During the FIAT-IFTA Convention in September 2024 which took place in Krakow – Poland, members approved the creation of an Embalming Committee to work in establish a FIAT-IFTA embalming standard with the objective to propose a globally accepted set of guidelines for embalming procedures, training, and safety protocols and consequently to elevate the embalming standards worldwide and provide a better service to bereaved families.
The standards also aim to foster communication among industry professionals, funeral service organizations, and regulatory bodies to harmonize embalming standards.
In order to achieve this mandate, it has become clear to the Committee that the first step is to organise a research to first of all identify common embalming techniques, materials, and procedures used across different regions and cultures. This will help also to understand the use of protective measures, handling of hazardous chemicals, and compliance with occupational health regulations, legal frameworks, cultural considerations, and ethical embalming practices in different countries.
Finally, the study will help to identify difficulties faced by embalmers, including resource availability, legal restrictions, and technological limitations and to determine the level of training, qualifications, and certifications required for embalmers worldwide. This is the first ever research on a global scale on embalming and your cooperation in answering this questionnaire will be an invaluable contribution to embalming and the funeral industry worldwide.
The research will be published, and an acknowledgment will be given to all those who have contributed to this unique and extremely important research.