7. 3. 77 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities No C 56/29 
3. The  Committee  agrees  with  the proposed  action 
being  classed  as 'common  measures'  within  the 
meaning  of Regulation  (BBC)  No 729/70,  since  this 
is a move  to coordinate  the various  measures  taken 
at national  level.  As a result  the whole  operation  is 
eligible  for funds  from  the EAGGF. 
4. The  Committee  would  point  out  that  the  aids 
provided  for  under  this  Community  action  can  be 
combined  with  aids  under  the proposal  for a Council 
Regulation  introducing  a premium  system  for  the 
non-marketing  olf milk  and  milk  products  and  for the 
conversion  of dairy  cow  herds.  It is probably  because 
of this  interrelationship  between  the  two  proposals 
that the Commission  decided  to submit  the present 
proposal  under  its action  programme  for achieving 
balance  in the milk  sector.  The  'Committee  considers, 
however,  that  it should  be made  clearer  ihow  these 
two kinds  of aid can be combined. 
5. The  Committee  notes  that  the  duration  of this 
Community  action  is three  years;  it underlines  the 
fact that  any  delays  in implementation  will  only aggravate  the  difficulties  to be solved.  It should 
therefore  be ensured  that  the competent  authorities 
act as rapidly  as possible  in making  an exact  in-
ventory  of diseased  animals.  The  Committee  would 
point  out,  however,  that  the flow  of meat  as a result 
of the  ensuing  slaughterings  will  call  for  tigher 
supervision  otf the beef  and  veal  market.  The  Com-
mittee  would  stress  the importance  it attaches  to the 
effects  this Community  action  will  have  on trade  in 
animals. 
6. Finally,  the  Committee  asks  that  the  Advisory 
Committee  on Veterinary  Matters  be associated  with 
this Community  action. 
Done  at Brussels,  24 November  1976. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic  and  Social  Committee 
Basil  de FERRANTI 
Opinion  on the proposal  for a Council  Regulation  concerning  a charge  on certain  oils 
and fats 
Tihe text  referred  to the Committee  'has not yet been  published  in the Official  Journal 
of the European  Communities. 
A. LEGAL  BASIS  FOR  THE  OPINION 
On 19  October  1976,  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. 
B. OPINION  OF THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE 
The Economic  and  Social  Committee  prepared  its opinion  on the above  matter  at its 
143rd  plenary  session,  held  in Brussels  on 24 and 25 November  1976. 
The full text  of the opinion  is as follows: 
No C 56/30 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities 7. 3. 77 
THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE, 
Having  regard  to  the  Treaty  establishing  the 
European  Economic  Community,  and  in particular 
Article  198  thereof, 
Having  regard  to the request  for an opinion  made  by 
the Council  of the  European  Communities  on  19 
October  1976, 
Having  regard  to the decision  taken  by its Bureau  on 
26 October  1976,  instructing  the  Section  for  Agri-
culture  to draw  up an opinion  on the matter, 
Having  regard  to its previous  work  in the  milk  and 
milk  products'  sector  and  in particular  its opinion 
of 30 September  1976  (1),  on the  action  programme 
(1977  to 1980)  for  the  progressive  achievement  of 
balance  in the milk  market, 
Having  regard  to the oral  report  made  by the rappor-
teur,  Mr Bourel, 
Having  regard  to the opinion  adopted  by the  Section 
for Agriculture  at its meeting  on 18 November  1976, Having  regard  to the discussions  at its 143rd  plenary 
session  on 24 and  25 November  1976  (meeting  of 24 
November  1976), 
HAS  ADOPTED  THE  FOLLOWING  OPINION 
by 60 votes  to 27, with  8 abstentions: 
1. In its opinion  of 30 September  1976,  the  Econ-
omic  and  Social  Committee  finally  came  out  against 
the Commission's  proposal  to introduce  a charge  in 
the Community  on certain  vegetable  and  marine  fats 
and dils,  a proposal  set out  in point  47 of the  action 
programme  1977  to 1980  for the progressive  achieve-
ment  of balance  in the milk  market. 
