The newly revised Regulations on Funeral Management officially came into force in China on March 30, 2026, marking the first major update in nearly 30 years. The revised policy redefines funeral services as a non-profit social cause and introduces a "two-tier catalog" system for both basic and supplementary services. Under these new rules, no additional items or fees are permitted beyond those officially listed in the catalogs.

Specifically, pricing for items on the "basic service catalog" is now subject to government-guided rates, while supplementary services are also under strict legal management. Furthermore, the regulations prioritize the supply of public-interest burial facilities, explicitly stating that no new for-profit or commercial cemeteries will be approved from this point forward.

Regulations have also been significantly strengthened. Most regions have now established a seamless connection between medical institutions, elderly care facilities and funeral homes. Hospitals are required to implement strict internal controls to prevent staff from leaking patient information or making illegal service referrals. Additionally, a joint regulatory mechanism has been launched across 31 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities, as well as in the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps. Through this combination of legal safeguards, price interventions and full-cycle regulation, the new policy strives to ensure that the final journey of life is handled with greater dignity and fairness.