The Hydrolysis (Scotland) (No. 1) Regulations 2026

1.—(1) The Burial and Cremation (Scotland) Act 2016 is amended as follows.

(2) In section 22(6) (private burial), in the definition of “human remains”, for paragraph (a) substitute—

“(a) ashes,

(aa) powder,”.

(3) In section 65 (arrangements on death of adult)—

(a) in subsection (2), for “or cremated” substitute “, cremated or hydrolysed”,

(b) in subsection 7(b), for “or cremated” substitute “, cremated or hydrolysed”,

(c) in subsection (8), in the definition of “arrangements on death declaration” for “or cremation” substitute “, cremation, or hydrolysis”.

(4) In section 66 (arrangements on death of child)—

(a) in subsection (2), for “or cremated” substitute “, cremated or hydrolysed”,

(b) in subsection (6)(b), for “or cremated” substitute “, cremated or hydrolysed”.

(5) In section 67 (arrangements under sections 65 and 66)—

(a) in subsection (1), for “or cremated” substitute “, cremated or hydrolysed”,

(b) in subsection (2), for “or cremated” substitute “, cremated or hydrolysed”,

(c) in subsection (3)(a), for “or cremation” substitute “, cremation or hydrolysis”.

(6) In section 68(1) (sections 65 and 66: application to sheriff), for “or cremation” substitute “, cremation or hydrolysis”.

(7) In section 69 (arrangements on termination of pregnancy after 24 weeks)—

(a) in subsection (2)(a), for “or cremated” substitute “, cremated or hydrolysed”,

(b) in subsection (3), for “or cremated” substitute “, cremated or hydrolysed”.

(8) In section 70 (section 69: health body authorised to make arrangements)—

(a) in subsection (1)(b), for “or cremated” substitute “, cremated or hydrolysed”,

(b) in subsection (2)(a), for “or cremated” substitute “, cremated or hydrolysed”.

(9) In section 71 (section 69: no arrangements)—

(a) in subsection (1)(b), for “or cremated” substitute “, cremated or hydrolysed”,

(b) in subsection (2)(a), for “or cremated” substitute “, cremated or hydrolysed”,

(c) in subsection (3), for “or cremated” substitute “, cremated or hydrolysed”,

(d) in subsection (4)(a), for “or cremated” substitute “, cremated or hydrolysed”,

(e) in subsection (5), for “or cremated” substitute “, cremated or hydrolysed”.

(10) In section 72 (duty of health body where still-birth likely to occur)—

(a) in subsection (2)(a), for “or cremated” substitute “, cremated or hydrolysed”,

(b) in subsection (3), for “or cremated” substitute “, cremated or hydrolysed”.

(11) In section 73 (section 72: health body authorised to make arrangements)—

(a) in subsection (1)(b), for “or cremated” substitute “, cremated or hydrolysed”,

(b) in subsection (2)(a), for “or cremated” substitute “, cremated or hydrolysed”.

(12) In section 74 (arrangements on still-birth)—

(a) in subsection (1)(b), for “or cremated” substitute “, cremated or hydrolysed”,

(b) in subsection (2), for “or cremated” substitute “, cremated or hydrolysed”,

(c) in subsection (4)—

(i) in paragraph (a), for “or cremated” substitute “, cremated or hydrolysed”,

(ii) in paragraph (b), for “or cremated” substitute “, cremated or hydrolysed”,

(d) in subsection (5), for “or cremated” substitute “, cremated or hydrolysed”,

(e) in subsection (9)(b), for “or cremated” substitute “, cremated or hydrolysed”.

(13) In section 75 (section 74: power of appropriate health body)—

(a) in subsection (1), for “or cremated” substitute “, cremated or hydrolysed”,

(b) in subsection (2), for “or cremated” substitute “, cremated or hydrolysed”,

(c) in subsection (3), for “or cremation” substitute “, cremation or hydrolysis”,

(d) in subsection (5)(a), for “or cremated” substitute “, cremated or hydrolysed”.

(14) In section 76 (section 74: general power of appropriate health body)—

(a) in subsection (1), for “or cremated” substitute “, cremated or hydrolysed”,

(b) in subsection (2), for “or cremated” substitute “, cremated or hydrolysed”.

(15) In section 77 (duty of health body where pregnancy loss likely to occur)—

(a) in subsection (2)(a), for “or cremated” substitute “, cremated or hydrolysed”,

(b) in subsection (3), for “or cremated” substitute “, cremated or hydrolysed”.

(16) In section 78 (section 77: health body authorised to make arrangements)—

(a) in subsection (1)(d), for “or cremated” substitute “, cremated or hydrolysed”,

(b) in subsection (2)(a), for “or cremated” substitute “, cremated or hydrolysed”.

(17) In section 79 (arrangements on pregnancy loss on or before 24 weeks)—

(a) in subsection (1)(d), for “or cremated” substitute “, cremated or hydrolysed”,

(b) in subsection (2)(a), for “or cremated” substitute “, cremated or hydrolysed”,

(c) in subsection (3), for “or cremated” substitute “, cremated or hydrolysed”.

