Despite a law on cremations, families must send their loved ones abroad

Two years after Cyprus approved cremations, no business or funeral parlour has shown any interest in setting up a crematorium as costs are prohibitive because of strict criteria introduced.

According to Solon Melas, a representative of the licensed funeral home owners, the law passed by parliament in April 2016, requires a hefty investment of EUR 4 mln.

Speaking to Phileleftheros daily, Melas said the law discourages potential investors, as the budget required to meet the building specifications is too high of an investment for any interested party.

He stressed that the law needs to be rewritten, or, if not, the state should proceed with the construction of crematorium, which will sell its services to the various funeral offices.

Melas said that the absence of a licensed crematorium on the island burdens the family of the deceased who wished to be cremated. Families are saddled with serious expense as they have to send their loved ones abroad.

He said that the deceased are sent mainly to Britain to be cremated at an average cost of EUR 5,000.

Melas said that it is mainly foreigners who opt for cremation for religious or cultural reasons, although there is interest from Cypriots as well.

“Last year there was a case were a Cypriot was sent abroad to be cremated upon his own wish. His body was sent abroad through a funeral office in Cyprus,” he said.

Melas also revealed that his office has been prepaid for 2,000 funeral services for foreigners residing permanently in Cyprus who wish to be cremated in the event of their death.

Efforts were undertaken to legally regulate cremation date back to 2006 when the Cabinet commissioned a legislative drafting committee. A draft bill stipulated that cremations did not apply to Cypriots.

This was amended in 2009 to allow the cremation of Cypriots, and in 2016 – after objections from the Cyprus Orthodox Church - the law regulating crematoriums was passed.