Human Tissue (Transplantation, Post-Mortem, Anatomical Examination and Public Display) Act 2024

Licence required for public display activities

86. (1) Subject to subsection (2), a person shall not undertake public display activities unless the person undertaking the activity holds a licence issued in accordance with this Part in respect of such public display activity (in this Part referred to as a “ Part 5 licence”).

(2) Subsection (1) shall not apply—

(a) in respect of the public display of a body of a deceased person who died before the commencement of this section, and in respect of whom at least 100 years has lapsed since the death of the person, or

(b) in respect of an anatomical specimen which immediately before the commencement of this section is held by a licensed institution (within the meaning of Part 4 ), hospital, university, museum, gallery or other like place, howsoever described.

(3) A person who holds a Part 5 licence (in this Part referred to as a “ Part 5 licence holder”) shall ensure that the bodies of deceased persons used for the purposes of public display activities are treated at all times with dignity and respect.

(4) A Part 5 licence holder shall not use a body for public display activities where—

(a) any procedure related to anatomical examination is being carried out on the body,

(b) any similar procedure to anatomical examination is being carried out on the body, or

(c) if the identity of a body could be, or could reasonably be expected to be, ascertained by a member of the public when viewing such body.

(5) A person who contravenes—

(a) subsection (1), or

(b) subsection (4),

shall be guilty of an offence.

(6) In this section, “similar procedure” includes dissection, removal or implantation.