RECs have the right to monitor the research they approve. The National Health Research Ethics Council (NHREC) sees this monitoring role of RECs as very important.
The South African National Standard: The Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes (SANS 10386:2008) also makes specific reference to monitoring.

RECs may recommend and adopt any additional appropriate mechanism for monitoring, including:

• random (announced and unannounced) inspection of research sites;

• monitoring of data and signed informed consent documentation;

• monitoring of recorded individual interviews/focus groups;

• inspection to verify that experimenters adhere to SOPs and other approved experimental procedures;

• inspection of the scoring of welfare monitoring sheets (animals);

• ensuring that adequate records are kept on the acquisition, breeding, health, care, housing,

• use and disposal of animals (SANS 10386:2008 section 5.2.7).