These guidelines ‘Ethics in Health Research: Principles, Processes and Structures – 2015’ provide an updated and strengthened guide to ensure that, in South Africa, research is conducted responsibly and ethically. Mandated by Section 72 of the National Health Act 61 of 2003, the National Health Research Ethics Council (NHREC) tasked its Working Group for Norms and Standards to produce a revision of the first edition of the Guidelines issued in 2004.