How Are Cremations Regulated in BC

Legislation

Cremation services in British Columbia are governed by several key pieces of legislation: the Business Practices and Consumer Protection Act, the Cremation, Interment and Funeral Services Act, and the accompanying Cremation, Interment and Funeral Services Regulation. In today’s blog, we’re providing a general overview of these laws and how they apply to cremation services.

1. Business Practices and Consumer Protection Act (BPCPA)

The Business Practices and Consumer Protection Act is a broad piece of legislation that regulates business conduct across many sectors in BC, including the funeral and cremation industry. It defines what constitutes unfair or deceptive business practices, sets rules for contract disclosures, and outlines consumers’ rights when entering into service agreements.

For cremation and end-of-life service providers, this Act helps ensure transparent pricing, ethical marketing, and clear contractual terms, protecting consumers at a time when they are especially vulnerable.

2. Cremation, Interment and Funeral Services Act (CIFSA)

This Act specifically governs the operation of funeral homes, crematoriums, and cemeteries in BC. It lays out the legal framework for the disposition of human remains, including who has the authority to make decisions and the requirement that these decisions respect the known wishes of the deceased, when applicable.

Key elements of the Act relevant to cremation include:

• Authorization for disposition: Only individuals with legal authority (as outlined in the Act) can authorize cremation.
• Respect for wishes: The preferences of the deceased regarding disposition must be followed when known.
• Care funds: Requirements for funeral providers and cemeteries to maintain care funds for the ongoing maintenance of certain facilities.
• Offences and enforcement: Provides penalties for non-compliance.

3. Cremation, Interment and Funeral Services Regulation

This Regulation provides additional detail to support the implementation of the CIFSA. It outlines the licensing requirements and operational obligations for crematoriums and funeral service providers.

For crematoriums specifically, the Regulation addresses:

• Licensing: All crematoriums must be licensed by Consumer Protection BC.
• Facility and equipment standards: Operators must maintain equipment according to specific safety and environmental standards and must notify the regulator when replacing or acquiring new cremation equipment.
• Recordkeeping: Detailed records must be kept for every cremation, including identity verification, authorizations received, and the date and time of the cremation.

We hope this overview has provided some insight into how cremation is regulated in British Columbia. While this post offers a basic summary, the actual legislation is more detailed and should be consulted directly for legal compliance.

If you have questions about cremation services or how we comply with these regulations, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

At A Simple Cremation, we believe every family deserves respect, reverence, and compassion. If you have any questions about this article or would like to talk to us about cremation services, please call or text (604) 809-2006.