16. 2. 76 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities No C 35/23 
obtain  information  on all electricity  projects  five 
years  before  construction  work  begins;  (iii)  to ensure 
that details  are  given  on the  planning  status  of all 
projects. 
1.3. At  the  same  lime,  the  information  sought 
under  the amended  Regulation  must,  for the sake  of 
clarity,  relate  exclusively  to  the  planning 
requirements  of  energy  policy  and  equipment 
production.  Therefore,  while  the  Committee 
supports  the need  for information  in the interests  of 
environmental  protection,  it considers  that  the 
information  obtained  on desulphurization  plants  for 
residue/gas-oil/feedstock  should  relate  to energy 
policy  only. 
1.4. On  the  question  of placing  nuclear  electricity 
projects  for  the  first  time  under  a forward 
information  requirement  of five  years  and  of the 
extension  of  the  forward  requirement  for 
conventional  electricity  plants  from  three  years  to 
five years,  the  Committee  notes  that  these  new 
requirements  will  be sufficient  to ensure  that  early 
information  is provided  on the bulk  of conventional 
and nuclear  electricity  projects,  since  construction 
work  on these  projects  is generally  scheduled  to 
begin  within  five  years  of the initial  decision. 
1.5. In  view  of the critical  position  which  will  be 
occupied  in the planning  of future  energy  policy  by 
nuclear  fuel  cycle  installations  (uranium  enrichment, 
fuel preparation,  reprocessing  and  waste  disposal 
facilities),  these  should  be brought  within  the  scope 
of the Regulation. 
1.6. The  need  to obtain  information  on  the 
planning  status  of projects  is important,  particularly 
in the case  of long-term  plans.  When  information  on 
Done  at Brussels,  26 November  1975. such  long-term  plans  is published  in a general  form, 
care should  be taken  to ensure  that  it is properly 
qualified  with  information  on its planning  status,  lest 
it give  rise  to alarmist  fears  among  the general  public 
that the  normal  processes  of consultation  on such 
projects  have  been  by-passed. 
2. Specific  comments 
2.1. Article  2 
Neither  the  'capacities  in commission'  nor  'the 
capacities  which  are  scheduled  to be taken  out  of 
commission  within  three  years',  referred  to in 
Article  1 (3) of Regulation  (EEC)  No  1056/72  can, 
by definition  'include  investment  projects',  as 
mentioned  in the  paragraph  5 which  it is now 
proposed  to add.  This  contradiction  in terms  could 
be removed  by amending  the paragraph  5 to read: 
'5. The  communications  provided  for  in 
paragraphs  1 and  2 shall  include  investment 
projects  of which  some  or all the major  features 
(site,  constructor,  undertaking,  technical 
characteristics,  etc.)  may  be subject  to further 
review  or  final  approval  by  a competent 
authority'. 
2.2. Article  4 
In line  with  the  general  comments  of  1.3, 
information  on  desulphurization  which  is not 
specifically  required  for  energy  policy  purposes 
should  be dealt  with  by a separate  Community 
provision. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic  and  Social  Committee 
Henri  CANONGE 
Opinion  on the proposal  for multiannual  research  and  development  programme  of the 
European  Economic  Community  for  reference  materials  and  methods  (Community 
Bureau  of Reference  — CBR)  (1976  to 1978)  (indirect  action) 
The text  referred  to the Committee  was  published  in Official  Journal  of the European 
Communities  No  C 222  of 29 September  1975,  page  115. 
A. LEGAL  BASIS  FOR  THE  OPINION 
On 30 July  1975,  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. 
No C 35/24 Official  Journal  of the  European  Communities 16. 2. 76 
B. OPINION  OF  THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE 
The Economic  and  Social  Committee  prepared  its opinion  on the  above  matter  at its 
135th  plenary  session,  held  in Brussels  on 26 and  27 November  1975. 
The full  text  of the opinion  is as follows: 
THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE, 
Having  regard  to the request  for an opinion  made  by 
the Council  30 July  1975, 
Having  regard  to  the  Treaty  establishing  the 
European  Economic  Community,  and  in particular 
Article  198 thereof, 
Having  regard  to the decision  taken  by its Bureau  on 
23 September  1975  instructing  the Section  for Energy 
and Nuclear  Questions  to draw  up an opinion  and  a 
report  on the matter, 
Having  regard  to the opinion  adopted  by the Section 
for Energy  and  Nuclear  Questions  at its meeting  on 
7 November  1975, 
Having  regard  to the  oral  report  submitted  by the 
Rapporteur,  Mr Noordwal,  at this  meeting, 
Having  regard  to the discussions  at its 135th  plenary 
session  held  on 26 and  27 November  1975  (meeting 
of 27 November), 
Whereas  internationally  recognized  standard 
measures  and  measuring  systems  are essential  for all 
forms  of cooperation  in commerce,  industry  and 
science; 
Whereas  the  Community  has  an important  role  to 
play in deriving  the  common  reference  materials 
which  are necessary  for such  measurements, 
HAS  ADOPTED  THE  FOLLOWING  OPINION 
by a unanimous  vote: 
1. General  comments 
1.1. Almost  every  human  activity  and  most  aspects 
of our  present-day  society  and  economy  can  be 
quantified  and  described  in numerical  terms.  This 
process  has  long  been  recognized  as essential  for 
international  relations  • in commerce,  industry  and 
science  where  a large  degree  of  optimum 
standardization  of measures  has  been  developed 
down  through  the years. 1.2. However,  just  as no universally  valid  metre 
measurement  unit  can  be  produced  without  a 
uniform  definition  of the metre  which  allows  lengths 
to be measured  on a uniform  basis,  it is also  often 
difficult  to measure  and  to  uniformly  define 
materials  of whatever  kind  unless  there  are reference 
materials  available  against  which  the  measuring 
instrument  can  be calibrated  and  on the  basis  of 
which  they  can be routinely  tested. 
