28. 11.79 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 297/19 
Opinion on the proposal for a Council Decision adopting a five-year research and 
training programme (1980 to 1984) of the European Atomic Energy Community in the 
field of biology-health protection (Radiation Protection Programme) 
The text referred to the Committee has been published in Official Journal of the European 
Communities No C 102 of 24 April 1979, page 4. 
A. LEGAL BASIS FOR THE OPINION 
On 10 April 1979, the Council referred the abovementioned proposal to the Economic 
and Social Committee in accordance with Article 7 of the Treaty establishing the 
European Atomic Energy Community. 
B. OPINION OF THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE 
The Economic and Social Committee prepared its opinion on the above matter at its 
171st plenary session, held in Brussels on 26 and 27 September 1979. 
The full text of the opinion is as follows: 
THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the 
European Atomic Energy Community, and in 
particular Article 7 thereof, 
Having regard to the request made by the Council of 
the European Communities on 10 April 1979 for an 
opinion, 
Having regard to the Bureau's decision of 22 May 
1979 instructing the Section to draft an opinion and 
report, 
Having regard to the opinion which the Section 
issued on 13 September 1979, 
Having regard to the oral report made by the rap­
porteur Mr Drago, 
Having regard to the discussions at its 171st plenary 
session, held on 26 and 27 September 1979 (meeting 
of 26 September 1979), 
Whereas it is in the Community's interest to increase 
our understanding of the consequences and hazards 
of ionizing radiation, so as to permit an objective 
assessment of the problems involved and thus ensure 
adequate protection of man and the environment; Whereas advances in knowledge and new concepts in 
the field of radiation protection make it necessary to 
follow up the current 1976 to 1980 programme with a 
new programme covering the period 1980 to 1984; 
Whereas the research covered by the draft Decision 
will effectively further such action in the common 
interest, 
HAS ADOPTED THE FOLLOWING OPINION 
unanimously: 
1. In pursuance of the tasks assigned to it by the 
Euratom Treaty, the Community, under its radiation 
protection programme, has implemented four indirect 
research programmes in the field of biology and 
health protection. 
The work in question has been carried out by 
national research bodies, and has been coordinated 
and partfinanced by the Community. 
The current radiation protection programme expires 
at the end of 1980 and the proposed new programme 
is to begin on 1 January 1980. 
2. The new programme is the fifth in a series of 
indirect research and training programmes (1980 to 
1984). It will cost 68-2 million EUA. 
No C 297/20 Official Journal of the European Communities 28. 11.79 
3. The programme is designed to secure adequate 
understanding and control of radiation risks. It has 
two main objectives: 
— improvement of scientific and technical 
knowledge with a view to updating basic 
standards for protection of the general public and 
workers against the health hazards arising from 
ionizing radiation; 
— evaluation of the biological and ecological 
consequences of nuclear activities, and of the use 
of nuclear energy and ionizing radiation. 
4. The Committee reiterates the need for further 
research into the effects of ionizing radiation, for the 
purpose of constantly improving radiation protection 
standards designed to protect (i) the general public, 
(ii) persons exposed directly or indirectly to radiation 
in the course of their work and (iii) the environment. 
5. The Committee feels that such research is a pre­
requisite for ensuring that nuclear energy is used in a 
way compatible with the safety of the public at large, 
and of nuclear industry workers in particular. 
6. The programme covers six integrated fields: 
— radiation dosimetry and its interpretation; 
— behaviour and control of radionuclides in the 
environment; 
— short-term somatic effects of ionizing radiation; 
— late somatic effects of ionizing radiation; 
— genetic effects of ionizing radiation; 
— evaluation of radiation hazards. 
A greater understanding of these subjects will further 
the objectives which have been laid down for the 
programme in the light of current knowledge, new 
lines of approach and future requirements. 
7. The Committee feels that priority should be 
given to certain research projects relating to the 
health and environmental hazards of radiation. The 
Committee endorses the proposed financial allocation 
r.nd staffing arrangements. It recommends that 
findings to date in the area of biology and health 
protection should be made more and more widely 
publicized. 8. The Community should continue to play an 
active role at all levels of international cooperation, 
through the various bodies involved in this field. 
These bodies include: the UN Scientific Committee 
on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR), the 
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the 
World Health Organization ("WHO), the Food and 
Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International 
Commission on Radiological Protection (ICPR) and 
the International Commission on Radiation Units and 
Measurements (ICRU). 
9. The Committee feels that the Member States 
should give maximum publicity to work in course, 
and that everything should be done to maximize 
protection against the risks associated with all forms 
of radiation, including natural radioactivity which has 
been intensified by human activity, and radiation 
from radioactive material used for medical purposes. 
The Committee stresses the importance of research 
into the effects of low doses, which is mentioned in 
the Commission's paper. This research is of 
considerable importance not only to workers 
currently employed in nuclear plants, but also to 
those who have been so employed in the past and to 
the general public. 
The Commission's research and training programme 
can do much to reduce radiation doses from medical 
treatment, which is a major source of 'man-made' 
radiation. 
10. A study has started on the preparation of a 
Community radiation register for workers directly 
exposed to radiation. The Committee endorses this 
exercise, and feels that the register should cover 
workers employed full time in nuclear plants. It is 
however also necessary to provide equivalent 
protection and appropriate checks for workers 
employed occasionally on temporary projects and in 
jobs involving exposure to radiation. 
The Committee reiterates its call for the introduction 
of a 'nuclear passport' for all nuclear industry 
workers. This document would log the places where 
nuclear workers had been employed, and the radio­
activity levels to which they had been exposed ('). 
(') Study of the Committee on a Community Nuclear Safety 
Code, 28 April 1977. 
28. 11.79 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 297/21 
Finally, the Committee feels that, following the intro- made to facilitate health check-ups for nuclear 
duction of new dosimetric units, efforts should be- workers and to publicize protection measures. 
Done at Brussels, 26 September 1979. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Raffaele VANNI 
Opinion on the 
— proposal for a Council Regulation amending Regulation (EEC) No 1117/78 on the 
common organization of the market in dried fodder, and the 
— proposal for a Council Regulation fixing for the 1979/80 marketing year the flat-rate 
production aid for dehydrated potatoes 
The text referred to the Committee has been published in Official Journal of the European 
Communities No C 170 of 7 July 1979, pages 4 and 5. 
A. LEGAL BASIS FOR THE OPINION 
On 4 July 1979, the Council referred the abovementioned proposal to the Economic and 
Social Committee in accordance with Articles 47 and 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 
171st plenary session, held in Brussels on 26 and 27 September 1979. 
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 
Articles 47 and 198, 
Having regard to the request made by the Council of the European Communities on 4 July 1979 for an 
opinion, 
Having regard to the decision taken by its Bureau on 
16 July 1979 instructing the Section for Agriculture to 
prepare on opinion on the matter,