Currently applicable regulations – specifically the Act of January 31, 1959 on cemeteries and burial of the dead – prohibit scattering ashes anywhere. It follows that the deceased may be buried “by being placed in earthen graves, in brick graves or catacombs and immersed in the sea” and “remains from cremation may also be stored in columbaria.” Both graves and columbaria [miejsca do przechowywania urn] “can only be found in cemeteries”. Illegal scattering of ashes may result in a fine ranging from PLN 20 to PLN 5,000 and even arrest from 5 to 30 days.
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Changes in burials. Scattering ashes and forest cemeteries
The author of the petition proposed legalization of scattering the ashes of the deceased in forest, park or water areas, on private areas (e.g. home gardens) or in designated ecological areas, provided that sanitary safety rules are observed. He also proposed the creation of the so-called forest cemeteries. He pointed out that the current regulations, which require the ashes of deceased persons to be stored only in urns and buried in cemeteries, do not take into account the needs and beliefs of many citizens.
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The Ministry of Health commented on the petition. According to Rynek Zdrowia, Joanna Kujawa, head of the environmental health department of the Department of Public Health at the Ministry of Health, said that the demands contained in the petition “do not pose an epidemiological or sanitary-epidemiological threat”. She emphasized, however, that the topic also concerned the competences of other ministries that should comment. These are the ministries of development and technology, climate and environment, infrastructure, and internal affairs and administration. The Senate Petitions Committee will ask for their opinion. Only after obtaining it will it be possible to return to the issue of changes in burial regulations.
