Usually, a reputable Funeral Home
will handle all the necessary procedures and fulfil the
requirements for the shipment of human remains
overseas.
The
following are the documentary requirements established
by the Government of Jamaica for the shipment of human
remains to Jamaica, for
burial or cremation , from all destinations worldwide:
FOR A
CASKET WITH REMAINS:
1) Official Death Certificate: issued by the
local (e.g. UK) Registrar of Deaths, or similar
authority, which states clearly the cause of death.
2) Embalming
Certificate: including a statement by the person authorised to prepare the remains,
indicating the manner and method of preservation.
3) Transit permit : stating name and
age of the deceased, issued by the
competent authority where the individual died, or the
place of burial in case of
exhumed human remains.
4) Health Approval: In cases of
death resulting from a
communicable
disease e.g. cholera, prior approval should be
sought from the Department of Public
Health, Ministry of Health Jamaica.
When in doubt the Funeral Home receiving the
remains should consult
the Department of Public Health.
5) Labelling of Casket: The
exterior of the casket should bear an immovable plaque indicating
the name, age, sex and place of
final destination of the body.
Provided
that these documents meet with international regulations
and accompany the human remains, then the Jamaican
Health Department on receiving the shipment will issue a
transit permit to enable Jamaican Customs at the
Jamaican port of entry, be it an Airport, Seaport or
General Post Office Customs, to accepted the remains:
-
The Customs Officer, having received this transit
permit and having been satisfied:
a) of the identity of the deceased
b) that it is intact and meets entry
requirements
will release the human remains to the
consignee, be it the next of kin or a local
Funeral Home/Undertaker.
OTHER
FACTS TO KNOW
Health
Measures
The
human remains shall be subject to the following:
i) Thorough washing with an effective
disinfectant; disinfection of all orifices;
packing of all orifices with cotton saturated with an
effective disinfectant; wrapping in a sheet
saturated with an effective disinfectant;
and placing in an impervious coffin.
or
ii) Proper embalming (arterial and cavity and
encasement) in a plastic container which has been
sealed hermetically or by adhesive materials
prior to placement in an impervious coffin. If cause of
death was from a quarantinable disease, then it
should be placed in an impervious coffin.
The impervious coffin must then be hermetically
sealed.
iii) The coffin may be conveyed in a baggage
compartment of a passenger aircraft.
iv) The transportation of remains exhumed after
the period established in the local
provisions in force have elapsed, and the transportation
of ashes shall not be subject to health or other
special measures.
FOR CREMATED
REMAINS:
a) Death Certificate
b) Certificate of cremation. Evidence
connecting the death certificate with the importation
must be produced.
For further information on prices from
the UK please contact: AIR
JAMAICA on TEL: 0208 587 0931
