1. A. Except as provided in §B of this regulation, a permit holder may not:

   1. (1) Require that human remains be placed in a casket before cremation or that human remains be cremated in a casket;
   2. (2) Refuse to accept human remains for cremation because the remains are not in a casket; or
   3. (3) Refuse to accept human remains for cremation because the remains are in a suitable, combustible wooden casket, but may require the authorizing agent or funeral establishment engaging the services of the crematory authority to remove the metal mattress holder in the casket.
2. B. Human remains delivered to a crematory establishment may not be removed from the cremation container.
3. C. The cremation container shall be cremated with the human remains unless the authorizing agent for the deceased requests a more natural environment for the deceased. A permit holder is not required to accept this manner of disposition.
4. D. A permit holder may not require that human remains be subjected to embalming before cremation.

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)