As part of the science system changes, there is a need to consider where ethics functions will sit in the future ethics system, and to clarify roles and responsibilities.

The Government has advised that the National Ethics Advisory Committee (NEAC) will be responsible for developing a new national standard called the National Standard on Ethical Conduct in Human Research.

The new standard will define the core components of the national ethics system, providing a framework for researchers, ethics review bodies, institutions and research governance, and potential research participants. The Minister of Health and the Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology will have a role in commissioning and approving the standard.

It will become a legal requirement for researchers whose studies involve human participants to comply with the national standard.

Cabinet has also agreed that the Health and Disability Ethics Committees (HDECs) will be able to charge research applicants for fast-track ethics review. This will be optional, and ethics review of research applications in scope of an HDEC will continue to be free for applicants who decide not to pay for the fast-track review process.

The new national standard and the fast-track ethics review process are both subject to the passing of the Science, Innovation and Technology Bill and the relevant provisions coming into effect. For now, the HRC retains all of our existing ethics functions.

Ministry of Health officials will consult with the research sector (both commercial stakeholders and public researchers) on the proposal for cost recovery for fast-track ethics review. This will take place during 2026.