No C 50/8 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities 4. 3. 76 
Opinion  on the  proposal  for  a Council  Directive  for  a fifth  amendment  on the 
approximation  of the  laws  of the  Member  States  concerning  the  colouring  matters 
authorized  for use in foodstuffs  intended  for human  consumption 
The 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 6 January  1976  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 
136th  plenary  session,  held  in Brussels  on 28 and  29 January  1976. 
The full  text  of the opinion  is as follows: 
THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE,  HAS  UNANIMOUSLY  ADOPTED  THE  FOLLOWING 
OPINION: 
Having  regard  to  the  Treaty  establishing  the 
European  Economic  Community,  and  in particular 
Article  100  thereof, 
Having  regard  to the  request  for  an opinion  made 
by the  Council  of the  European  Communities  on 
6 January  1976, 1. The  Committee  approves  the proposal  as a first 
step towards  implementation  of  the  Scientific 
Committee's  recommendations.  A  number  of 
substances  were  authorized  in 1962,  on the basis  of 
the then  operative  criteria,  but do not meet  the more 
rigorous  standards  applied  today. 
Having  regard  to the decision  taken,  in anticipation, 
by its Bureau  on 16 December  1975,  instructing  the 
Section  for  Protection  of the  Einvironment,  Public 
Health  and  Consumer  Affairs  to draw  up an opinion 
and a report  on the matter, 
Having  regard  to the  opinion  issued  by the Section 
for Protection  of the Environment,  Public  Health  and 
Consumer  Affairs  at its meeting  on 13 January  1976 
and the  report  submitted  by the rapporteur,  Mr De 
Grave, 2. The  other  findings  of the Scientific  Committee 
should  be  acted  upon  as soon  as possible.  In 
particular  action  should  be taken  to ensure  that 
adults  and  children  keep  below  the acceptable  daily 
intakes  (ADIs)  it has  established  for some  colouring 
matters.  This  could  be  done,  for  example,  by 
restricting  some  colouring  matters  to particular  uses 
and limiting  the quantities  used.  Such  a step  would 
necessitate  the  development  of  new  industrial 
processes  and  enactment  of new  legislation. 
Having  regard  to the discussions  at its 136th  plenary 
session  held  on 28 and  29 January  1976  (meeting  of 
28 January), 3. The  Scientific  Committee's  report  raises,  by 
implication,  the whole  question  of indicating,  on the 
packaging,  the  colouring  matters  used.  The 
4. 3.76 Official  Journal  of the  European  Communities No C 50/9 
Committee  urges  that  this  question  be resolved  as harmonization  of the  lists  of colouring  matters 
soon  as possible.  It also  calls  for the earliest  possible  authorized  for use in medicinal  preparations. 
Done  at Brussels,  28 January  1976. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic  and  Social  Committee 
Henri  CANONGE 
Opinion  on proposals  for: 
— a Council  Directive  on biological  standards  for  lead  and  on screening  of the 
population  for lead 
— a Council  Directive  on air quality  standards  for lead 
The text  referred  to the  Committee  has  been  published  in Official  Journal  of the 
European  Communities  No  C 151  of 7 July  1975,  page  22. 
On 7 May  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. 
B. OPINION  OF THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE 
The Economic  and  Social  Committee  prepared  its opinion  on the above  matter  at its 
136th  plenary  session,  held  in Brussels  on 28 and  29 January  1976. 
The full  text  of the opinion  is as follows: A. LEGAL  BASIS  FOR  THE  OPINION 
THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE, of the  Environment,  Public  Health  and  Consumer 
Affairs  to draw  up an opinion  and  a report  on the 
matter, 
Having  regard  to the request  for an opinion  made  by 
the Council  of the European  Communities  on 7 May 
1975, Having  regard  to the opinion  issued  by the Section 
for Protection  of the  Environment,  Public  Health 
and Consumer  Affairs  at its meeting  on 13 January 
1976,  and  the  report  submitted  by the  rapporteur, 
Mr Eboli, Having  regard  to  the  Treaty  establishing  the 
European  Economic  Community,  and  in particular 
Article  198 thereof, 
Having  regard  to the discussions  at its 136th  plenary 
Having  regard  to the decision  taken  by its Bureau  on session  held  on 28 and  29 January  1976  (meeting  of 
27 May  1975,  instructing  the Section  for Protection  28  January  1976),