A symposium on the formulation of national funeral policy standards was held in Beijing.

▲ Scene from the National Symposium on the Formulation of Funeral Policy Standards

Zhu Jieyu, a reporter for the “Funeral Services Weekly” of China Social News, reports: To comprehensively advance the standardization of funeral services and promote the scientific development of the funeral sector, the National Symposium on the Formulation of Funeral Policy Standards was held in Beijing on December 4. The meeting implemented the important instructions and directives of General Secretary Xi Jinping on civil affairs work, took the spirit of the Fifth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee as its guiding principle, reviewed the work of the National Technical Committee for Funeral Service Standardization (hereinafter referred to as the Standards Committee) in 2020, and deliberated and outlined plans for funeral service standardization in 2021.

Fan Yu, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Social Affairs of the Ministry of Civil Affairs and Vice-Chairperson of the Standards Committee, Li Jianhua, President of the China Funeral Association and Vice-Chairperson of the Standards Committee, and Liu Feng, Director of the 101st Research Institute of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, attended the meeting. The meeting was chaired by Sun Shuren, Secretary-General of the China Funeral Association and Secretary-General of the Standards Committee. More than 50 participants, including members of the Standards Committee and representatives from relevant organizations, took part in the session.

Fan Yu emphasized that 2021 marks the inaugural year of the 14th Five-Year Plan. The National Technical Committee on Funeral and Burial Standards is tasked with thoroughly studying and implementing the spirit of the Fifth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee, formulating a scientifically sound “14th Five-Year” development plan for funeral and burial standardization based on the actual needs of the people and the realities of the sector’s development, effectively elevating the level of standardization in this field, and further strengthening the role of standards in supporting the sound development of the funeral and burial industry and meeting the public’s aspiration for dignified and peaceful final resting places.

Li Jianhua presented the work report of the second session of the fourth meeting of the Standards Committee to the assembly. From 2019 to 2020, in accordance with the national priorities for standardization and the requirements of the project‑approval guidelines, the Committee adhered to the principle of using evaluation to drive improvement, successfully completing the National Standardization Administration’s assessment of the Committee. During this period, it revised two national standards and 15 industry standards, approved the initiation of 11 new industry standards, and promulgated and implemented 14 industry standards covering funeral services, technical specifications, environmental protection, information technology, and equipment. At the same time, the Committee conducted a comprehensive review, audit, and streamlining of existing standards, organized research and feasibility studies, and completed the revision of the funeral‑related standards system as well as the compilation of the “Compendium of Funeral Standards.” These efforts clarified the scope and content of funeral‑related technical standards, delineated the relationships among technical standards, administrative documents, and government‑versus‑market standards, thereby providing a solid foundation for advancing the industry’s standardized and scientific development. Looking ahead, the Standards Committee will continue to uphold a working framework characterized by government guidance, market-driven impetus, social participation, and the integration of industry, academia, and research. It will shift its focus from “emphasizing development while downplaying implementation” to “prioritizing implementation while refining development,” with an emphasis on enhancing the applicability, cutting‑edge nature, and effectiveness of standards. The Committee will strive to optimize the standards system, strengthen standards implementation, improve its capacity to deliver standardized services, and actively engage in international standardization activities, thereby effectively promoting high‑quality development in the funeral industry.

Wang Zhiqiang, Director of the Secretariat of the Standards Committee, reported on the progress of revising the framework of the funeral‑related standards system. In terms of guiding principles, the system has incorporated new‑era concepts such as “promoting space‑saving and eco‑friendly burial practices,” “building a harmonious socialist society,” and “fostering a community with a shared future for mankind.” Technically, advanced social work methodologies have been integrated into the framework. At present, China’s funeral sector maintains 75 currently valid standards, comprising 12 national standards, 2 construction standards, 6 national occupational standards, 41 industry standards, and 14 related standards.

The meeting reviewed and approved the “Work Report of the Fourth Meeting of the Second Term of the National Technical Committee for Funeral Service Standardization,” the “Funeral Service Standards System,” and the “Key Work Priorities of the National Technical Committee for Funeral Service Standardization for 2021.”