Bureau representatives found numerous violations including delivering cremated remains to families, when in fact, the uncremated bodies were still held in refrigeration. The bureau revoked the owner's eight licenses. Last week, the owner of a San Bruno funeral establishment, stipulated to revocation of the funeral establishment license, and surrender of his cremated remains disposer registration. 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.