The NHREC, which sets standards for the functioning of health research Animal Ethics Committees (AECs) in South Africa, identified the FHS AEC as a leader among national health research AECs, with an overall most positive audit outcome among the cohort of audited committees.

Established in terms of Section 72 of the National Health Act (Act 61 of 2003), the NHREC is a statutory body that governs and oversees all Research Ethics Committees registered with the Council. AECs are established to promote and protect the welfare of animals in research and teaching; to ensure the least harm to animals. In addition, to ensure that the experiments proposed are likely to achieve reliable results. Researchers have direct and ultimate ethical and legal responsibility for all matters related to the welfare of animals used, including standard of animal care.

The audit report shows that the UCT FHS AEC is not only compliant with the South African National Standard for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes (SANS 10386:2008), but is a leader nationally in this regard.

The good operation of the UCT FHS AEC can be attributed to the dedication and hard work of the many AEC members and chairpersons over the years as well as staff in the FHS Ethics Office and in the broader UCT community. Prof Pat Commerford is the current FHS AEC Chairperson, he was preceded as Chair by Prof Graham Louw.

Recently, Prof Anne Pope from the UCT Law Faculty was appointed as Chairperson of the NHREC. In addition, Dr Theresa Burgess and Dr Bert Mohr, both from the UCT Faculty of Health Sciences were appointed as members of the NHREC. This is the first time that UCT is so broadly represented on the NHREC.