No C 25/22 Official Journal of the European Communities 28. 1. 85 
by providing incentives for investments with regard 
to the consumption of solid fuel. If the heating sys­
tems in the buildings in which EC bodies and staff 
Done at Brussels, 21 November 1984. 
The Committee welcomes the Commission's propo­
sal amending Directive 64/433/EEC. It represents a 
considerable step forward in the hygienic control of 
meat production and consumer protection in that 
the proposal adds a further parameter to the present 
criterion of 'visual cleanliness'. 
General comments 
It is recognized that the setting-up of acceptable 
standards (i.e. an exact, quantified limit) as part of 
mandatory testing for making a decision on the 
acceptability of products in plants which carry out 
varied operations is not practicable. Nevertheless, 
the comparison of results in a specific plant over a 
period of time, indicating a favourable or unfavour­
able trend, would provide a valuable guide as to the 
hygiene status. 
(') OJ No C 258, 22. 9. 1984, p. 6. work were switched over to solid fuels this alone 
would make a considerable contribution towards 
safeguarding the solid-fuel industry. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Commitee 
Gerd MUHR 
Specific comments 
1. Article 1.2 (a) 
In order to avoid, what is surely not intended, that, 
in an establishment producing minced meat etc., the 
controls mentioned under Article 1.3 (a) become 
compulsory for all the operations in that establish­
ment, it might make for clarity to add to the last 
paragraph the words 'for those stages of production 
specific to the production of minced meat, meat cut 
in a similar manner and mechanically recovered 
meat'. 
This in no way prevents the official veterinary sur­
geon from carrying out voluntarily the tests at other 
stages of the production. 
2. Article 1.2 (d) 
In view of the fact that it is accepted by the Commis­
sion that it is not practicable to lay down true 'mi-Opinion on the proposal for a Council Directive amending Directive 64/433/EEC on 
health problems affecting intra-Community trade in fresh meat (') 
(85/C 25/10) 
On 20 September 1984, the Council decided to consult the Economic and Social Com­
mittee, under Article 198 of the Treaty establishing the European Economic Com­
munity on the abovementioned proposal. 
The Economic and Social Committee decided to appoint Mr Storie-Pugh as rappor­
teur-general with the task of preparing its work on the subject. 
At its 221st plenary session (meeting of 21 November 1984) the Economic and Social 
Committee adopted the following opinion unanimously. 
28. 1. 85 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 25/23 
crobiological criteria' for fresh meat, it is suggested 
that, the words 'microbiological criteria' be qualified 
by adding 'taking into account Annex A of the pro-
Done at Brussels, 21 November 1984. 
1. OVERALL ASSESSMENT 
The Committee endorses the proposal for a Council 
Decision. A research and development programme 
(optimization programme) within the proposed 
framework will buttress the Community's non-
nuclear energy strategy and might help to promote 
the further expansion of a modern, forward-looking 
hydrocarbons technology upstream of the competi­
tive and energy supply spheres. This means also that 
the programme should not stop in 1987 but should 
be carried forward in accordance with the Commu­
nity strategy. 
Long-term basic research is desirable in order to 
further improve the utilization of oil reserves and to 
maximize the technical and economic yield of petro­
leum products as regards both manufacturing and 
final consumption. 
In the Committee's view, the optimization pro­
gramme pursues a sound aim by tying the necessary 
(') OJNoC 154, 14. 6. 1984, p. 5. posal for a Council Decision (OJ No C 252, 
2. 10. 1981)'. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Gerd MUHR 
basic research to the scientific and practical activi­
ties of the Community so as to increase the advan­
tages that coordination brings in terms of knowledge 
and make possible the permanent stimulation of 
research. It is therefore regarded as a useful comple­
ment to Community hydrocarbons research. 
The funding seems however, to be very meagre, if 
serious possitive results are to be achieved in the 
foreseeable future. Adequate finance should be 
made available to achieve the programme's objec­
tive of stimulating new, integrated and rapidly pro­
ductive research in all the Member States. The Com­
mittee considers that the appropriations should take 
account of the research requirements and should be 
incorporated in the medium-term financial plan, ac­
cording to main points of effort. 
The Committee would comment as follows on the 
orientation of the proposed preliminary and com­
plementary activities: Opinion on the proposal for a Council Decision adopting a research and development 
programme for the optimization of the production and utilization of hydrocarbons 
1984 to 1987 (l) 
(85/C 25/11) 
On 5 June 1984 the Council decided to consult the Economic and Social Committee, 
under Article 198 of the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, on 
the abovementioned proposal. 
The Economic and Social Committee decided to appoint Mr Binnenbruck as rappor­
teur-general with the task of preparing its work on the subject. 
At its 221st plenary session (meeting of 21 November 1984) the Economic and Social 
Committee adopted the following opinion unanimously: