faq 10 min read

By TerraCare

How Do I Add Terramation to My Funeral Home's General Price List?

Adding terramation to your General Price List (GPL) is straightforward — it is a line item, just like cremation or burial. The FTC Funeral Rule requires any offered disposition method to appear on the GPL with its price before you offer it to the public. No regulatory filing is required to update the GPL itself; a GPL is a consumer disclosure document, not a permit. Update it before you begin offering terramation. This guide covers exactly what the rule requires, what terminology is acceptable, how to structure your terramation entries, and what states layer on top of the federal baseline.

How do I add terramation to my funeral home's General Price List?

Adding terramation to your GPL is a documentation update, not a regulatory filing — no external approval is required. Under the FTC Funeral Rule, any disposition method you offer must appear on the GPL with its price before you present it to families. Acceptable terminology includes 'terramation,' 'natural organic reduction (NOR),' or 'human composting.' Update your GPL, print the new version, and train staff before your first arrangement conference that includes NOR as an option.

  • The GPL is a consumer disclosure document — updating it for terramation requires no regulatory filing, FTC submission, or external approval.
  • Terramation must appear on the GPL before you present it as an available option to any family — offering an unlisted service puts you outside FTC Funeral Rule compliance.
  • All three common terms are acceptable on a GPL: 'terramation,' 'natural organic reduction (NOR),' and 'human composting' — choose the language that matches your arrangement conversations.
  • The Statement of Funeral Goods and Services Selected (SFGSS) must also reflect terramation as the named disposition method when a family selects it — no new form template is needed.
  • Washington, Colorado, and Oregon have state-level GPL or disclosure requirements that may go beyond the FTC baseline — verify current guidance with your state board before launch.

What Does the FTC Funeral Rule Require for Terramation on Your GPL?

The FTC Funeral Rule — formally 16 CFR Part 453 — requires funeral providers to maintain a written General Price List that discloses the retail price of every funeral good and service offered to the public.[1] That requirement is not specific to any particular disposition method. Whether you offer traditional burial, direct cremation, or terramation, each must appear as an itemized entry on the GPL before you present it to families as an available option.

The GPL must be available to anyone who inquires:

  • In person: You must offer a copy to anyone who enters your funeral home to inquire about funeral arrangements. They are entitled to keep it.[1]
  • By phone: If a family calls to ask about terramation pricing, you must disclose that price. Telephone price disclosure is a separate obligation under the Funeral Rule — not optional.[2]

The GPL is not a regulatory submission. You do not file it with the FTC, your state funeral board, or any licensing body. It is an internal document you maintain and update as your service offerings change. Adding terramation means adding a line item, printing the new version, and distributing it going forward. That is the full compliance path from a GPL standpoint.

For a broader look at pricing strategy before you finalize those line items, see Can I Set My Own Price for Terramation Services?

What Terminology Is Acceptable on the GPL?

The FTC Funeral Rule does not mandate specific terminology for any disposition method. Funeral homes are not required to use the clinical regulatory term for a service — they must describe it accurately enough that families understand what is being offered.[2]

For natural organic reduction, all three of the following are acceptable on a GPL:

  • Terramation — the commercially used term, widely recognized in markets where NOR has been active longest
  • Natural organic reduction (NOR) — the regulatory term used in most state statutes that have legalized the process
  • Human composting — common in consumer media; acceptable, though some funeral homes prefer clinical terms in arrangement contexts

There is no compliance advantage to any of these over the others. Choose the terminology that matches how you introduce the service to families in conversation, so the GPL label maps directly to what they hear in the arrangement conference. Consistency between your verbal description and your GPL entry reduces confusion and reinforces a professional presentation.

If your state’s enabling statute uses a specific term — Washington’s original legislation used “natural organic reduction” — it may be useful to reflect that language, particularly if your staff references state authorization in family conversations.[5]

What Should Be Itemized on the GPL for Terramation?

At minimum, the terramation entry on your GPL requires the name of the service and its price. Beyond that minimum, how you structure your GPL entries depends on your service model.

Single combined entry. One line for the terramation disposition service at an all-in price. This is the simplest approach and is appropriate for funeral homes offering one standard NOR package.

Unbundled components. Some funeral homes itemize NOR components separately, for example:

  • Natural organic reduction — basic disposition service
  • NOR vessel use during process
  • Soil return — standard container
  • Soil return — family-provided vessel
  • NOR memorial ceremony (if offered)

Unbundling allows families to price-compare components and select at the level they want. It also aligns with the spirit of the Funeral Rule’s transparency requirements.[3]

Package pricing. If you offer tiered NOR packages, each package may be listed on the GPL with its total price and a brief description of what is included. Packages must not bundle items in a way that obscures individual pricing — the Funeral Rule requires that goods and services also be available for individual selection and that the SFGSS itemize each selected component at arrangement.[2]

For a comparison of how terramation pricing maps against other disposition methods, see How Does Terramation Price Compare to Other Funeral Services?

Contact TerraCare Partners if you need help structuring a compliant GPL terramation section before your launch.

Do Any States Have Additional GPL Requirements for NOR?

Most states follow the FTC Funeral Rule as the floor for GPL requirements. Several states with active NOR programs have additional consumer protection laws or funeral licensing board rules that layer on top of the federal baseline.

Among the 14 states where NOR is currently legal — WA, CO, OR, VT, CA, NY, NV, AZ, MD, DE, MN, ME, GA, and NJ — the following have notable state-level GPL considerations:

Washington. Washington was the first state to legalize NOR and has the most developed regulatory framework. The Washington State Department of Licensing requires NOR-offering funeral homes to comply with state licensing rules that include disclosure requirements beyond the FTC baseline.[4] Confirm current DOL guidance before finalizing your GPL for NOR.

