2^1286 COfficialjournal of the European Communities ^oC328^9 
Opinion on the proposal foraCouncil Directive on the approximation of the laws of the 
member States relating to foodstuffs Intended for particular nutritional uses(^) 
(86BC328^^ 
On 29April 1986 the Council decided to consult the Economic and Social Committee under 
Articlel^ofthelreaty establishing theEuropeanEconomicCommunity on theabove 
mentioned proposal 
The Section for protection of the Environment, public Idealth and Consumer Affairs,which 
was responsible for preparing the Committee'swork on the subject, adopted its opinion on 
land2September 1986 in the light of the report by Airs Williams. 
At its 239th plenary session (meeting of 17 September 1986) the Economic and Social 
Committee adopted the following opinion unanimously^ 
1, Oeneral comments 
1.1, The Committee approves the Commission'spro 
posal subject to the following comments, 
1.2, TheCommitteehasreservationsregardingthe 
proposed 5Advisory Committee procedure, but this 
subject is dealt with in its opinion on^Completionof 
the Internal markets CommunityLegislation on Eood^ 
stuffs', 
1.3, The Committee feels that in an overall sensea 
clearer distinction should be made in the proposal 
between foodstuffs for particular nutritional uses which 
have a medical application and those which are for 
^ordinary'consumption. 
2, Specific comments 
21 Arr^^2^ 
2.1.1, In defining the categories of persons to whom 
this directive applies, it is inappropriate to classify 
categories of people who are unwell (i,e,with disturbed 
metabolism or in special physiological condition) 
together withacategory in apparent good health(i,e, 
infants or young children), 
2.1.2, Thefact that the te^t of this Article is the 
same as that in the original Directive 77^9^EEC is not 
sufficient justification for continuing the practice in the 
present proposal, 
2.1.3, The Committee therefore asks that the distinct 
tion be more clearly made and expressed. 
22 Ar^2^ 
2,2,1, The Committee highlights the problem of 
deciding what isa^food'and what isa^diet'product. 
(aoie^et^^^m^oB 2.2.2, The words^dietetic'or^dietary'are not clearly 
defined in the proposal, either in the absolute sense, or 
in relation to each other. It appears also that there may 
be some confusion when these words are translated 
into the different Community languages. Eurthermore, 
these words apply only to foodstuffs for unwell persons, 
and therefore are not applicable to food for infants or 
young children in good health, 
2.2.3, This reinforces the argument foraclearerdis 
tinction to be made between the ^healthy' and the 
amwelf as requested above, 
2,2m, The Committee asks that this article be re 
examined in the light of the foregoing comments, 
23 Arr^^ 
The Committee considers the phrase ^Specific directives 
^^yinclude'as too loose, and suggests that, ifamore 
rigid approach were adopted, thedraftingofthe Specific 
Directives would be facilitated, 
2m. Arr^A^^^^ 
The expression dist of additives'should be replaced by 
^positive list of permitted additives', 
2,eo, Arr^A^ 
2,eo.l. The Committee is concerned by the problem 
of fraudulent claims, particularly in relation to health 
foods, and draws the attention of governments in Aiem 
ber States to the need for effective enforcement of 
existing national laws and to relevant Community legis 
lation, 
2B0.2. On the matter of labelling and advertising 
generally,the Committee draws attention to the need 
to supplement legislation by education and information 
particularly wherequestionsof consumer health and 
safety are involved, 
2,6, Arr^9 
This has been dealt with under the general comments'. 
No C 328/10 Official Journal of the European Communities 22. 12. 86 
2.7. Annex 
2.7.1. The Committee notes that Annex I lists four 
groups of foods for which specific provisions shall be 
laid down, but that two of these groups — infant 
formulae and follow-up milk — are already the subject 
of a proposal for a single Directive covering both. The information in the Annex is therefore confusing and 
should be corrected perhaps by a footnote thereto. 
2.7.2. Furthermore, the terms used in the different 
Community languages on follow-up milks present some 
anomalies and need to be re-examined and stan­
dardized. 
Done at Brussels, 17 September 1986. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Gerd MUHR 
Opinion on the proposal for a Council recommendation on the coordinated introduction of 
the integrated services digital network (ISDN) in the European Community^) 
(86/C 328/05) 
On 9 June 1986 the Council decided to consult the Economic and Social Committee, 
under Article 100 of the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, on the 
abovementioned proposal. 
The Section for Industry, Commerce, Crafts and Services, which was responsible for preparing 
the Committee's work on the subject, adopted its opinion on 3 September 1986 in the light 
of the report by Mr Nierhaus. 
At is 239th plenary session (meeting of 17 September 1986) the Committee adopted the 
following opinion unanimously: 
1. Introduction 
1.1. The further development of telematics in the 
Community will have considerable economic and social 
repercussions which are difficult to gauge at the 
moment: the creation of a standardized Community-
wide integrated services digital network (ISDN) for the 
transmission of information will play a key role here. 
This is the only way in which it will be possible in the 
medium and long-term to attain the main goals of 
the Community's policy towards telecommunications 
which were approved by the Council on 17 December 
1984. These goals include, above all, 
— creating a Community-wide market for telecom­
munication terminals and equipment, and 
— improving the development of advanced telecom­
munication services and networks. 1.2. In consequence, the need to establish a Com­
munity-wide ISDN is set out in more or less explicit 
terms in all important Commission documents on the 
subject of telematics. 
1.3. The Economic and Social Committee has point­
ed out, especially in its opinions on the Commission 
communication to the Council on telecommunications 
and the report and proposal for a Council Decision on 
a preparatory action for RACE, that the development 
of a Community-wide integrated services digital net­
work is of primordial importance for telecommuni­
cations. 
1.4. This plan represents one of the major challenges 
in the field of technology: using existing telephone 
networks as its basis, it is likely to be phased in by 
the end of the century and will require considerable 
investment. 
(J) OJ No C 157, 24. 6. 1986, p. 3. 1.5. One reason why the Commission's plan acquires 
a special significance is that comparable developments