At any meeting of an ethics committee, the committee may co-opt up to 2 additional members for the purposes of that meeting.

At any meeting of a sub-committee of an ethics committee, the sub-committee may co-opt an additional member for the purposes of that meeting.

Subject to sub-paragraph (4), a person shall be eligible to be co-opted as a member only if he is or has been a member of F2a committee that advises or has advised on the ethics of research involving human subjects.

F4Sub-paragraph (3) shall not apply in relation to the Gene Therapy Advisory Committee.

A co-opted member shall hold and vacate office in accordance with the ethics committee’s standing orders and operating procedures adopted under paragraph 6(3).

A member co-opted under this paragraph shall not count as a member for the purposes of paragraphs 3(2) and F1(5).