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maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 10 APRIL 2019 YANNICK PACE THE sale or auction of urns containing people's remains will be prohibited under the provi- sions of a proposed law regulat- ing cremation. Cremation is currently not practiced in Malta and there are no regulations governing the practice. Parliament is expected to start debating a Bill to regulate cre- mation on Thursday. Following the launch of a pub- lic consultation on the proposed law, which came to an end some two weeks ago, minor amend- ments were made to the Bill. Deputy Prime Minister and Health Minister Chris Fearne said the law was the result of government's desire to respect people's choices. Fearne noted that consulta- tions with various stakeholders had already been held before the consultation period, with some 24 detailed submissions having been received since Feb- ruary. He said the law would legal- ise and regulate the prac- tice, while laying down clear conditions neces- sary for one to obtain a license issued by the Superintendence for Public Health. He said the law would be seek- ing to impose the highest stand- ards for operators, with the su- perintendence being obliged to inspect and ensure adherence to regulations. Operators will be required to keep a detailed register of the processes used and individuals cremated. Government MP Rosianne Cutajar, who piloted the reform, said the proposed law showed that the government did not shy away from dealing with sensitive or uncomfortable topics. Cutajar said the government had gone beyond its electoral pledge to discuss the subject as evidenced by the fact that par- liament would be discussing a new law this week. She explained that the Bill pre- sented to parliament has been updated to reflect some of the points raised over the course of the public consultation, in- cluding the setting up a register where people can make known whether they would like to be cremated once they die. The decision, she said, will ultimately still lie with the indi- vidual's next of kin, but the reg- ister would be a way for people to make their feelings known either way. She said that over the course of the formulation of the law, it had become apparent to her that many people preferred this option, for a number of reasons. Some, she said, believed it was more hygienic, others felt it was more dignified, while there were also those who preferred crema- tion for environmental reasons, including Malta's lack of space. There were also considerations related to religious freedoms, Cutajar said. Turning to the issue of emis- sions from crematoria, Cutajar stressed that there were "ad- vanced technologies" like "bio- cremation" that rdid not require burning. Furthermore, she said crema- tion also allowed people to be able to retain a physical memory of their loved one. Cutajar said the law would al- low people to spread their loved one's ashes at sea excluding des- ignated swimming areas, from any aircraft, in a private resi- dence, or in a designated open space. Urns holding remains can also be kept at home or displayed in another building provided that there is the consent of the build- ing's owner. Mother and babies that die during childbirth, as well as still- born twins can be cremated at the same time, according to the Bill's provisions. The Bill also proposes the ex- humation and cremation of an individual. New cremation law will prohibit sale of person's remains be prohibited under the provi- sions of a proposed law regulat- Cremation is currently not practiced in Malta and there are no regulations governing the Parliament is expected to start debating a Bill to regulate cre- mation on Thursday. Following the launch of a pub- lic consultation on the proposed law, which came to an end some two weeks ago, minor amend- ments were made to the Bill. Deputy Prime Minister and Health Minister Chris Fearne said the law was the result of government's desire to respect Fearne noted that consulta- tions with various stakeholders had already been held before the consultation period, with some 24 detailed submissions having been received since Feb- He said the law would legal- ise and regulate the prac- tice, while laying down clear conditions neces- ing to impose the highest stand- ards for operators, with the su- perintendence being obliged to inspect and ensure adherence to cremated. Government MP Rosianne Cutajar, who piloted the reform, said the proposed law showed that the government did not shy away from dealing with sensitive evidenced by the fact that par- liament would be discussing a new law this week. She explained that the Bill pre- sented to parliament has been updated to reflect some of the points raised over the course of the public consultation, in- cluding the setting up a register where people can make known whether they would like to be cremated once they die. The decision, she said, will ultimately still lie with the indi- vidual's next of kin, but the reg- ister would be a way for people to make their feelings known either way. She said that over the course of the formulation of the law, it had become apparent to her that many people preferred this option, for a number of reasons. Some, she said, believed it was more hygienic, others felt it was more dignified, while there were also those who preferred crema- Urns holding remains can also be kept at home or displayed in another building

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