(18) In section 80 (change in arrangements)—

(a) in subsection (1)(b), for “or cremated” substitute “, cremated or hydrolysed”,

(b) in subsection (3), for “or cremated” substitute “, cremated or hydrolysed”.

(19) In section 81 (individual authorised to make arrangements)—

(a) in subsection (1), for “or cremated” substitute “, cremated or hydrolysed”,

(b) in subsection (2)—

(i) in paragraph (a), for “or cremated” substitute “, cremated or hydrolysed”,

(ii) in paragraph (b), for “or cremated” substitute “, cremated or hydrolysed”,

(c) in subsection (3), for “or cremated” substitute “, cremated or hydrolysed”,

(d) in subsection (4), for “or cremated” substitute “, cremated or hydrolysed”,

(e) in subsection 6(b)(i), for “or cremated” substitute “, cremated or hydrolysed”.

(20) In section 82 (duty to transfer remains)—

(a) in subsection (1), for “or cremation” substitute “, cremation or hydrolysis”,

(b) in subsection (3), for “or cremation” substitute “, cremation or hydrolysis”.

(21) In section 83 (appropriate health authority authorised to make arrangements)—

(a) in subsection (1), for “or cremated” substitute “, cremated or hydrolysed”,

(b) in subsection (2)(a), for “or cremated”, substitute “, cremated or hydrolysed,

(c) in subsection (5)(a) for “or cremated”, substitute “, cremated or hydrolysed.

(22) In section 84 (duty of appropriate health authority)—

(a) in subsection (1)(c), for “or cremated”, substitute “, cremated or hydrolysed”,

(b) in subsection (2)(a), for “or cremated”, substitute “, cremated or hydrolysed”,

(c) in subsection (3), for “or cremated” substitute “, cremated or hydrolysed”,

(d) in subsection (5)(a) for “or cremated”, substitute “, cremated or hydrolysed”,

(e) in subsection (6)(a), for “or cremated”, substitute “, cremated or hydrolysed”,

(f) in subsection (7)(a), for “or cremated”, substitute “, cremated or hydrolysed”,

(g) in subsection (8), for “or cremated”, substitute “, cremated or hydrolysed”.

(23) In subsection 85(1)(a) (duty to keep register), for “or cremation” substitute “, cremation or hydrolysis”.

(24) In section 87 (burial or cremation: duty of local authority)—

(a) in subsection (1)(b), for “or cremated”, substitute “, cremated or hydrolysed”,

(b) in subsection (2), for “or cremated”, substitute “, cremated or hydrolysed”,

(c) in subsection (3), for “or cremated”, substitute “, cremated or hydrolysed”,

(d) in subsection (4), for “or cremated”, substitute “, cremated or hydrolysed”,

(e) the title of the section becomes “Burial, cremation or hydrolysis: duty of local authority”.

(25) In section 89(1) (appointment of inspectors), after paragraph (b) insert—

“(ba) inspectors of hydrolysis,”.

(26) In section 90 (inspections: regulations)—

(a) in subsection (1), after paragraph (b) insert—

“(ba) the carrying out of inspections of hydrolysis facilities and hydrolysis authorities by inspectors of hydrolysis so appointed,”,

(b) in subsection (2) after “cremation authorities” insert “, hydrolysis authorities”.

(27) In section 91(1)(a) (power of entry and inspection), after sub-paragraph (ii) insert—

“(iia) a hydrolysis authority,”.

(28) In section 93(4)(b)(i) (reports) after “cremation authorities,” insert “hydrolysis authorities,”.

(29) In section 98(3) (guidance on funeral costs), after paragraph (b) insert—

“(ba) hydrolysis authorities,”.

(30) In subsection 100(2)(d), for “or cremation” substitute “, cremation or hydrolysis”.

(31) In section 104 (regulations: consultation requirements)—

(a) in subsection (3), after paragraph (b) insert—

“(ba) hydrolysis authorities,”,

(b) in subsection (4), for paragraph (a) substitute—

“(a) either (or both)—

(i) cremation authorities (if the regulations relate to cremation),

(ii) hydrolysis authorities (if the regulations relate to hydrolysis),”,

(c) in subsection (5), after paragraph (b) insert—

“(ba) hydrolysis authorities,”.

(32) In section 107 (interpretation)—

(a) after the definition of “Health Board” insert—

““hydrolysis” means the disposal of human remains and any soluble material in which the remains are wrapped in a chamber using hot water and potassium hydroxide (with or without the addition of sodium hydroxide) and includes—

(a)

where a grinding process is applied to the solid remains after being removed from the chamber, that process, and

(b)

where any other process is applied to those remains, that other process; and “hydrolysed” is to be construed accordingly,

“hydrolysis authority” in relation to a hydrolysis facility, means the person having responsibility for the management of the hydrolysis facility,

“hydrolysis facility” means a building fitted with equipment for the carrying out of hydrolysis; and includes land (other than a burial ground) pertaining to such a building,”,

(b) after the definition of “inspector of cremation” insert—

““inspector of hydrolysis” means an inspector of hydrolysis appointed under section 89(1),

“powder” means the solid material (other than any metal) to which human remains are reduced by hydrolysis,”.