1.3. Since  individual  authorities,  undertakings  and 
scientific  bodies  will,  acting  independently,  not 
always  have  sufficient  inducement  to define  and 
develop  these  reference  materials  it is important  to 
ensure  the  closest  cooperation  between  national 
organizations  as  well  as  securing  through 
international  bodies  such  as  the  Community, 
optimum  coordination  in carrying  out  the  necessary 
R&D  work. 
1.4. It  was  with  these  objectives  in mind  that  the 
Community  set  up  the  Community  Bureau  of 
Reference  (CBR)  in 1973,  that  it has  already  carried 
out a first  indirect  research  and  development 
programme  in the period  1973  to 1975,  and  that  the 
Commission  is now  proposing  to continue  and 
expand  these  activities  in a second  indirect  R&D 
programme  running  from  1976  to 1978  at a 
maximum  total  cost  of 3-9 million  units  of account. 
1.5. The  Committee,  which  was  not  consulted  on 
the first  programme,  welcomes  the  opportunity  of 
commenting  on Community  activity  in these  field  for 
the first  time. 
1.6. It  notes  with  particular  satisfaction  the 
applied  nature  of the  programme  because  it is 
designed  to yield  tangible  and  directly  useful  results 
and because  it is a good  example  of what  practical 
Community  cooperation  can  achieve.  The 
Committee  therefore  fully  endorses  the 
Commission's  proposal. 
1.7. In  order  to obtain  the maximum  benefit  from 
this work,  it is important  that  it should  continue  to 
aim at providing  reference  materials  which  are 
scientifically  good  and  reliable,  which  are 
internationally  applicable,  and  for  which  there  is a 
clear  user  requirement. 
16. 2. 76 Official  Journal  of the  European  Communities No C 35/25 
1.8. The  Committee  regards  the  proposed 
increases  in both  the  financial  outlay  from  1-9 
million  to 3-9  million  units  of account  and  in the 
staff requirement  from  6 to 9 as justified.  While 
much  smaller  in size  than  the  other  indirect 
Community  R&D  programmes,  its results  are nonetheless  significant.  In order  to minimize  the 
administrative  burden,  it is also  important  that  those 
working  in this  field  in the  Joint  Research  Centre 
establishments  at Ispra  and  Petten  should  continue  to 
be associated  with  the coordinating  work  on a part-
time basis. 
Done  at Brussels,  27 November  1975. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic  and  Social  Committee 
Henri  CANONGE 
Opinion  on the  proposal  for  a Council  Directive  for  an eleventh  amendment  to 
Directive  No  64/54/EEC  on the  approximation  of the  laws  of the  Member  States 
concerning  the  preservatives  authorized  for  use  in foodstuffs  intended  for  human 
consumption 
The text  referred  to the Committee  was  published  in Official  Journal  of the European 
Communities  No  C 145  of 28 June  1975,  page  4. 
A. LEGAL  BASIS  FOR  THE  OPINION 
On 19 June  1975,  the Council  referred  the abovementioned  proposal  to the Economic 
and Social  Committee  in accordance  with  Article  100  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 
135th  plenary  session,  held  in Brussels  on 26 and  27 November  1975. 
The full  text  of the opinion  is as follows: 
THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE, 
Having  regard  to  the  Treaty  establishing  the 
European  Economic  Community,  and  in particular 
Article  100  thereof, 
Having  regard  to the request  for an opinion  made  by 
the Council  on 19 June  1975, 
Having  regard  to the decision  taken  by its Bureau  on 
24 June  1975,  instructing  the Section  for Protection 
of the  Environment,  Public  Health  and  Consumer 
Affairs  to draw  up an opinion  on the matter, Having  regard  to the  opinion  issued  by the  Section 
for Protection  of the  Environment,  Public  Health 
and Consumer  Affairs  at its  meeting  on  11 
November  1975,  and  the  oral  report  made  by the 
Rapporteur,  Mrs  Evans, 
Having  regard  to the discussions  at its 135th  plenary 
session,  held  on 26 and  27 November  1975  (meeting 
of 27 November), 
Whereas  the Scientific  Committee  for Food  finds  in 
its opinion  of 15 November  1974  that  the  sodium 
derivative  of  methyl  parahydroxybenzoate, 
potassium  propionate  and  potassium  nitrite  are not a