What documentation must a legal crematorium provide you with?
The legislation does not only regulate the technical process: it also requires documentation ensuring traceability, control and transparency. This documentary delivery is one of the major signs that a crematorium is operating within the law.
The documents that a family should receive are:
1. Animal entry record
An internal document or voucher stating:
- Identification of the animal (name if provided and species).
- Date and time of receipt.
- Approximate weight.
- Code or registration number associated with the service.
This registration is mandatory and is part of the traceability required by the regulations.
2. Cremation certificate
Official document certifying that the animal has been incinerated in an approved facility. It must include:
- Type of cremation (individual or collective).
- Details of the crematorium and its environmental authorisation.
- Date and registration number of the process.
- Signature or stamp of the authorised officer.
At FuneralVet, for example, this certificate is linked to the authorisation AAU/MA/44/21This allows the family to check the legality of the process.
3. Information on ash management
For individual cremation: confirmation that the ashes correspond to the registered animal.
In collective cremation: explanation that, by regulation, they cannot be returned to the family.
4. Itemised invoice
It must include the service provided, VAT and any additional elements (ballot box, transport, presence in the hall, etc.). This is a sign of transparency and tax compliance.
When a crematorium provides all this documentation, you can be sure that they are complying with the law and acting with respect and professionalism.
What are the obligations of veterinarians and municipalities under the Spanish Pet Cremation Law?
The law does not only affect crematoria: it also defines responsibilities for crematoriums. veterinarians, clinics y city councilsespecially in the management of deceased animals.
1. Obligations of veterinarians and veterinary clinics
When an animal dies in consultation or during an operation, the clinic is obliged to manage the body as follows Category 1 or 2 animal by-product. This implies:
- Maintain the body in proper hygienic conditions.
- Hand it over only to authorised operators (crematoria or managers).
- Issue, if requested by the family, a proof of death.
- Clearly inform the family about the legal options for cremation.
The clinic may not release the body to unauthorised services or refer it to companies without an environmental licence.
2. Obligations of municipalities
When an animal is found dead on the public highway, the municipality must:
- Remove it by a municipal service or a contracted company.
- Transfer it to an authorised waste manager for incineration.
- Record the collection and treatment applied.
In addition, some municipalities include in their local by-laws instructions for the management of deceased animals at home, especially if the family is unable to move the animal.
3. Specific prohibitions
- Animals may not be buried on farms, gardens or private land except in autonomous communities where local regulations expressly authorise it (very exceptional).
- An animal may not be handed over to companies without environmental authorisation.
- Ashes cannot be given when cremation is collective.
Knowing these obligations helps to detect irregular services and to make informed decisions.
How to make sure that a crematorium complies with the Pet Cremation Law in Spain?
Although the regulations are clear, not all facilities offer the same level of transparency. As a family, you have the right to check that the crematorium complies with the law before entrusting them with the farewell of your partner. Here are the key points to check:
1. Check your environmental authorisation
Every legal crematorium must display a valid licence. In Andalusia, for example, it is the Unified Environmental Authorisation (UEA).
Always look for the authorisation number (such as the AAU/MA/44/21) and confirm that it is associated with the installation from which the service is provided.
2. Ask about the traceability of the process
A transparent service must be able to explain:
- How they identify each animal.
- What records they generate.
- How to ensure that the ashes delivered are the correct ones.
Avoiding vague answers is a good sign.
3. Verify the type of cremation
The family should know clearly whether they are receiving a cremation. individual o collectiveand what each one entails. This transparency is required by law.
4. Check facilities (if desired)
Licensed crematoria often offer tours. Being able to see the furnace, the room and the general operation gives peace of mind.
5. Apply for the cremation certificate
It must include registration number, date, type of cremation and reference to the environmental authorisation. This document is the legal proof of the process carried out.
6. Observe clarity in communication
A legal crematorium never promises impossibilities (such as returning ashes from collective cremation) or hides key information.
When an installation complies with all these points, you can be sure that the process is legal, safe and respectful.
What are the penalties for non-compliance with the pet cremation law in Spain?
Spanish law provides for clear penalties when deceased animals are managed without following the established requirements. These sanctions aim to protect families, the environment and the animals themselves from irregular practices.
Penalties for operating without environmental authorisation
A crematorium operating without a licence may face:
- High fines established by regional regulations.
- Immediate closure of the installation.
- Removal of equipment and suspension of activity.
In addition, companies that collect animals to take them to unauthorised centres can also be sanctioned.
2. Penalties for mismanagement of animal by-products in the Spanish Pet Cremation Law
Regulation (EC) 1069/2009 and its national implementation consider it a serious infringement:
- Incinerate animals without traceability.
- Mixing animals without registering them.
- Failure to manage collective ashes correctly.
- Handling animals outside proper hygienic conditions.
These infringements often result in substantial fines and, in repeated cases, the withdrawal of the licence to operate.
Penalties for false documentation
Issuing a false certificate (e.g. indicating individual cremation when it was collective) can lead to administrative and even criminal liability.
4. Municipal sanctions
Burying an animal on public or private land without a permit may be punishable by a fine according to the applicable local ordinance.
These sanctions are in place to protect families from companies that do not act transparently. Choosing an authorised and certified crematorium avoids any risk.
Law on pet cremation in Spain: the essentials to remember
Is it obligatory to cremate a pet in a licensed crematorium?
Yes, regulations require that deceased animals are managed as animal by-products and can only be treated in licensed facilities. An unlicensed crematorium cannot operate legally.
Can I bury my pet in my garden?
In most autonomous communities it is prohibited. Burying animals on private land without authorisation can lead to municipal or regional sanctions.
Can I require individual cremation?
Yes, it is a fully legal and regulated service. The family can choose individual cremation and the crematorium must guarantee the traceability of the process and deliver the corresponding ashes.
Does the law allow for accompanying the cremation process?
The regulations do not prohibit this. It is at the discretion of the crematorium to have farewell or presence rooms, always in compliance with the safety of the installation.
Which certifications should I check before contracting?
The main one is the environmental authorisation: AAU, AAI or equivalent depending on the autonomous community. It must be visible and linked to the place where the cremation takes place.
Can a crematorium refuse to deliver the ashes?
Only in the case of collective cremation, because the regulations stipulate that these ashes must be managed as waste and not handed over to private individuals.
Understanding the regulations is important, but the most important thing is to feel that your companion is in responsible and respectful hands. At such a sensitive time, having an authorised and transparent crematorium not only ensures that everything is done in accordance with the law, but also allows you to experience the farewell calmly, without any additional doubts or concerns.
At FuneralVet we take care of every detail to make the process clear, dignified and welcoming. The certification AAU/MA/44/21 supports our facilities and legally complies with the pet cremation law in Spain, but it is the human accompaniment that makes the difference. If you need support or just need to resolve a doubt, here you have a safe place to talk and feel accompanied.
