New South Wales Consolidated Regulations

ANIMAL RESEARCH REGULATION 2005 - SCHEDULE 2

SCHEDULE 2 – Constitution and procedure of ethics committees

(Clauses 6 and 7)

Part 1 - Provisions with respect to constitution

1 Chairperson of the ethics committee

(1) Of the members of the ethics committee one must be appointed as Chairperson of the ethics committee.

(2) A person who is the Chairperson is taken to have vacated office as Chairperson if the person:

(a) resigns that office by instrument in writing addressed to the ethics committee, or

(b) ceases to be a member of the ethics committee.

2 Term of office

Subject to this Schedule, a member of the ethics committee holds office for such term as is specified in his or her instrument of appointment.

3 Filling of vacancy in office of member

If the office of any member of the ethics committee becomes vacant, a person must, subject to this Regulation, be appointed to fill the vacancy.

4 Casual vacancies

(1) A member of the ethics committee is taken to have vacated office if the member:

(a) dies, or

(b) absents himself or herself from 4 consecutive meetings of the ethics committee of which reasonable notice has been given to the member personally or in the ordinary course of post, except on leave granted by the ethics committee or unless, before the expiration of 4 weeks after the last of those meetings, the member is excused by the ethics committee for being absent from those meetings, or

(c) becomes a mentally incapacitated person, or

(d) is convicted in New South Wales of an offence that is punishable by imprisonment for 12 months or more or is convicted elsewhere than in New South Wales of an offence that, if committed in New South Wales, would be an offence so punishable, or

(e) resigns the office by instrument in writing addressed to the ethics committee.

Part 2 - Provisions relating to procedure

5 General procedure

The procedure for the calling of meetings of the ethics committee and for the conduct of business at those meetings is to be as determined by the ethics committee.

6 Quorum

(1) The quorum for a meeting of the ethics committee is one representative from each member category, subject to any additional requirements determined by the ethics committee under clause 5 of this Schedule.

(2) In this clause, "member category" means a category of member referred to in Clause 2.2.2 of the Australian Code.

7 Presiding member

The Chairperson (or, in the absence of the Chairperson, another member of the ethics committee elected as chairperson for the meeting by the members of the ethics committee present) is to preside at a meeting of the ethics committee.

8 Decision making

A decision made in accordance with Clause 2.2.22 of the Australian Code at which a quorum is present is the decision of the ethics committee.

9 Minutes and other records

(1) The ethics committee must cause full and accurate minutes to be kept of the proceedings of each meeting of the ethics committee.

(2) The ethics committee must also record in its minutes the reasons for any decision it makes concerning a research proposal.

(3) The ethics committee must keep each of its minutes and other records for a minimum of 7 years after the minute or record is made.

10 Periodic reports

An ethics committee must give a written report of its work and activities to the person or body by which it was appointed at such intervals (not exceeding 12 months) as the person or body may direct.

11 Authentication of documents

Any document requiring authentication by the ethics committee is sufficiently authenticated if it is signed by the Chairperson or by any member of the ethics committee who is authorised by the Chairperson in that behalf.

12 First meeting of the ethics committee

The person or body that appoints the members of an ethics committee may call the first meeting of the ethics committee in such manner as the person or body thinks fit.