23.1. 78 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 18/33 
Opinion on the proposal for a Council Regulation laying down special measures 
in respect of castor seeds 
The text referred to the Committee has been published in Official Journal of the 
European Communities No C 192 of 11 August 1977, page 5. 
A. LEGAL BASIS FOR THE OPINION 
On 8 August 1977 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 
152nd plenary session held in Brussels on 26 and 27 October 1977. 
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 thereof, 
Having regard to the request for an opinion made 
by the Council on 8 August 1977, 
Having regard to the decision taken by its chairman 
on 10 August 1977 instructing the Section for Agri­
culture to draw up an opinion on the matter, 
Having regard to the report submitted by the 
rapporteur, Mr Rainero, 
Having regard to the opinion issued by the Section 
for Agriculture at its meeting on 6 October 1977, 
Having regard to the discussions at its 152nd plenary 
session held on 26 and 27 October 1977 (meeting 
of 27 October), 
HAS ADOPTED THE FOLLOWING OPINION 
by 26 votes to 13 with two abstentions: 
1. While the Committee is sympathetic to any 
attempt to improve economic conditions in special 
regions of the Community, the Committee does not consider that this proposal is well designed for 
that purpose, and consequently considers that the 
Commission's proposal should, be rejected. The 
Committee has the following observations to make. 
2. The proposal appears to do nothing to improve 
employment or farm incomes in the areas concerned 
by substituting one crop for another. Indeed, as is 
stated by the Commission, the castor crop may be 
less attractive in income per hectare than existing 
crops. 
3. Since this crop will be new to farmers in 
Europe and yields per hectare are likely to be low, 
the cost of aid, as proposed by the Commission 
is likely to be very high and probably long lasting. 
Such resources should be used in far more positive 
ways to increase incomes and employment. 
4. The Committee holds the view that the 
intention of this experimental scheme is, in time, 
to make a substantial contribution towards European 
security of supplies. This would entail a substantial 
cut in imports from certain developing countries. 
The Committee does, however, consider it unaccep­
table to start a new scheme which runs against 
other Community policies aiming at promoting the 
exports and improving the foreign exchange earnings 
of developing countries, in particular when such a 
scheme is without gains in employment in the 
Community. 
Done at Brussels, 27 October 1977. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Basil de FERRANTI 
No C 18/34 Official Journal of the European Communities 23.1. 78 
ANNEX 
to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee 
The following integral text of the Section's opinion was rejected as a result of an amendment 
proposed during the debate: 
1. The Commission's proposal responds to a specific requirement of the Community market. 
The Section appreciates the effort made to find new possibilities for an agricultural product, 
even if its development prospects are relatively limited for the moment. 
2. The Section also endorses the proposed marketing scheme based on production contracts. 
Such contracts should be concluded between associated agricultural producers and the 
processing industry, so as to encourage planned and controlled castor seed production. 
3. The Section therefore thinks that the role of castor seed producers' associations must be 
formally recognized in the proposed Regulation. 
4. The Section would point out the particular difficulties that agricultural producers will face 
in adapting to the new crop, such as seed shortages, a poor selection of varieties, lack of 
knowledge about cultivation techniques and uncertainty about yields and the financial 
aspects. Producers will be growing the crop on a really experimental basis, and they cannot 
be expected to bear the full cost of this on their own. 
5. The Section therefore feels that during the first few years of production producers should 
be ensured adequate technical assistance and given some guarantees. In particular, 
producers whose actual production falls short of the target yield used to calculate the 
guide price ought to be granted aid for the first two years based on the difference 
between the target yield and their actual production. Producers should receive aid through 
their associations on the basis of the cultivated acreage argeed in contracts between these 
associations and processing firms. 
Voting 
For: 27, against: 11, abstentions: 4. 
Opinion on the proposal for a Council Directive prolonging certain derogation measures 
in relation to brucellosis and tuberculosis granted to Denmark, Ireland and the United 
Kingdom 
The text referred to the Committee has been published in Official Journal of the 
European Communities No C 192 of 11 August 1977, page 10. 
A. LEGAL BASIS FOR THE OPINION 
On 8 August 1977 the Council referred the abovementioned proposal to the Economic 
and Social Committee in accordance with Articles 47 and 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 
152nd plenary session held in Brussels on 26 and 27 October 1977. 
The full text of the opinion is as follows: