An official correction slip has been published for Scottish Statutory Instrument 2026 No. 50, The Hydrolysis (Scotland) (No. 1) Regulations 2026. The Stationery Office records that the slip makes textual fixes to the published regulations governing disposal of human remains by hydrolysis. April 2026 is shown on the face of the slip. (legislation.gov.uk)
The slip specifies four changes to the printed text: in regulation 10(2) “requirement” is corrected to “requirements”; in regulation 11(6) the reference to “section 77(2)” is corrected to “section 77(4)”; and in Schedule 2 paragraph 1(23) and paragraph 1(30) the words “subsection 85(1)(a)” and “subsection 100(2)(d)” are corrected to “section 85(1)(a)” and “section 100(2)(d)” respectively. (legislation.gov.uk)
These corrections align the No. 1 Regulations with the relevant provisions of the Burial and Cremation (Scotland) Act 2016. Section 77 concerns arrangements following pregnancy loss on or before 24 weeks, section 85 establishes the duty to keep registers, and section 100 provides a power for Ministers to suspend or modify enactments for public health purposes. (legislation.gov.uk)
In policy terms, the Hydrolysis package comprises two linked instruments. The No. 1 Regulations extend and modify Part 2 of the 2016 Act so it applies to hydrolysis, while the companion No. 2 Regulations set out operational requirements, application forms and registers for hydrolysis facilities, mirroring the Cremation (Scotland) Regulations 2019. (parliament.scot)
The Health, Social Care and Sport Committee took evidence on the draft instruments on 6 January 2026. In that session, the Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health noted that, if approved, Scotland would be the first part of the UK able to offer hydrolysis alongside burial and cremation. (parliament.scot)
Implementation followed swiftly. The Scottish Government’s funeral industry update confirms the Hydrolysis (Scotland) (No. 1) and (No. 2) Regulations came into force on 2 March 2026. The correction slip itself bears the ISBN 978‑0‑11‑106568‑6 and records publication by The Stationery Office under the authority of the King’s Printer for Scotland. (blogs.gov.scot)
For hydrolysis authorities, cremation authorities and funeral directors, the changes are administrative but important for accuracy. Compliance teams should update internal copies of the regulations, standard operating procedures and staff training notes so that cross‑references point to section 77(4), section 85(1)(a) and section 100(2)(d) of the 2016 Act, and that the plural “requirements” is used where applicable.
Correction slips are the established route for addressing non‑substantive publishing errors in statutory instruments; where a change would alter legal effect, an amending instrument is ordinarily required. Today’s notice therefore provides clarity without reopening policy decisions already approved by Parliament. (publishing.legislation.gov.uk)