Colorado. Colorado’s Natural Reduction Act (SB 21-006) established NOR as a licensed disposition method.[9] Colorado funeral homes are subject to DORA oversight including GPL-level disclosure requirements. Review current guidance from the Division of Professions and Occupations before launching.

Oregon. Oregon’s Mortuary and Cemetery Board oversees licensed funeral establishments and may impose service description requirements applicable to new disposition methods.[10] Review OAR Chapter 830 before finalizing your GPL language.

Note that California, New York, and New Jersey are legal but not yet operational — each state is still developing its administrative code. Operators in these states should monitor their respective funeral boards for GPL guidance as operational frameworks emerge.

When in doubt, contact your state funeral board directly before launching terramation to confirm any state-specific GPL notification obligations. The Funeral Director FAQ Hub has current state-by-state resources.

What About the Statement of Funeral Goods and Services Selected?

The Statement of Funeral Goods and Services Selected (SFGSS) is the second key consumer disclosure document required by the FTC Funeral Rule.[6] It is provided to families after arrangements are made and itemizes everything selected — including prices and any cash advance items.

When a family selects terramation, the SFGSS must reflect:

  • Terramation (or NOR, using the same terminology as your GPL) as the chosen disposition method
  • The price of the NOR disposition service
  • Any itemized add-ons selected (soil return format, memorial services, vessel selection)
  • Any cash advance items related to the NOR process

The SFGSS is not a new document you need to create for NOR — it is the same form you already use for every arrangement. Terramation does not require a new SFGSS template; it requires accurate completion of the existing one, with NOR as the named disposition method.

For a complete picture of all case documentation involved in a terramation case — beyond the GPL and SFGSS — see Paperwork Required for a Terramation Case.

Contact TerraCare Partners for support building out your full NOR compliance documentation before you launch.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need FTC approval or a regulatory filing to add terramation to my GPL?

No. The GPL is a consumer disclosure document, not a regulatory filing. You do not submit it to the FTC or any government body. Adding terramation to your GPL means updating your printed or digital price list, training staff on the new entry, and making the updated GPL available to all inquiring families. No external approval is required to make the update.

Can I use “human composting” on my GPL instead of “terramation” or “natural organic reduction”?

Yes. The FTC Funeral Rule does not mandate specific terminology for any service category. “Human composting,” “terramation,” and “natural organic reduction” are all acceptable descriptions on the GPL as long as the service is accurately described and families understand what they are selecting. Choose the language that matches how you discuss the service in arrangement conversations.

What happens if a family calls to ask about terramation pricing and it isn’t on my GPL yet?

If terramation is not yet on your GPL, you are technically not offering it under the Funeral Rule — because the GPL is the mechanism by which you disclose what you offer. Do not quote a price for a service not yet on your GPL. Update the price list before you begin presenting terramation to families as an available option.

Does the GPL need to list terramation even if I only offer it occasionally or on request?

Yes. If terramation is a service you offer to the public, it must appear on your GPL regardless of how often it is chosen. The Funeral Rule does not distinguish between high-volume services and occasional ones. If you are willing to arrange it when a family asks, it belongs on the price list.

Sources

  1. Federal Trade Commission. Funeral Rule, 16 CFR Part 453. Full text of the rule governing funeral home pricing disclosure, GPL requirements, and itemized pricing obligations. ftc.gov/legal-library/browse/rules/funeral-industry-practices-rule. Accessed April 2026.
  2. Federal Trade Commission. Complying with the Funeral Rule. FTC Business Guidance covering GPL distribution requirements, Statement of Funeral Goods and Services Selected, and telephone price disclosure obligations. ftc.gov/business-guidance/resources/complying-funeral-rule. Accessed April 2026.
  3. Federal Trade Commission. The FTC Funeral Rule FAQ. FTC guidance on itemization requirements, package pricing restrictions, and what must be disclosed to consumers. ftc.gov. Accessed April 2026.
  4. Washington State Department of Licensing. Natural Organic Reduction: Funeral Home Requirements and Licensing. State-level disclosure and licensing rules for funeral homes offering NOR in Washington. dol.wa.gov. Accessed April 2026.
  5. Washington State Legislature. SB 5001 — Concerning human remains: natural organic reduction. Original NOR enabling legislation for Washington State establishing “natural organic reduction” as the statutory term. leg.wa.gov. Accessed April 2026.
  6. Federal Trade Commission. FTC Funeral Rule, 16 CFR § 453.5 — Statement of funeral goods and services selected. Regulatory text of the SFGSS requirement, including itemization obligations at time of arrangement. ecfr.gov/current/title/16/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-453. Accessed April 2026.
  7. National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA). General Price List Resources and Compliance Guidance. NFDA member guidance on GPL requirements, itemization best practices, and Funeral Rule compliance. nfda.org. Accessed April 2026.
  8. National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA). Natural Organic Reduction: State Laws and Regulatory Developments. NFDA tracking of NOR terminology across state statutes and funeral board guidance; confirms multiple accepted terms in use across legal states. nfda.org. Accessed April 2026.
  9. Colorado General Assembly. SB 21-006 — Concerning natural reduction of human remains. Colorado’s Natural Reduction Act establishing NOR as a licensed disposition method subject to DORA oversight. leg.colorado.gov. Accessed April 2026.
  10. Oregon Mortuary and Cemetery Board. Oregon Administrative Rules Chapter 830 — Mortuary and Cemetery Board. Oregon’s regulatory framework for funeral homes, including price disclosure and service description requirements applicable to new disposition methods. secure.sos.state.or.us/oard. Accessed April 2026.