Law regarding burials in RLP set to take effect starting from early October

Rhineland-Palatinate, one of the federal states in Germany, is planning to relax its burial law, making it more lenient than any other state. However, this proposed change has sparked criticism from various groups and organizations, including religious communities, environmental associations, and local citizens' initiatives.

The proposed changes include allowing the scattering of ashes in the home garden and keeping the urn at home, despite criticism from the churches. The CDU, the largest opposition faction, has rejected the introduction of these new burial forms in Rhineland-Palatinate.

If passed, the law could come into effect as early as October. The CDU leader, Gordon Schnieder, has stated that the current burial law in Rhineland-Palatinate has proven itself in its basic principles over decades. The party accuses the state government of pushing the law through the state parliament without a broad public discourse.

The new burial forms in Rhineland-Palatinate require that the body has been cremated. Cremation of the ashes in the Rhine, Moselle, Saar, and Lahn rivers will be permitted. The Catholic and Protestant churches have criticized the scattering of ashes in the home garden and keeping urns at home as part of the new burial laws.

Relatives will be allowed to keep the urn at home, but the new law does not allow the so-called reburial, a type of composting process. Cemeteries are not being abolished as places of farewell, according to Health Minister Clemens Hoch. Scattering of ashes in the home garden will be permitted.

The processing of ashes into artificial diamonds will be allowed. Critics argue that the new laws could lead to "burial tourism," where people travel to Rhineland-Palatinate specifically to take advantage of the more lenient burial laws.

Despite the controversy, the final vote and approval of the revised burial law in Rhineland-Palatinate will take place on Thursday (11.9.). For those interested in staying updated on the latest developments, it is recommended to visit the website of the Landtags Rheinland-Pfalz, search for current legislative proposals and statements, and consult the websites of the major churches and religious communities for their latest press releases. News portals with the keywords "Rheinland-Pfalz Bestattungsgesetz" or "Bestattungsvorschriften" can also be a valuable source of information.