Updated regulations for transporting the deceased within Latvia: what has changed

The Latvian Ministry of Health has approved new requirements governing the transportation of the deceased within the country. The changes will come into effect in early 2026 and are aimed at improving sanitary safety, the quality of funeral services, and the transparency of funeral organizations.

From now on, transporting the deceased is permitted only in specialized funeral vehicles that have passed mandatory sanitary certification. These vehicles must be equipped with a stretcher restraint system, a moisture-resistant coating, ventilation, and a separate storage compartment for associated equipment.

Each funeral home is required to record the departure time, route, and time of delivery of the body to the appropriate facilities. A unified electronic transportation log has been introduced, allowing supervisory authorities to monitor compliance with regulations.

The Riga City Funeral Service has already brought its vehicle fleet into compliance with the new requirements and notes that the innovations significantly improve safety, eliminating possible sanitary violations during transportation.