The FIA has for the first time sought to explain the reasoning behind the changes in the wake of their adoption.
A spokesperson said there were three main reasons for the changes to the ethics committee.
The first was to "preserve and enhance its independence by reducing the involvement of the FIA administration in its operation" and that the committee "now has the powers to independently assess whether or not to launch an investigation".
Critics point out that the new statutes mean it cannot do so without the approval of the FIA president.
The spokesperson added that "as a result of continuous leaks to the media of confidential material" it was "proposed that the distribution of any ethics committee report will be limited".
They said this "does not prevent" the two presidents from "involving the senate or senate members or other members of the FIA or its staff discussing or implementing any recommendations from the ethics committee".
However, critics say it does remove the obligation for them to do so, which previously existed.
The statement added that it was "necessary to limit the automatic sharing of information with multiple members" because ethics committee reports "often contain material of a confidential nature".
Critics point out that the changes limit oversight only to the FIA president and the president of the senate.
On the audit committee, the FIA said the changes were to clarify that it is an advisory body to the senate "retains its powers to assist and investigate if asked to do so by the president of the senate".
Critics point out that the fact that the audit committee cannot act unless asked is a significant concern when it comes to transparency and good governance.