No C 108/80 Official  Journal  of the  European  Communities 15. 5. 75 
HAS  ADOPTED  THE  FOLLOWING  OPINION 
by a unanimous  vote: 
1. The  Economic  and  Social  Committee  approves 
the proposal,  subject  to the  following  comments: 
1.1. The  proposal  is a limited  but  useful  step 
towards  the removal  of a barrier  to inter-Commu-
nity trade  in gas  meters.  But  it is only  one  step. 
Even  when  the  proposal  is fully  effective,  after  a 
period  of six years,  the charges  for testing  in indi-
vidual  Member  countries  may  vary  — perhaps 
substantially  — since  those  prescribed  will  only  be 
minima. 1.2. The  Committee  believes  that  meter  manu-
facturers  will  be encouraged  to seek  EEC  approval 
and initial  verification  for their  products  in order 
that inter-Community  trade  shall  be promoted. 
The long-term  aim  should  be to standardize  charges 
for EEC  approval. 
1.3. At  all events,  the Committee  considers  that 
the fees  charged  for type  approval  and  initial  veri-
fication  should  be harmonized  as soon  as possible. 
Done  at Brussels,  27 February  1975. 
The Chairman 
of the  Economic  and  Social  Committee 
Henri  CANONGE 
Opinion  on the 
proposal  for a Council  Regulation  providing  for exemption  from  duties  and  charges  on 
importation  in respect  of goods  sent  by a private  person  from  a third  country  in small 
consignments  of a non-commercial  nature  to another  private  person  living  in the customs 
territory  of the  Community 
proposal  for a Council  Directive  on the exemption  from  taxes  on importation  of small 
consignments  from  third  countries  of goods  of a non-commercial  nature 
The texts  referred  to the Committee  were  published  in Official  Journals  of the European 
Communities,  No  C 24 of 1 February  1975,  pages  11 and 12, and No C 18 of 25 January 
1975,  pages  6 and  7. 
A. LEGAL  BASIS  FOR  THE  OPINION 
On 14 and  16 January  1975,  the Council  referred  the abovementioned  proposals  to 
the Economic  and  Social  Committee  under  Article  198  of the Treaty  establishing  the 
European  Economic  Community. 
B. OPINION  OF  THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE 
The Economic  and  Social  Committee  drew  up its Opinion  at its 128th  plenary  session, 
held in Brussels  on 26 and  27 February  1975. 
The Opinion  is published  below: 
THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE, 
Having  regard  to the referral  on 16 and  17 January 
1975,  by the Council  of the European  Communities 
of the proposal  for a Council  Regulation  providing 
for exemption  from  duties  and  charges  on impor-
tation  in respect  of goods  sent  by a private  person 
from  a third  country  in small  consignments  of a 
non-commercial  nature  to another  private  person living  in the  customs  territory  of the  Community 
and of the proposal  for a Council  Directive  on the 
exemption  from  taxes  on  importation  of small 
consignments  from  third  countries  of goods  of a 
non-commercial  nature; 
Having  regard  to Article  198  of the Treaty  establish-
ing the  European  Economic  Community; 
15. 5. 75 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities No C 108/81 
Having  regard  to the decision  taken  by its Bureau 
on 28 January  1975,  instructing  the  Section  for 
Industry,  Commerce,  Crafts  and Services  to draw  up 
an Opinion  and  a report  on these  matters; 
Having  regard  to the Opinion  adopted  by the Section 
for Industry,  Commerce,  Crafts  and  Services  at 
its meeting  on 5 February  1975; 
Having  regard  to the oral  report  made  by the Rap-
porteur,  Mr  De  Grave; 
Having  regard  to the discussions  at its 128th  plenary 
session  of 26 and  27 February  1975,  sitting  of 
27 February  1975, 
HAS  ADOPTED  THE  FOLLOWING  OPINION 
by a unanimous  vote: 
1. The  Economic  and Social  Committee  notes  that 
the Commission  proposals  extend  to small  consign-
ments  of a non-commercial  nature  the  facilities 
granted  to travellers. 
2. Whilst  it endorses  the two proposals,  the Com-
mittee  considers  that  the  maximum  authorized quantities  are in many  cases  too small  to be given 
as presents  (e.g.:  10 cigars,  500  grammes  of coffee, 
100 grammes  of tea).  At  the very  least  the Commis-
sion could  have  proposed  that  all the products  be 
subject  to the  same  limits  as apply  to travellers. 
3. Finally,  the Committee  draws  attention  to the 
position  adopted  in its Opinion  on the  proposal 
for a third  Directive  on the turnover  tax and  excise 
duty applicable  in international  traval  (*). In this 
Opinion  the  Committee  called  for a reduction  in 
the number  of cases  of double  taxation  and  non-
taxation  and  their  eventual  elimination.  This 
holds  good  also  for  small  consignments. 
Done  at Brussels,  27 February  1975. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic  and  Social  Committee 
Henri  CANONGE 
(x) OJ  No  C 142,  31.  12.  1972. 
Opinion  on the proposal  for a Council  Directive  concerning  the approximation  of the 
laws  of the  Member  States  in respect  of radio  interference  caused  by equipment 
operating  at radio  frequencies  in the range  10 kHz  to 18 GHz  — high-frequency 
industrial,  scientific  and medical  equipment  and similar  apparatus 
The text  referred  to the Committee  was  published  in Official  Journal  of the European 
Communities,  No  C 54 of 6 March  1975,  pages  13 to 18. 
A. LEGAL  BASIS  FOR  THE  OPINION 
On 2 September  1974,  the Council  referred  the abovementioned  proposal  to the Econo-
mic and  Social  Committee  under  Article  100  of the Treaty  establishing  the European 
Economic  Community. 
B. OPINION  OF  THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE 
The Economic  and Social  Committee  drew  up its Opinion  at its 128th  plenary  session, 
held in Brussels  on 26 and  27 February  1975. 
The Opinion  is published  below: 
THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE, 
Having  regard  to the referral  on 2 September  1974 
by the Council  of the  European  Communities  of the proposal  for a Directive  concerning  the approxi-
mation  of the laws  of the Member  States  in respect 
of radio  interference  caused  by equipment  operating 
at radio  frequencies  in the range  10 kHz  to 18 GHz