[The scientific committee system].

Since 1992 a law based national system of Scientific Ethical Committees has existed. It consists of regional committees supplemented with a Central Committee. The Danish model is characterised by having a majority of lay people in all committees. The law is based on the principle of informed consent. A new law in 2003 will implement the EU directive on Good Clinical Practice. A maximum time of 60 days for the approval of biomedical research projects and approval of multi-centre trials at only one scientific ethical committee will be introduced.