As part of the agreement, the owner withdrew additional applications for a crematory license, and a funeral establishment license. Had the two industries been separately regulated, it is likely that the crematory license would have been approved. Unified regulation appears reasonable from a consumer standpoint as well. When consumers can address questions and complaints, and receive information and guidance from a single office, consumer protection can be arguably enhanced. Market Integration of the funeral and cemetery industries also points toward unified regulatory oversight.
Market integration occurs through direct competition, vertical, and horizontal ownership.
Integration through Direct Competition - Traditionally funeral establishments provided the goods and services related to the funeral ceremony, and cemeteries provided goods and services related to the burial plot. Today many of the goods and services offered by funeral homes can be purchased through cemeteries, creating direct competition. For instance, vaults, which most cemeteries require to prevent graves from settling, can usually be purchased through a funeral home or a cemetery. Vertical Integration - Providers of funeral and cemetery goods and services become more vertically integrated by the acquisition of funeral establishments and cemeteries by a single owner. In some cases the funeral establishment is located on the grounds of the cemetery and in other cases, one owner holds multiple funeral homes and cemeteries in the same geographic area.