Recently, NEA released new rules for the industry to maintain the quality of their services including the key requirement that embalmers must be registered and must have completed the infection control course to work at funeral parlours.

Let us first understand, what is the embalming?
Embalming is the process of preserving human remnants by treating them to prevent decomposition. Embalming procedures are required to make the deceased suitable for public or private viewing as part of the funeral ritual. In the medical profession, preservation of the deceased body is also required in an anatomical laboratory. The three major aims of embalming are sanitization, presentation and preservation, with restoration being an important additional goal in some instances. With the help of this procedure, the body can be kept preserved for a very long time. Embalming has been practiced since the ancient past across cultures with many of them performing specific embalming processes of religious significance.
NEA has highlighted the weakness of the funeral industry and implements stricter rules for embalmers in Singapore.
All funeral parlours must check the registration status of their embalmers as NEA stipulates that embalmers working at licensed funeral parlours must register with the agency. Also, all embalmers must complete the basic infection control course conducted by the National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID). These changes are designed to improve current industry standards. A few cases have been highlighted last year due to the poor service of the embalmer. NEA has also specified the requirement for embalming rooms to have restricted access to authorised staff.
NEA has also announced that all embalmers in licensed funeral parlours must have embalmed at least 25 bodies locally under the supervision of another registered embalmer. Also, action will be taken against the embalmer and funeral parlour if an unregistered embalmer is found working with the parlour. Licensed funeral parlours are advised to keep an up-to-date record of embalmers that includes all data related to their registration and apprentices.