No C 171/20 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities 9. 7. 79 
Having  regard  to the discussions  at its 167th  plenary 
session,  held  on 4 and  5 April  1979  (meeting  of 4 April 
1979), 
HAS  ADOPTED  THE  FOLLOWING  OPINION 
unanimously: 
1. The  Committee  approves  the Commission  proposal. 
2. On  the one hand  the draft  Council  Regulation  meets 
the need  for  simplification  and  greater  logic  by 
abolishing  the system  of reverse-effect,  double  MCAs 
for wine  trade  between  Italy  and  France,  and  applying 
only the difference  between  the MCAs  in question. 
3. On  the other  hand  exports  from  Italy  and  France, 
especially  those  to non-EEC  countries,  will  be less 
affected  by,MCAs. 
Done  at Brussels,  4 April  1979. 4. Like  the Commission,  the  Committee  too  would 
point  out  that  if there  are  differences  in real  prices 
between  the two  main  producer  countries  as a result  of 
the uneven  depreciation  of currencies,  it is normal  to 
make  allowances  for this when  Italian  and French  wines 
are exported  to hard-currency  countries. 
5. The  Committee  asks  the Commission  to examine 
the trends  in table-wine  prices  in the Community  and 
see to it that  the fall in prices  that  should  result  from  the 
present  proposal  being  applied  in wine-importing 
Member  States  is passed  on to the consumer. 
6. As  soon  as the new  system  comes  into  effect,  the 
Committee  would  like  the Commission  to keep  a close 
eye on how  trade  develops  in the products  concerned 
and on the effects  on farmers'  incomes  — especially  in 
countries  which  are revaluing.  Where  there  are negative 
effects  on producers'  incomes,  the Commission  should 
submit  measures  to the  Council  to counteract  or 
moderate  such  effects. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic  and  Social  Committee 
Fabrizia  BADUEL  GLORIOSO 
Opinion  on  the  proposal  for  a Council  Directive  establishing  measures  for  the 
implementation  of Directive  77/489/EEC  on the protection  of animals  during  international 
transport 
The text  referred  to the Committee  has been  published  in Official  Journal  of the European 
Communities  No C 41 of 14 February  1979,  page  4. 
A. LEGAL  BASIS  FOR  THE  OPINION 
On 7 February  1979,  the Council  referred  the abovementioned  proposal  to the Economic 
and Social  Committee  in accordance  with  Article  198  of the  Treaty  establishing  the 
European  Economic  Community. 
B. OPINION  OF THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE 
The Economic  and  Social  Committee  prepared  its opinion  on the above  matter  at its 167th 
plenary  session,  held  in Brussels  on 4 and  5 April  1979. 
The full text  of the opinion  is as follows: 
9. 7. 79 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities No C 171/21 
THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE, 
Having  regard  to the  Treaty  establishing  the  European 
Economic  Community,  and,  in particular,  Article  198 
thereof, 
Having  regard  to the  request  made  by the  Council  of 
the European  Communities  on 7 February  1979  for an 
opinion, 
Having  regard  to the  decision  taken  by its Bureau  on 
18 October  1978,  instructing  the Section  for Agriculture 
to prepare  the Committee's  work  on the matter, 
Having  regard  to its previous  opinion  on the  proposal 
for a Council  Decision  authorizing  the  Commission  to 
open  negotiations  with  the  Council  of Europe  on the 
accession  of  the  Community  to  the  European 
Convention  for  the  protection  of  animals  during 
international  transport  and  the  proposal  for  a Council 
Decision  concluding  the  European  Convention  for  the 
protection  of animals  during  international  transport  and 
introducing  the provisions  necessary  for its application 
to intra-Community  Trade  (*), 
Having  regard  to the  opinion  issued  by the  Section  for 
Agriculture  at its meeting  on 21 March  1979, 
Having  regard  to  the  oral  report  made  by  the 
rapporteur,  Mr Hall, 
Having  regard  to the  discussions  at its 167th  Plenary 
Session,  held  on 4 and  5 April  1979  (meeting  of 4 April 
1979), 
HAS  ADOPTED  THE  FOLLOWING  OPINION 
unanimously: 
The Committee  approves  the proposal  submitted  to the 
Council  by the  Commission  subject  to the  following 
observations: 1. General  observations 
1.1. The  Committee  would  like  to reinforce  the 
observation  made  in  the  previous  opinion  that 
animals  intended  for slaughter  should  be killed  as near 
as possible  to the  point  of production  and  in an 
approved  slaughter  house. 
1.2. The  Committee  urges  the  Commission  to ensure 
that the  rules  contained  under  Article  4 of Council 
Directive  77/489/EEC  are strictly  applied  in all Member 
States. 
1.3. The  Committee  recognizes  that  there  is a need  to 
define  clearly  and  more  precisely  the  areas  of 
responsibility  of  those  charged  with  ensuring  the 
welfare  of animals  throughout  the entire  period  of their 
transit. 
1.4. The  Committee  acknowledges  that  more  scientific 
data  is required  on all aspects  of animal  transportation 
and urges  the Commission  to give  urgent  consideration 
to this  need. 
2. Specific  observations 
2.1. The  Committee  notes  that  domestic  birds  and 
rabbits  are  not  included  in the  certification  procedures 
(Annex  I of Council  Directive  No  77/489/EEC)  and 
believes  that,  as trade  in these  species  between  Member 
States  is increasing,  there  is a need  for  covering  these 
additional  species  in all certification  procedures. 
2.2. In  pursuance  of  the  Committee's  general 
observation  1.1  the  transit  certificates  should  indicate 
under  the  heading  'Description  of animals'  (Annex  la' 
II), the  categories  of the  animals  and  in particular 
whether  they  are  for  immediate  slaughter  on arrival  at 
their  final  destination. 
Done  at Brussels,  4 April  1979. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic  and  Social  Committee 
Fabrizia  BADUEL  GLORIOSO 
(i) OJ No C 286,  15. 12. 1975.