Public display FAQs

Frequently asked questions about public display.

Does the HT Act provide a definition of ‘public display’?

Please see guidance on public display for a definition.

Are museums licensed by the HTA?

This depends on what the museum is displaying. The licensable activities for public display are the use, for the purpose of public display of:

• the body of a deceased person, or
• relevant material which has come from the body of a deceased person.

You need to hold a licence for the display of human remains or tissue if your collection holds material from a person who died less than 100 years ago from the commencement of licensing, that is after 1 September 1906.
 
All material collected after 1 September 2006 requires full consent for its use in public display. The requirement for consent is not however retrospective and does not apply to existing holdings; however you still need a licence to display this material if it is less than 100 years old.
 
How should consent be recorded / documented?

Please see code of practice 1 consent and guidance on public display.

Do I need a licence if I store organs and other tissues from the deceased for educational / training purposes?

Yes, you need a licence to store for use for education and training. 

Does the HTA license exhibitions of plastinated bodies or body parts? 

Yes - the organisers need to apply for an HTA licence. Licensing requires compliance with our code of practice on consent  and guidance on public display. Licensing applicants must complete a Compliance Report which contains standards that must be met (three standards specifically relate to requirements about consent). Therefore when issuing licences, consent procedures (in accordance with the HT Act) are taken into account.

If I need a licence for public display of human tissue, will I need to apply for a separate licence for storage?

No, the application cover sboth activities, but a licence will be issued for each purpose, as stipulated by the HT Act.

Can I apply to the HTA for a licence for a temporary exhibition?

Licences are required for short-term displays. We advise that you put adequate time into your project plan to take account of the HTA licence applications process. Please contact the HTA for further advice on this issue.

Do the public display provisions of the HT Act apply to Scotland?

No, the public display provisions of the Human Tissue Act 2004 do not apply to Scotland. 
Scotland has separate legislation which deals with public display - Human Tissue (Scotland) Act 2006.

What is the licensing arrangement for items in storage that may be publicly displayed?

You need a licence to store for public display and we have included this as a separate activity within the public display compliance report. One fee will cover both activities.

What are the licensing arrangements for items stored on more than one site that may one day be publicly displayed?

The HTA has designed a satellite licensing system so that if a main site has smaller storage sites at a different geographical location and are working under the same governance arrangements, then the DI at the main site can apply for licences for these satellites.  Each individual example needs to be assessed on a case by case basis when we evaluate the information you provide to us on our compliance report. 

How should an organisation treat existing holdings where the age is unknown?

In this situation you should make a professional judgment. However, if you are uncertain whether material is over 100 years old, you should apply for a licence.