22. 1. 76 Official  Journal  of the  European  Communities No C 15/7 
2.2. Article  2 (bb) 2.3. Article  4 
It is stated  that  members  must  join  for  an initial 
period  of at least  three  years.  This  period  is too long 
and is likely  to be  an  obstacle  to a larger 
membership. The second  paragraph  should  be deleted. 
Done  at Brussels,  29 October  1975. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic  and  Social  Committee 
Henri  CANONGE 
Opinion  on the  proposal  for  a Council  Directive  amending,  for  the  fourth  time, 
Directive  73/241/EEC  on the approximation  of the laws  of the Member  States  relating 
to cocoa  and  chocolate  products  intended  for human  consumption 
The text  referred  to the Committee  was  published  in Official  Journal  of the European 
Communities  No  C 198  of 29 August  1975,  page  5. 
On 4 August  1975,  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. 
B. OPINION  OF THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE 
The Economic  and  Social  Committee  prepared  its opinion  on the above  matter  at its 
134th  plenary  session,  held  in Brussels  on 29 and  30 October  1975. 
The full text  of the opinion  is as follows: A. LEGAL  BASIS  FOR  THE  OPINION 
THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE, Agriculture  to prepare  the Committee's  work  on the 
matter, 
Having  regard  to the request  for an opinion  made  by 
the Council  on 4 August  1975, Having  regard  to the  oral  report  made  by the 
Rapporteur,  Miss  Mackie, 
Having  regard  to  the  Treaty  establishing  the 
European  Economic  Community,  and  in particular 
Article  100  thereof, Having  regard  to the opinion  issued  by the Section 
for Agriculture  at its meeting  on 2 October  1975, 
Having  regard  to the discussions  at its 134th  plenary 
Having  regard  to the decision  taken  by its Bureau  on session,  held  on 29 and  30 October  1975  (meeting  of 
23 September  1975,  instructing  the  Section  for  29  October), 
No C 15/8 Official  Journal  of the  European  Communities 22.1.  76 
HAS  ADOPTED  THE  FOLLOWING  OPINION 
by a unanimous  vote: 
1. General  comments 
1.1. The  Economic  and  Social  Committee 
approves  the  principle  that  cocoa  powder  products 
(as is already  the case  with  chocolate  bars  or tablets) 
should  be marketed  in individual  weights  on a scale 
going  from  100  g to 1 kg. 
1.2. The  Committee  notes,  however,  that  the scale 
proposed  by the  Commission  omits  certain  weights 
commonly  used  for  the  sale  of cocoa  powder 
products  in several  Member  States. 
One way  round  this  difficulty  might  lie in choosing 
weights  within  the 100  g to 1 kg range,  not only  at 
intervals  of 100  g but also  at other  common  divisions 
of the kilogramme,  namely  125  g, 250  g, 375  g, 500  g 
and 750  g. 
1.3. The  Committee  shares  the  Commission's 
concern  to avoid  any  confusion  of the consumer  due 
to the adoption  of two  weight  systems  that  are too 
close  to each  other,  and  therefore  rejects  such  a 
two-tier  system.  Faced  with  a choice  between  the two 
series,  the Committee  plumps  for the second.  In its view,  this  series  comes  closest  to customary  practice 
in the majority  of the Member  States. 
1.4. In  view  of the  foregoing,  the  Committee 
recommends  extending  to at least  five  years  the 
period  after  which  cocoa  powder  products  not 
conforming  to the Directive  may  not be marketed. 
2. Specific  comments 
2.1. The  Committee  would  propose  the  addition 
of a third  recital  worded  as follows:  'Whereas 
allowance  should  be made  for  the existence  on the 
market  of weights  not included  in the proposed  scale; 
whereas,  as a result,  manufacturers  and  consumers 
should  be given  adequate  time  to adjust  to the 
proposed  scale'. 
2.2. Article  1 
The Committee  proposes  that  the Commission's  scale 
of weights  be amended  to read:  100  g, 125  g, 250  g, 
375 g, 500 g, 750 g, 1 kg. 
2.3. Article  2 
The deadline  laid  down  in subparagraph  (b) should 
be increased  to five  years. 
Done  at Brussels,  29 October  1975. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic  and  Social  Committee 
Henri  CANONGE 
Opinion  on the proposal  for a Council  Decision  on a change  in the timetable  for the 
preparation  of the annual  report  on the economic  situation  of the Community 
The text  referred  to the Committee  was  published  in Official  Journal  of the European 
Communities  No  C 218  of 24 September  1975,  page  2. 
A. LEGAL  BASIS  FOR  THE  OPINION 
On 4 August  1975,  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.