24. 10. 83 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 286/ 
II 
(Preparatory Acts) 
ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE 
Opinion on the proposal for a Council Directive on limit values and quality objectives for 
mercury discharges by sectors other than the chlor-alkali electrolysis industry 
The text referred to the Committee has been published in Official Journal of the Euro­
pean Communities No C 20 of 25 January 1983, page 5. 
A. LEGAL BASIS FOR THE OPINION 
On 12 January 1983 the Council referred the abovementioned proposal to the Econo­
mic 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 
209th plenary session held in Brussels on 6 and 7 July 1983. 
The full text of the opinion is as follows: 
THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the Euro­
pean Economic Community, and in particular 
Article 198 thereof, 
Having regard to the request made by the Council 
of the European Communities on 12 January 1983 
for an opinion on the proposal for a Council Direc­
tive on limit values and quality objectives for mer­
cury discharges by sectors other than the chlor-alkali 
electrolysis industry ('), 
Having regard to the decision taken by its Bureau 
on 25 January 1983 instructing the Section for Pro­
tection of the Environment, Public Health and Con­
sumer Affairs to draw up an opinion on the matter, Having regard to the oral report made by the rap­
porteur, Mr Zoli, 
Having regard to the discussions at the Section's 
75th meeting held on 7 June 1983, 
Having regard to the discussions on 6 July at its 
209th plenary session held on 6 and 7 July 1983, 
Whereas in its opinion on Directive 76/464/EEC on 
the reduction of pollution caused by certain danger­
ous substances discharged into the aquatic environ­
ment of the Community, the Committee stated that, 
apart from the recycling and recovery of waste, it 
was equally important to take preventive action by 
adopting measures to (a) promote the use of materi­
als which could be re-used or recycled with the least 
outlay, and (b) to discourage, or in certain cases — 
after informing the Commission — even to restrict 
or ban the use of certain materials (2); 
(') OJNoC20,25. 1. 1983, p. 5. (2) OJ No C 108, 15. 5. 1975, p. 76. 
No C 286/2 Official Journal of the European Communities 24. 10. 83 
Whereas in its opinion on Directive 82/176/EEC on 
limit values and quality objectives for discharges of 
mercury into the aquatic environment by the chlor-
alkali electrolysis industry, the Committee urged 
that the rules be extended to cover mercury dis­
charges from any sector, since most discharges in 
fact came from outside the chlor-alkali electrolysis 
industry ('); 
Whereas in its opinion on the draft Directive on 
dumping of waste at sea, the Committee called for 
stricter measures even for low-concentration pollu­
tants (2), 
HAS ADOPTED THE FOLLOWING OPINION 
unanimously: 
1. The Committee approves the draft Directive, 
which is designed to round off Community legisla­
tion on mercury discharges. This comprehensive 
approach will make it possible to monitor environ­
mental conditions closely, and to extend controls to 
specific mercury discharges which involve a risk of 
pollution. 
(') OJ No C 83, 2. 4. 1980, p. 16. 
(2) OJNoC 197,23.8. 1976. 2. The Committee welcomes the fact that the draft 
Directive requires the Member States to draw up 
specific programmes for the gradual elimination of 
mercury pollution caused by effluents from dental 
health establishments and analytical laboratories 
not subject to emission standards. The Committee 
feels that the large number of these, and their conse­
quent effect on pollution, make their inclusion in 
the regulations vital. 
3. The Committee feels, however, that the arrange­
ments proposed by the Commission do not go far 
enough, in that the Member States would not have 
to implement the measures on eliminating mercury 
discharges in this sector until 1988 at the earliest. 
There can therefore be no question of exceeding this 
deadline. 
4. The Committee feels that point 3 of Annex 1 
should be amended, as there is no reason why the 
wording should differ from that used in point 2. In 
.both cases, the wording 'may not be greater' can be 
used. 
The Committee therefore proposes that point 3 be 
worded as follows: 
'The daily average limit values may not be 
greater than twice the corresponding monthly 
average limit values given in the table.' 
Done at Brussels, 6 July 1983. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Francis CEYRAC 
Opinion on the proposal for a Council Directive on the approximation of the laws of the 
Member States relating to the roll-over protection structures (rear-mounted rollbar, 
frame or cab type) of narrow-track wheeled agricultural or forestry tractors 
The text referred to the Committee has been published in Official Journal of the Euro­
pean Communities No C 123 of 9 May 1983, page 1. 
A. LEGAL BASIS FOR THE OPINION 
On 23 April 1983 the Council referred the abovementioned proposal to the Economic 
and Social Committee in accordance with Article 100 of the Treaty establishing the 
European Economic Community.