By Elisabeth Charrier, Managing Director of the Fédération Nationale du Funéraire (FNF)

In France, animal funeral services form a distinct and clearly identified field. Their development has been shaped less by spontaneous social demand than by regulatory frameworks and institutional choices that have, over time, defined what is permitted, what remains excluded, and how practices may evolve. Although the place of companion animals in households has changed significantly, animal funerals remain organised separately from human funerals, both in law and in symbolic terms.
This distinction influences professional practices, public perceptions and the overall structuring of the sector. The French situation illustrates an approach based on separation and caution, in which animal funerals are neither marginalised nor assimilated into the human funeral system.

A legal framework separate from human funerals

Human funerals in France are governed by public law, mainly through the General Code of Local Authorities. Burial and cremation practices, cemetery management and the obligations imposed on funeral operators are all subject to detailed regulation. Municipal cemeteries, as public spaces, are exclusively intended for human remains and occupy a central place in collective representations of death and remembrance.
Animal funerals fall outside this framework. They are governed by a combination of National and European regulations, veterinary legislation, sanitary regulations, environmental law and rules applicable to animal by-products. As a result, animals and their ashes cannot be buried in municipal cemeteries. Burial is authorised only on private land, under specific sanitary conditions, or in dedicated animal cemeteries. Cremation facilities for animals are subject to regulatory regimes that differ markedly from those governing human crematoria.
This separation is neither recent nor incidental. It reflects a long-standing legal and symbolic distinction between human and animal status, which continues to structure public policy in this area.

Practices shaped by regulation

Within these constraints, animal funeral practices in France display a certain diversity. Burial on private land remains common, mainly for small animals (cats and small dogs), while cremation has become increasingly widespread. According to national survey data, approximately one third of deceased companion animals are buried on private property, while around 39% are cremated, most often through collective cremation without recovery of ashes. Dedicated animal cemeteries account for only a small proportion of cases.
Differences can also be observed according to species. Dogs are more frequently cremated, whereas cats are more often buried, a pattern that reflects both practical considerations and owner preferences. Levels of satisfaction tend to be higher when owners are able to recover ashes or identify a specific place of remembrance.
Compared with human funerals, which are highly codified and largely organised within public service frameworks, animal funerals are characterised by heterogeneous practices and variable levels of professionalisation, depending on local contexts and available facilities.

A gradually structured professional field

Despite regulatory constraints, a certain degree of professional structuring has emerged over time. Survey findings show that cremation now occupies a central place in end-of-life practices for companion animals, particularly following veterinary care. This evolution reflects both practical considerations and the growing importance attached to identifiable funeral solutions.
Nevertheless, access to structured services remains uneven across the territory, contributing to variability in practices and levels of professional involvement. Animal funerals thus continue to operate within a fragmented landscape, shaped by regulation, local availability and the role of intermediaries such as veterinary professionals.

Institutional representation and the role of the FNF

Institutional organisation has evolved alongside these developments. As animal funeral activities expanded among funeral service providers, the Fédération Nationale du Funéraire (FNF) created in 2025 a dedicated section for animal funeral services companies. This section is intended to support companies involved in this activity by providing legal and regulatory guidance, monitoring applicable legislation and facilitating exchanges with public authorities.
Through this initiative, animal funerals are recognised as a distinct professional field requiring specific expertise. At the same time, the FNF’s action remains firmly anchored in the broader institutional framework of the funeral sector, drawing on experience acquired in the human funeral domain while maintaining a clear separation between the two.

>> Read the whole article in THANOS Magazine 2/2026 — see page 22.
 

Discover:

• Institutional dialogue on burial alongside the owner
• Social perceptions and symbolic sensitivities
• Preserving the central place of human funerals
• Regulation as a stabilising element