No C 104/2 Official Journal of the European Communities 25. 4. 85 
time, with frequently calamitous effects (Seveso, Bhopal), introduction of straightforward procedures for the 
and that it will take all the necessary steps to encourage the immediate compensation of victims. 
Done at Brussels, 27 February 1985. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Gerd MUHR 
Opinion on the draft Council resolution on a programme of action of the European Communities on 
toxicology for health protection 
(85/C 104/02) 
On 29 June 1984 the Council decided, in accordance with Article 198 of the Treaty establishing the 
European Economic Community, to consult the Economic and Social Committee on the 
abovementioned draft resolution. 
The Committee's work was prepared by the Section for Protection of the Environment, Public Health 
and Consumer Affairs, which adopted its opinion on 5 February 1985 (rapporteur: Mr Low). 
At its 224th plenary session (meeting of 27 February 1985) the Economic and Social Committee 
adopted the opinion unanimously: 
1. General comments 
1.1. The Committee welcomes and endorses the 
Commission's proposal. The programme of action meets the 
wish and the demands of workers, consumers and, in a more 
general sense, the whole population for improved protection 
against the risk of poisoning. 
1.2. The action programme should help to bring about 
better use of research resources through the exchange of 
experience and scientific knowledge, to avoid the duplication 
which is still widespread. At the same time it could speed up 
improvement in the protection afforded. It should also lead, 
through improved cooperation at Community level, to a 
reduction in experiments on animals. 
1.3. The Committee also points out that the proposed 
programme should contain not only measures to deal with 
toxicological problems on a day-by-day basis but also 
measures to cope with major toxicological disasters. 
1.4. The programme ought also to take account of the 
indirect poisoning risk to humans resulting from the passage 
of poisons (pesticides) into the food chain. It should also bear 
in mind the need for environmental protection. 2. Specific comments 
2.1. Under the heading 'Toxicological practice' 
2.1.1. The proposal concerning the evaluation and 
comparability of data should be defined in more detail (for 
example, as to what methods should be used in the field of 
immunology). 
2.1.2. In the collection of toxicological data, the 
protection of trade secrets is particularly important. 
However, this protection should not be used as a pretext to 
withhold essential information. 
2.2. Under the heading 'Clinical toxicology' 
2.2.1. It should be explicitly stated that this subject 
includes epidemiological toxicology, as the definition of 
clinical toxicology might vary between the Member 
States. 
2.2.2. It would be desirable to establish a toxico-vigilance 
system for poison control centres, in order to accelerate 
recognition of problems and thus reduce the time-lag 
between the first appearance of a new syndrome and its 
recognition as toxic. 
2.2.3. For poison control centres to function effectively it 
would be necessary for them to obtain the maximum 
25. 4. 85 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 104/3 
information on product toxicity and in particular a 
breakdown of the composition of mixtures. 
2.3. Under the heading 'Training and information' 
Scientific and practical methods in the field of toxicology still 
vary considerably in the individual Member States. The 
Done at Brussels, 27 February 1985, 
1. The Committee welcomes the Commission's continued 
efforts to achieve a reduction in the noise of traffic, as a step 
towards the objective of improving the urban and, in 
consequence, non-urban 'acoustic' environment. 
The Committee pointed to the need for such measures in an 
earlier opinion on the proposal, later to become Directive 
78/1015/EEC, concerning the sound level of 
motorcycles. 
The Committee therefore endorses the Commission's 
proposed limit values (differentiated on the basis of engine 
capacity) for sound levels. 
2. The Committee would point to the fact that without 
effective policing by Member States - particularly of old, 
damaged and illegally modified exhaust systems - any 
benefits accruing to the 'acoustic' environment as a result of 
this Directive could well be cancelled out. Once again, as in 
the previous Committee opinion on Directive Committee therefore thinks it essential to support the 
'training and information' section of the Commission 
programme. It is highly unsatisfactory that the exchange of 
scientists in particular often comes up against bureaucratic 
controls in the Member States. One serious obstacle is the 
inadequate job security in their own country for scientists 
who would otherwise be willing to take part in an exchange. 
The Committee suggests that special weight be given to this 
point. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
GerdMUHR 
78/1015/EEC, the Committee would draw the 
Commission's attention to the need for clear, common 
provisions dealing with police checks designed to deter riders 
from modifying the exhaust systems of their machines. 
With this in mind, the Committee would also advocate the 
careful examination of any other type of motor-cycle 
measures designed to encourage compliance with the rules on 
sound levels (avoidance of noise due to unnecessary 
acceleration and braking, to the improper use of acoustic 
warning devices, or to damaged and illegally modified 
exhausts). 
3. In reiterating its support for the proposed Directive, 
the Committee would express its satisfaction at the fact that 
the tests include the use of the third gear, as requested in its 
abovementioned opinion, and do not, as has sometimes been 
the case on previous occasions, cause excess speed or 
skidding on the testing ground; the Committee would also Opinion on the proposal for a Council Directive amending Directive 78/1015/EEC on the 
approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the permissible sound level and exhaust 
system of motorcycles 
(85/C 104/03) 
On 24 September 1984 the Council decided to consult the Economic and Social Committee, under 
Article 100 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, on the abovementioned 
proposal. 
The Section for Industry, Commerce, Crafts and Services, which was responsible for preparing the 
Committee's work on the subject, adopted its opinion on 6 February 1985 (rapporteur: 
Mr Masprone). 
At its 224th plenary session (meeting of 27 February 1985), the Economic and Social Committee 
adopted the following opinion unanimously: