Environmental Public Health Act 1987 · 2020 Revised Edition · Part 8 · Funeral Parlours, Cemeteries and Crematoria
69. Corpse not to be retained beyond 48 hours unless encoffined
Feedback & supportNo corpse may be retained in any premises, including a funeral parlour, for a period longer than 48 hours after death, unless the corpse is encoffined in a hermetically sealed coffin or is embalmed.
premises
“premises” means messuages, buildings, lands, easements and hereditaments of any tenure, whether open or enclosed, whether built on or not, whether public or private, and whether maintained or not under statutory authority, and includes any place or structure, or any part thereof used or intended to be used for human habitation or for any other purpose whatsoever;
So long as the corpse is encoffined in a hermetically sealed coffin or is embalmed, it may be retained in any premises, including a funeral parlour, for a period not exceeding 7 days after death, but where it is intended to retain a corpse for a period exceeding 7 days, the written permission of the Director‑General must be obtained.
funeral parlour
“funeral parlour” means any premises where corpses are received for the purpose of preparation for burial or cremation or for the carrying out of funeral rites or ceremonies prior to burial or cremation, and includes any premises used for such purpose by whatever name called;