Commentary on Sections Part 3 - Health Schedule 8 – Research ethics committees (RECs): amendments Section 115 – Establishment by the HRA
718.This section gives the HRA the power to establish RECs for the purpose of approving research of the type specified by the HRA in the guidance document issued under section 113(1), or giving such other approvals as are required. The HRA would be required, under subsection (2), to ensure that any REC it establishes complies with the requirements in the REC policy document. Therefore, for example, if the guidance sets out requirements for lay membership, the REC must comply. Subsection (3) provides that the HRA has the power to abolish a REC it has established under this section.