Sellers of donated bodies would face federal registration and inspections

Covered sellers would register with the federal health secretary, pay fees, and undergo regular inspections. Sales must cross state lines or affect interstate trade. Blood drawn for medical purposes and growing cell lines are excluded. The national organ transplant network and its members would be exempt. Funeral professionals would be exempt when preparing, transporting, or arranging the final handling of remains. Entities that do not sell bodies or parts for profit would also be exempt. The rules would apply to acquisitions or transfers more than two years after enactment.

Registered sellers would keep records for each body or part they acquire and limit how they use or share donor information. Consent records would cover donations for teaching, research, or medical, dental, or mortuary science, rather than transplantation. Federal rules could change the required record contents. Identifying donor information could be used or shared only for purposes explicitly allowed by federal rules. The two-year period would begin when the bill becomes law.

Registered sellers would return remains to a donor’s relative or personal representative, or follow written instructions from those legally entitled to decide their final handling. Final handling must follow applicable federal and state law. A seller transferring remains could instead contract with the recipient to take over this responsibility.

Registered sellers would label and safely package bodies and parts and track who handles them. The duties would cover bodies and parts that registered sellers possess or transfer. Federal rules could change label details and packaging standards. Labels must follow federal privacy rules and say the remains are not for transplantation. Altering or falsifying required label information would violate the rules.