- A. Unless prevented by emergency circumstances, human remains that have been designated for cremation or alkaline hydrolysis shall be cremated or hydrolyzed by a permit holder within 48 hours after receipt.
- B. A permit holder may not hold human remains for cremation or alkaline hydrolysis unless the human remains are contained within an individual, closed cremation or hydrolysis container as required under Regulation .03 of this chapter.
- C. A permit holder may not accept a cremation or alkaline hydrolysis container from which there is any evidence of leakage of the body fluids from the human remains therein.
- D. Whenever a permit holder is unable to cremate or hydrolyze human remains within 48 hours of taking custody thereof due to emergency circumstances, the permit holder shall maintain the human remains in a refrigerated holding facility, either on or off site, at 40°F or less, unless the remains have been embalmed.
Authority: Health-General Article, §§5-502—5-504, 5-508, and 5-511—5-514; Health Occupations Article, §§7-101, 7-102, and 7-205, Annotated Code of Maryland
Effective date: April 14, 2014 (41:7 Md. R. 421)
Chapter revised effective May 11, 2026 (53:9 Md. R. 413)