No C 230/24 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities 10. 9. 81 
Opinion  on the proposal  for a Council  Directive  amending  Directive  71/118/EEC  on health 
problems  affecting  trade  in fresh  poultrymeat 
The text  referred  to the Committee  has been  published  in Official  Journal  of the European 
Communities  No  C 97 of 29 April  1981,  page  12. 
A. LEGAL  BASIS  FOR  THE  OPINION 
On 31 March  1981  the Council  referred  the abovementioned  proposal  to the Economic  and 
Social  Committee  in accordance  with  Article  43 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 189th 
plenary  session  held  in Brussels  on 1,2  and  3 July  1981. 
The full  text  of the opinion  is as follows: 
THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE, 
Having  regard  to the Treaty  establishing  the European 
Economic  Community,  and  in particular  Article  43 
thereof, 
Having  regard  to the request  made  by the Council  of the 
European  Communities  on 31 March  1981  for  an 
opinion  on the proposal  for a Council  Directive  amending 
Directive  71/118/EEC  on health  problems  affecting 
trade  in fresh  poultry  meat, 
Having  regard  to the decision  taken  by its Bureau  on 
28 April  1981  instructing  the Section  for Agriculture  to 
prepare  work  on this  matter, 
Having  regard  to previous  work  undertaken  by the 
Committee  on this matter,  and in particular  its opinion  of 
25 October  1979  (J), 
Having  regard  to the opinion  issued  by the Section  for 
Agriculture  at its 225th  meeting  held  on 4 June  1981, 
Having  regard  to the report  made  by the rapporteur, 
Mr Hilkens, 
Having  regard  to the discussions  at its 189th  plenary 
session,  held  on 1,2  and  3 July  1981  (meeting  of 1 July 
1981), 
HAS  ADOPTED  THE  FOLLOWING  OPINION 
unanimously: 1. In  the  main  the  Committee  approves  the 
Commission  proposal  for a Council  Directive  amending 
Directive  71/118/EEC  on health  problems  affecting 
trade  in fresh  poultrymeat  (2). 
The amendments  are necessary  to harmonize  application 
of Directive  71/118/EEC  in the  Member  States,  to 
standardize  systems  for financing  the costs  of health 
controls  and inspections,  and to extend  the slaughter  and 
evisceration  derogation  for five  years. 
2. The  Committee  agrees  with  the Commission  that 
detailed  inspection  rules  are needed  to prevent  disparities 
which  lead  to distortions  in competition. 
3. The  Committee  wonders  whether  the  proposed 
maximum  number  of birds  which  may  be inspected  by 
one man  is not too rigid  a constraint. 
It would  ask the Commission  to reconsider  the maximum 
in this light.  It would  also  like the Directive  to indicate  the 
minimum  length  of the rest period  for those  involved  in 
the inspection. 
4. The  Committee  urges  that  the derogation  relating 
to slaughter  and  evisceration  should  not  be extended 
beyond  15 August  1986.  It urges  the Commission  to 
ensure  that  the relevant  provisions  are adopted  before 
this date  in all  slaughterhouses  throughout  the 
Community. 
(') OJ  No C 53, 3. 3. 1980,  p. 20. (2) OJNoL  55,  8.3.  1971. 
10. 9. 81 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities No C 230/25 
The Committee  assumes  that  even  where  exemptions  are 
still in force,  a complete  veterinary  inspection  and control 
is carried  out in accordance  with  the same  criteria  and at 
the same  cost. 
5. Finally,  the Committee  takes  note  of the fact  that the Commission  is to propose  horizontal  Directives  on 
laboratory  tests  for the purpose  of ascertaining  whether 
meat  contains  any substances  harmful  to human  health. 
The Committee  can  only  accept  the present  text  of 
paragraph  30 (d) of the proposal  on this  condition,  and 
whilst  awaiting  the opinion  which  it has to give  on the 
subject. 
Done  at Brussels,  2 July  1981. 
The Chairman 
of the 
Economic  and  Social  Committee 
Tornas  ROSEINGRAVE