فاس نيوز ميديا جريدة الكترونية جهوية تعنى بشؤون و أخبار جهة فاس مكناس – متجددة على مدار الساعة
Morocco – A joint ministerial decision signed by Abdelouafi Laftit, Minister of the Interior, and Khalid Ait Taleb, Minister of Health and Social Protection, has entered into force following its publication in the Official Bulletin of Morocco. The text sets precise conditions for the transport, burial, and exhumation of bodies, within the framework of strengthening health prevention and protecting public health.
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Unified Wording on Funeral Vehicles
The decision standardizes the inscriptions permitted on vehicles used for transporting the deceased. It mandates the exclusive use of the phrase “Transport of the Deceased,” along with the name of the vehicle owner, prohibiting any additional slogans or markings. Vehicles must also feature two green stripes on both sides, with no other distinctive signs allowed.
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Mandatory Technical Specifications
The regulatory text establishes strict technical and sanitary standards for funeral transport vehicles. The interior compartment must be covered with a material that is easy to clean and disinfect, such as polyester or an equivalent. Vehicles must also be equipped with a refrigeration system capable of maintaining an appropriate temperature throughout transportation.
The decision further requires tinted, non-openable windows. The compartment must measure at least two meters in length and 70 centimeters in width. A washable stretcher of at least 2.20 meters in length and 50 centimeters in width must be provided. Vehicles must also be fitted with a warning light, signaling system, and audible alert device.
Drivers of funeral vehicles are subject to periodic medical check-ups, and each vehicle must be disinfected after every transport operation using appropriate products.
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Exhumation Deadlines Based on Cause of Death
Regarding the exhumation of bodies, the decision differentiates deadlines according to the cause of death. A minimum period of one year must pass in cases involving certain infectious diseases, including rabies, active pulmonary tuberculosis, COVID-19, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), and meningococcal meningitis.
The required period exceeds three years in cases of cholera and tetanus, and extends beyond five years for other serious diseases, including anthrax, certain viral hemorrhagic fevers such as Ebola, as well as plague, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, and avian influenza.
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Additional Preventive Measures
The decision obliges personnel involved in exhumation to wear protective clothing and requires observers to maintain a safety distance of at least two meters from the grave. The grave and its surroundings must be cleaned and disinfected before and after the operation, except in cases carried out pursuant to a judicial order.
It also requires concerned workers to receive mandatory vaccinations against meningitis, viral hepatitis, and tetanus. Protective clothing and resulting waste must be disposed of in accordance with applicable legislation governing waste management.
This decision forms part of broader efforts to unify regulatory procedures governing the transport and burial of the deceased, while reinforcing health standards in line with national prevention and safety requirements.
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Source: Fès News Media
