
   4. (4) “Board” means Board of Morticians and Funeral Directors.
   5. (5) “Consumer” includes a funeral establishment contracting with a crematory or the authorizing agent of a decedent contracting with a crematory.
   6. (6) “Cremated human remains” means the recoverable bone fragments of a deceased person that result from the completion of cremation.
   7. (7) “Cremation” means the disposition of a dead human body by means of incineration.
   8. (8) “Cremator” means the machinery within which the process of cremation begins.
   9. (9) “Crematory” means a building, portion of a building, or structure that houses the necessary appliances and facilities for cremation, alkaline hydrolysis, or both.
   10. (10) “Crematory container” means a readily combustible, rigid container in which human remains are sent to the crematory and then placed in the cremator for cremation.

   11. (11) “Crematory equipment” means either:

       1. (a) A cremator; or
       2. (b) A hydrolysis unit.
   12. (12) “Decedent” means a dead human being.
   13. (13) “Embalming” means the disinfection and preserving of human remains by arterial or cavity injection or any other type of preservation.
   14. (14) “Engage in the operation of a crematory” means controlling or managing a crematory.
   15. (15) “Holding facility” means an area, within or adjacent to a crematory, designed for the retention of human remains before cremation or alkaline hydrolysis.

   16. (16) Human Remains.

       1. (a) “Human remains” means:

          1. (i) The body of a deceased person; or
          2. (ii) A part of a body or limb that has been removed from a living person.
       2. (b) “Human remains” includes the body or part of a body or limb in any state of decomposition.
   17. (17) “Hydrolysis container” means a container, including a body bag, in which human remains are sent to the crematory for alkaline hydrolysis, but the human remains may be removed prior to the start of the process for alkaline hydrolysis.
   18. (18) “Hydrolysis unit” means the watertight vessel in which the process of alkaline hydrolysis occurs.
   19. (19) “Hydrolyzed human remains” means the recoverable bone fragments of a deceased person that result from the completion of alkaline hydrolysis.
   20. (20) “Office” means the Office of Cemetery Oversight.
   21. (21) “Permit” means a license issued by the Board to allow a person to operate a business which engages in the operation of a crematory or to act as a registered crematory operator.
   22. (22) “Permit holder” means the holder of a permit issued under Health Occupations Article, Title 7, Annotated Code of Maryland, to operate a crematory or to act as a registered crematory operator.
   23. (23) “Person” means an individual, personal representative, or a corporation that is the operator of a mortuary science business where the practice of mortuary science is conducted for the corporation by a licensed mortician or funeral director, a partnership, or professional association, each comprised of one or more licensed morticians or funeral directors.
   24. (24) “Processed human remains” means the end result of pulverization.
   25. (25) “Pulverization” means the process following cremation or alkaline hydrolysis of crushing, grinding, or milling cremated or hydrolyzed human remains into fine particles or powder, leaving bone fragments reduced to 5 millimeters or less.
   26. (26) “Registered crematory operator” means an individual registered to operate a crematory as a sole proprietor or on behalf of a sole proprietor or permit holder.
   27. (27) “Responsible party” means a sole proprietor or the individual designated by a corporation, limited liability company, or partnership, which holds a permit to engage in the operation of a crematory, to be responsible for the operations of the crematory.
   28. (28) “Sealable container” means a container in which processed human remains can be placed and sealed so as to prevent leakage of the processed human remains or the entry of any foreign material.

Authority: Business Regulation Article, §5-101; Health-General Article, §5-508; Health Occupations Article, §§7-101, 7-102, and 7-205, Annotated Code of Maryland

Effective date: April 14, 2014 (41:7 Md. R. 421)

Regulation .02 amended effective May 11, 2026 (53:9 Md. R. 413)