No C 260/6 Official Journal of the European Communities 29. 9. 83 
II 
(Preparatory Acts) 
COMMISSION 
Proposal for a Council Decision adopting a concerted action research project of the 
European Economic Community on the effects of processing and distribution on the 
quality and nutritive value of food 
(Submitted by the Commission to the Council on 26 July 1983) 
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN 
COMMUNITIES, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the 
European Economic Community, and in particular 
Article 235 thereof, 
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, 
Having regard to the opinion of the European Par­
liament, 
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and 
Social Committee, 
Whereas, in its resolution of 14 January 1974 on an 
initial outline programme of the European 
Communities in the field of science and 
technology (*), the Council emphasized that an 
appropriate approach should be adopted towards the 
whole range of available ways and means, including 
joint projects, and that, whenever it proves desirable 
that third States, particularly European ones, should 
be associated in these projects, steps should be taken 
to make this possible; 
Whereas, in its resolution of 14 January 1974 (2), 
relating in particular to the coordination of national 
policies in the field of science and technology, the 
Council entrusted the Community institutions with 
the task of ensuring, with the assistance of the 
Scientific and Technical Research Committee (Crest), 
the gradual coordination of such policies; 
Whereas, by Decision 79/878/EEC (»), the Council 
adopted a first concerted action project on the effects 
of thermal processing and distribution on the quality 
and nutritive value of food; 
Whereas the abovementioned concerted action 
project has given extremely encouraging results; 
(*) OJ No C 7, 29. 1. 1974, p. 6. 
(2) OJNoC7, 29. 1. 1974, p. 2. 
(») OJ No L 270, 27. 10. 1979, p. 53. Whereas a second project in this field would make it 
possible to derive the maximum benefit from the 
effort that has been made; 
Whereas the Member States intend, as part of the 
rules and procedures applicable to their national 
programmes, to carry out the research described in 
Annex I and are prepared to integrate it into a 
process of coordination at Community level over a 
period of four years; 
Whereas the execution of the research work as 
described in Annex I calls for a financial outlay of 
some 15 million ECU in the Member States taking 
part therein; 
Whereas, on 18 July 1978, the Council agreed on 
certain procedural arrangements for cooperation 
under European Cooperation in the field of scientific 
and technical research (COST); 
Whereas, since the specific powers of action required 
to adopt this Decision have not been provided for in 
the Treaty, it is necessary to invoke Article 235 
thereof; 
Whereas Crest has given its opinion on the 
Commission proposal, 
HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: 
Article 1 
The Community shall implement for a period of four 
years a concerted action project on the effects of 
processing and distribution on the quality and 
nutritive value of food (hereinafter called 'the 
project'). 
The project shall consist in the coordination at 
Community level of the research work which is 
specified in Annex I and which shall form part of the 
research programmes of the Member States. 
29.9.83 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 260/7 
by the project and forward to the Commission all 
information that may be useful for coordination 
purposes. 
They shall in addition endeavour to provide the 
Commission with information relating to research in 
the field planned or performed by bodies which are 
not under their authority. 
This information shall be treated as confidential if the 
Member State which communicates it so requires. 
2. The Commission shall prepare annual progress 
reports on the basis of the information provided and 
shall send them to the Member States and the 
European Parliament. 
3. At the end of the coordination period, the 
Commission shall, in agreement with the Committee, 
send to the Member States and the European Par­
liament a consolidated report on the execution and 
results of the project. 
Article 6 
In accordance with Article 228 of the Treaty, the 
Community may conclude an agreement with third 
States participating in COST, with a view to 
concerting the Community project with the 
corresponding programmes of those States. 
Article 7 
This Decision shall take effect on the day of its pub­
lication in the Official Journal of the European 
Communities. 
ANNEX I 
Contributions of the Member States to the project by research topic 
Research topic 
1. HTST-process (high-tempera­
ture short-time processing) 
and other new thermal proces­
sing systems 
2. Qualitative and nutritive pro­
perties of foods obtained by 
biotechnology 
3. Chilling and refrigerated sto­
rage Active participation proposed by 
D 
X 
X 
X B 
X DK 
X 
X F 
X 
X 
X IRL 
X 
X I 
X NL 
X 
X UK 
X 
X GR 
X 
X Article 2 
The Commission shall be responsible for cooperation. 
Article 3 
The funds estimated as necessary for the Community 
contribution to the coordination is 780 000 ECU, 
including expenditure on a staff of one. 
Article 4 
To facilitate the execution of the project, a Concerted 
Action Committee on the effects of processing and 
distribution on the quality and nutritive value of food 
(hereinafter called 'the Committee') is hereby 
established. 
A project leader shall be appointed by the 
Commission in agreement with the Committee. He 
shall, in particular, assist the Commission in its task 
of coordination. 
The terms of reference and the composition of the 
Committee are laid down in Annex II. 
The Committee shall draw up its own rules of 
procedure. Its Secretariat shall be provided by the 
Commission. 
Article 5 
1. In accordance with a procedure to be laid down 
by the Commission in agreement with the Committee, 
the Member States participating in the project shall 
regularly exchange all relevant information 
concerning the performance of the research covered 
No C 260/8 Official Journal of the European Communities 29. 9. 83 
ANNEX II 
Terms of reference and composition of the Committee referred to in Article 4 
1. The Committee shall: 
1.1 Contribute to the optimum execution of the project by giving its opinion on all aspects of its 
progress; 
1.2 Evaluate the results of the project and draw conclusions regarding their applications; 
1.3 Be responsible for the exchange of information provided for in Article 5 (1); 
1.4 Keep abreast of the progress of national research work being done in the fields covered by the 
project, in particular by keeping abreast of scientific and technical developments likely to affect 
the execution of the project; 
1.5 Suggest guidelines to the project leader; 
1.6 Have the right to set up, in respect of each of the research topics defined in Annex I, a 
subcommittee to ensure that the programme is properly implemented. 
2. The Committee's reports and opinions shall be communicated to the Commission and the 
Member States. The Commission shall forward these opinions to Crest and the Standing 
Committee on Agricultural Research (SCAR). 
3. The Committee shall consist of the persons responsible for coordinating the Member States' 
contributions to the project and the project leader. Each member may be accompanied by 
experts.