No C 159/52 Official Journal of the European Communities 26. 6. 89 
Opinion on the proposal for a Council Directive amending Directives 81/602/EEC and 88/ 
146/EEC in respect of the prohibition of certain substances having a hormonal action and 
of substances having a thyrostatic action 
(89/C 159/20) 
On 17 April 1989, 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 Storie-Pugh as rapporteur-
general with the task of preparing its work on the subject. 
At its 265th plenary session (meeting of 26 April 1989) the Economic and Social Committee 
adopted the following Opinion unanimously. 
The Committee agrees with the Commission's proposal Article 2: The Committee approves the wording amend-
subject to the following recommendations: ing Article 7 of Directive 88/146/EEC. 
Article 1: The Committee approves the addition of the 
words 'ovine balanoposthitis' after the words 'thera- The Committee would wish an on-going study be main-
peutic treatment'. tained of other possible therapeutic applications. 
Done at Brussels, 26 April 1989. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Alberto MASPRONE 
Opinion on the proposal for a Council Directive on the approximation of the laws of the 
Member States relating to compulsory use of safety belts in vehicles of less than 3,5 tonnes (*) 
(89/C 159/21) 
On 16 November 1988, the Council decided to consult the Economic and Social Committee, 
under Article 75 of the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, on the 
abovementioned proposal. 
The Section for Transport and Communications, which was responsible for preparing the 
Committee's work on the subject, adopted its Opinion on 7 February 1989. The rapporteur 
was Mr Tukker. 
At its 265th plenary session (meeting of 27 April 1989) the Economic and Social Committee 
adopted the following Opinion by 78 votes to 4, with 5 abstentions. 
1. Introduction States on safety belts and their anchorage points in 
. . „, . , , , _ i T-V- certain categories of motor vehicle. The provisions of 
1.1. There are already a number of Council Direc- the mosf recem Directlves-81/575/EEC, 81/576/EEC 
tives on the approximation of the laws of the Member ^ 82/318/EEC-were to be implemented by the Mem-
ber States not later than 30 September 1982; this dead-
(') OJ No C 298, 23. 11. 1988, p. 8. line was respected. 
26. 6. 89 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 159/53 
1.2. However, the above Directives make it compul­
sory to fit safety belts only for the driver and the 
passengers on the front seat of the following categories 
of motor vehicle: 
— Ml: vehicles used for the carriage of passengers and 
comprising no more than eight seats in addition to 
the driver's seat, 
— M2: vehicles used for the carriage of passengers, 
comprising more than eight seats in addition to the 
driver's seat, and having a maximum weight of not 
more than 5 metric tons, 
— Nl: vehicles used for the carriage of goods and 
having a maximum weight not exceeding 3,5 metric 
tons. 
1.3. Since experience has shown that the compulsory 
use of safety belts has reduced the number of deaths 
and serious injuries, it is logical that the Commission 
should propose making the use of safety belts by passen­
gers on the rear seats of motor vehicles compulsory 
also. 
1.4. The Committee can thus generally endorse this 
proposal for a Directive, provided that account is taken 
of the comments set out below. 
2. Specific comments 
2.1. Article 2 
The Council should allow for the fact that safety belts 
on the rear seats may have to have anchorages different 
from those for front-seat belts. In some motor vehicles 
it will only be possible to use two-point belts on the 
rear seats, as opposed to belts with three anchorage 
Done at Brussels, 27 April 1989. points. This certainly applies to the middle passenger 
seat, but it may also be the case with rear seats whose 
back can be folded down in order to enlarge the luggage 
space or make it accessible from inside the vehicle. 
2.2. Article 3 
The Committee considers that, in the case of the cate­
gories of vehicles referred to in this Article (Nl and 
M2), insofar as the maximum weight is less than 
3,5 metric tons (minibuses), the Directive should apply 
not just to the driver and the front seat passengers but 
to all seats. 
2.3. Article 7 
The Committee takes the view that there are already 
enough restraint systems on the market specially de­
signed for small children (under 12) to justify the early 
adoption of a Directive for this category of passengers 
too. 
2.4. Article 9 
The Committee considers that it should be stipulated 
that these derogations apply only in built-up areas, 
or—alternatively—not on main highways or motor 
ways. 
2.5. Article 10 
The Committee would like the Commission to give 
wide publicity to the need for seatbelts on both front 
and rear seats, and further hopes that it will be possible 
to adhere to all the dates proposed by the Council. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Alberto MASPRONE