28. 3. 88 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 80/35 
aspects as between those Member States with large herds 
and those Member States with small herds. 
Consideration should be given to developing a system 
whereby a Member State or region that is factually free 
from EBL could be declared as such without incurring the 
expense of testing 20 % of its herds as proposed. 
Done at Brussels, 27 January 1988. 
1. General comments 
1. The Committee approves the Directive which is 
essential for the functioning of the internal market. 
The effect of this Directive is that animals recognized as 
pure-bred in any Member State can be traded as such 
throughout the Community. 
2. The Committee felt that in order to have provided an 
authoritative Opinion it should have been given the 
opportunity to examine details and information on the 
procedures followed in Member States. In view of the very 
short time-table given to the Committee, this was not 
possible, and any Opinion is therefore less useful than it 
should be. 
3. This proposal is closely modelled on Directive 77/ 
504/EEC which regulates the same problems for pure-bred 
cattle. 
(!) OJ No C 348, 23. 12. 1987, p. 6. A system could be devised using tumour notification and 
herd history combined with serological testing using bulk 
blood taken from suitable animals at the point of killing. 
This is a more economical system worthy of study for the 
declaration of EBL-free Member States or regions. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Alfons MARGOT 
There are, however, certain differences for sheep which 
have to be taken into account. 
2. Detailed comments 
1. The introduction could well mention that this • 
proposal would also be useful for exports to third 
countries. 
2. Article 1 
The Committee agrees that national health rules shall 
apply, pending the introduction of Community provisions. 
3. Article 2 
The Committee approves the definitions in general. 
However, some Member States recognize a small number 
of pure-bred hill sheep which cannot be recorded Opinion on the proposal for a Council Directive concerning pure-bred breeding sheep and 
goats (') 
(88/C 80/15) 
On 16 December 1987 the Council decided to consult the Economic and Social Committee, under 
Articles 43 and 198 of the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, on the above-
mentioned proposal. 
The Section for Agriculture and Fisheries, which was responsible for preparing the Committee's 
work on the subject, adopted its Opinion on 20 January 1988 in the light of the Report by Mr 
Gardner. 
At its 252nd Plenary Session (meeting of 27 January 1988), the Economic and Social Committee 
adopted the following Opinion unanimously: 
No C 80/36 Official Journal of the European Communities 28. 3. 88 
individually, because of the topography and general 
environment in which they live. 
Consequently there should be a derogation from the 
definitions laid down for 'pure-bred' and 'flockbook' for 
certain clearly named pure-bred hill breeds. 
These flocks must be listed by the relevent breed society 
and identified as being from a pure flock for the purposes of 
the Directive. 
4. Article 4 
The Committee approves the procedure proposed subject 
ro the comments under 6 below. 
The Committee has had insufficient time to examine the 
practices applying to the indents under this Article. 
The operative date for this Article should be earlier than 
that given in Article 9. 
Done at Brussels, 27 January 1988. Provided the conditions laid down in Article 4 are met, 
Member States shall not put barriers in the way of breeders' 
organizations and associations seeking to benefit from 
Article 5. 
5. Article 6 
The Committee considers that an additional phrase should 
be added to Article 6 of the proposed Directive reading as 
follows: 
'... with the procedure laid down in Article 8, to be 
issued by the entities mentioned in Article 5'. 
6. Article 8 
The procedure for the zootechnics committee should be the 
same as that in Directive 77/504/EEC, i. e, by voting with 
qualified majority. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Alfons MARGOT