Human Remains: Imports

(asked on 1st April 2019) - View Source

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford on 19 March (HL14296), what concerns were raised in their discussions with the Human Tissue Authority; and whether they plan to seek to amend the Human Tissue Act 2004 as a result of those discussions.


This question was answered on 5th April 2019

The Government discussed with the Human Tissue Authority (HTA) the provisions of the Human Tissue Act 2004, which requires that people who wish to be displayed in public after their death must give their written consent. These provisions do not apply to bodies imported from abroad. The Government is in further discussions with the HTA about any non-legislative activity which the Authority could pursue.

There are no current plans to review the Human Tissue Act 2004.

Reticulating Splines