2. The  points  made  in the  draft  Regulation  and  its 
Annex  are  not  conducive  to changing  the opinion  of 
the Committee  on such  an additional  charge. 
Done  at Brussels,  24 November  1976. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic  and  Social  Committee 
(!) OJ  No  C 285,  2. 12.  1976.  Basil  de FERRANTI 
ANNEX 
to the  opinion  of the  Economic  and  Social  Committee 
The following  text  of the  Section's  opinion  was  replaced  by an amendment  adopted  by 60 votes 
to 26 with  6 abstentions: 
'1. The  aim  of the  Commission's  proposal  is to implement  Council  resolution  64/128/EEC, 
at last  on the  basic  principles  of organizing  the  common  market  in fats  and  oils. 
2. The  proposed  charge  on margarine  and  edible  oil  will  increase  consumer  prices  only 
slightly  (by  between  2-5 and  3°/o).  Therefore,  price  stability  — one  of the  aims  of anti-cyclical 
policy  — will  not  be in any  inordinate  danger. 
3. The  prices  which  consumers  now  have  to pay  for  margarine  and  edible  oil in the  different 
Member  States  vary  considerably  (by  as much  as 80%),  although  the  raw  materials  cost  the 
same  in all Member  States.  Therefore,  it will  be quite  possible  to offset  the  charge  in the 
price. 
4. The  Commission  has  announced  that  the  revenue  from  the  charge  is to accrue  to the 
developing  countries.  Using  the  revenue  in this  way  could  help  improve  the  Community's 
relations  with  developing  countries,  given  the problems  in this  area. 
7.3.77 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities No C 56/31 
5. Since  the charge  is so low,  it will  not  affect  trade  in oil seeds  and  vegetable  fats  between 
non-Member  States  and  the  Community.  On  the  contrary,  the developing  countries  and  the 
USA,  which  supply  the Community  with  oil seeds,  oleaginous  fruit  and  vegetable  fats,  should 
have  a keen  interest  in a healthy  EEC  milk  market.  Most  of the  oil seeds  imported  into  the 
Community  are  used  to make  feedingstuffs,  which  in turn  are fed mainly  to dairy  cattle.  To 
this extent,  the market  prospects  for oil seeds  in the Community  depend  on the  earnings  of 
EEC  dairy  producers. 
6. The  measure  must  also  be considered  in the light  of the fact  that  the United  States  places 
barriers  in the way  of dairy  imports  from  the Community  and  even  makes  some  imports  in 
this sector  impossible.' 
Opinion  on the proposal  for a Council  Regulation  on a co-responsibility  levy  and  measures 
for expanding  markets  in the  milk  and  milk  products  sector 
The text  referred  to the  Committee  has  been  published  in Official  Journal  of the 
European  Communities  No  C 270  of 16 November  1976,  page  2. 
On 19  October  1976,  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. 
B. OPINION  OF THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE 
The Economic  and  Social  Committee  prepared  its opinion  on the above  matter  at its 
143rd  plenary  session,  held  in Brussels  on 24 and  25 November  1976. 
The full  text  of the opinion  is as follows: 
Having  regard  to  the  Treaty  establishing  the  }n  the milk  market  (1), 
European  Economic  Community,  and  in particular 
Article  198  thereof, A. LEGAL  BASIS  FOR  THE  OPINION 
THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE, Having  regard  to its earlier  work  on milk  and  dairy 
products,  and  in  particular  its  opinion  of 
30 September  1976  on the  action  programme  (1977 
to 1980)  ifor  the progressive  achievement  of balance 
Having  regard  to the  oral  report  made  by  the 
rapporteur,  Mr Bourel, 
Having  regard  to the  request  for  an opinion  made 
by the  Council  of the  European  Communities  on 
19 October  1976, Having  regard  to the  opinion  issued  by the Section 
for Agriculture  on 18 November  1976, 
Having  regard  to the decision  taken  by its Bureau  on 
26 October  1976  instructing  the Section  for Agricul-
ture to draw  up an opinion  on the matter, (i) OJ  No C 285,  2. 12. 1976.