The Agreement on the Transfer of Corpses is a 1973 multilateral treaty whereby states agree to rules for the transport of human corpses across international borders. It is a treaty of the

Council of Europe The Council of Europe (CoE; french: Conseil de l'Europe, ) is an international organisation founded in the wake of World War II to uphold European Convention on Human Rights, human rights, democracy and the Law in Europe, rule of law in Europe. ...

and as of 2013 has only been ratified by European states, but it is open to ratification by any state in the world. The Agreement was intended to replace and simplify the requirements of the 1937 International Convention on the Transport of Corpses.

Content

The Agreement mandates that every corpse being transported across international borders shall be accompanied by a '' laissez-passer'' document issued by the state in which the transport begins. Transport may only be made in an impervious

coffin A coffin is a funerary box used for viewing or keeping a corpse, either for burial or cremation. Sometimes referred to as a casket, any box in which the dead are buried is a coffin, and while a casket was originally regarded as a box for jewel ...

that contains only the corpse and such personal effects as are to be buried or

cremated Cremation is a method of final disposition of a dead body through burning. Cremation may serve as a funeral or post-funeral rite and as an alternative to burial. In some countries, including India and Nepal, cremation on an open-air pyre i ...

with the corpse. If the person died of an infectious disease, the corpse must be wrapped in material that has been impregnated with an antiseptic solution. The Agreement also establishes the minimal standards for the coffins used for transporting corpses across international borders. The Agreement does not apply to the transport of cremation

ash Ash or ashes are the solid remnants of fires. Specifically, ''ash'' refers to all non-aqueous, non- gaseous residues that remain after something burns. In analytical chemistry, to analyse the mineral and metal content of chemical samples, ash ...

es.

Signature, entry into force, and ratifications

The Agreement was concluded in

Strasbourg Strasbourg (, , ; german: Straßburg ; gsw, label=Bas Rhin Alsatian, Strossburi , gsw, label=Haut Rhin Alsatian, Strossburig ) is the prefecture and largest city of the Grand Est region of eastern France and the official seat of the Eu ...

on 26 October 1973. Since then, it has been signed by 23 states. It entered into force on 11 November 1975 and has been ratified by the following 23 states: Germany signed the Agreement in 1974 but has not ratified it. The most recent ratification was by the Czech Republic in February 2012.

Relationship to 1937 Convention

The 1937 International Convention on the Transport of Corpses addresses the same issues as the 1973 Agreement. The 1973 Agreement simplifies some of the procedures and requirements that were first established in the 1937 Convention. For states that have ratified both treaties, the 1973 supersedes the 1937 Convention. However, the 1937 Convention remains in force for the following states that have ratified it but not the 1973 Agreement:

External links

Official site of the 1973 Agreement

Signatures and ratifications of the 1973 Agreement

Text of the 1937 Convention
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Signatures and ratifications of the 1937 Convention
{{DEFAULTSORT:Transfer of Corpses Agreement 1973 in France Council of Europe treaties Health treaties Transport treaties Treaties concluded in 1973 Treaties entered into force in 1975 Agreement on the Transfer of Corpses Treaties of Andorra Treaties of Austria Treaties of Belgium Treaties of Cyprus Treaties of the Czech Republic Treaties of Estonia Treaties of Finland Treaties of France Treaties of Greece Treaties of Iceland Treaties of Latvia Treaties of Lithuania Treaties of Luxembourg Treaties of Moldova Treaties of the Netherlands Treaties of Norway Treaties of Portugal Treaties of Slovakia Treaties of Slovenia Treaties of Spain Treaties of Sweden Treaties of Switzerland Treaties of Turkey Agreement on the Transfer of Corpses Treaties extended to Aruba Treaties extended to Surinam (Dutch colony) 1973 in transport

Content

Signature, entry into force, and ratifications

Relationship to 1937 Convention

See also

External links