China revises regulations on management of funerals and interment

BEIJING, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang has signed a State Council decree to promulgate the revised regulations on the management of funerals and interment. The regulations will take effect on March 30, 2026.

The revised regulations, consisting of 8 chapters and 73 articles, underscore that the funeral and interment services are an important public welfare cause, which should adhere to the principles of public welfare for the people, civility and frugality, and green ecology.

China will improve funeral and interment services, further promote the transformation of funeral and interment customs, and steadily advance the reform of the sector, according to the regulations.

A list-based management system on funeral and interment services will be established, which will prohibit the creation of additional items or the collection of fees beyond the list. Meanwhile, relevant departments will strengthen price monitoring and supervision to curb excessive charges, the regulations noted.

China will also encourage ecological and land-saving interment services under the revised regulations.