North Carolina General Statutes Chapter 90. Medicine and Allied Occupations § 90-210.134. Rulemaking, applicability, violations, and prohibitions of Article

(a) The Board is authorized to adopt and promulgate such rules for the carrying out and enforcement of the provisions of this Article as may be necessary and as are consistent with the laws of this State and of the United States. The Board may develop a Standard Cremation Authorization Form and procedures for its execution that shall be used by the crematory licensee subject to this Article, unless a crematory has its own form approved by the Board. A crematory licensee that uses its own approved cremation authorization form must have the cremation authorization form reapproved if changed or after amendments are made to this Article or the rules adopted by the Board related to cremation authorization forms. The Board may perform such other acts and exercise such other powers and duties as may be provided in this Article, in Article 13A of this Chapter, and otherwise by law and as may be necessary to carry out the powers herein conferred.

(b) The provisions of this Article shall not apply to the cremation of medical waste performed by the North Carolina Anatomical Commission, licensed hospitals and medical schools, and the office of the Chief Medical Examiner when the disposition of such medical waste is the legal responsibility of the institutions.

(c) A violation of any of the provisions of this Article is a Class 2 misdemeanor.

(d) No person, firm, or corporation may request or authorize cremation or cremate human remains when the person, firm, or corporation has information indicating a crime or violence of any sort in connection with the cause of death unless such information has been conveyed to the State or county medical examiner and permission from the State or county medical examiner to cremate the human remains has thereafter been obtained.